Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
On Nov 23, 2009, at 11:04 PM, Tony B wrote: Dreamweaver only needs a key and the original disks to reinstall. But it's also fairly useless these days for modern CMS-driven websites. Unless she's taking web design courses, in which case she would need the newest DW. I'd say don't obsess about it. Dreamweaver is definitely useless if you are working in one of those companies in the gulag. A CMS, like a good Chinese government bureaucrat, will enforce sterile uniformity on your every page. However if you are still in a position to exercise your freedom, Dreamweaver is just peachy. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 11:42 PM, Steve at Verizon stevet...@verizon.netwrote: Don't know how long ago she got the HP, but I just purchased one and there is an HP provided utility to burn a 3 DVD set which will restore the machine to its factory settings; i.e. the OS and the other junkware programs. I know Lenovo does the same thing; no disks with the purchased machine, but a utility to create the reinstall disks. See if you can find such a utility on your HP. Link to HP's file on how to create backup disks- http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=endlc=encc=usdocname=bph08097 The part on how to create recovery disks is about 1/4 of the way down the page. I would be mildly worried that the data on the hard drive was corrupted by now. I would want to create the recovery disks ASAP just in case. Once you create the disks you could install this to a new hard drive and recover what was left on the old one at your leisure. -- John Duncan Yoyo ---o) * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
On Nov 23, 2009, at 8:10 PM, Robert Carroll wrote: By now, she might have tried the HP recovery program, don't know. Any advise? When I encounter a PC that is highly polluted I boot from a diagnostic CD and run my repairs from there. Your computer may contain one or more root kits that will thoroughly defeat all attempts to make things right. Using a good PC I would build myself a boot disc and a set of utilities I could rely on. Before you burn the disc you have to update the anti-virus software. Then I would boot from the CD and work on the hard drive. First thing I would run are tests to find and remove any root kits. Then anti-virus (more than one). Then HijackThis etc. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_to_create_ultimate_boot_disk * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
Update on dead computer -- a HP desktop with Windows XP Home. Daughter bought a power supply for $20, installed it, and the computer runs. She mentioned afterwards that a downloaded iTunes video would play only very slowly. I asked her about her antivirus software -- she had none. I advised to download AVG and Malwarebytes. She did, found some viruses with AVG; Malwarebytes wouldn't install. Soon after removing viruses, computer boots only to a blank screen but with wallpaper. Safe mode shows only black screen but for safe mode in four corners. No start button. Task Manager shows many processes running including b.exe which might be a virus. Because HP, no Windows CD available. Tried boot to last good but failed -- same result. Tried everything else can think of short of the HP recovery program. The recovery program starts from C: drive and says that all applications will be deleted, OS repaired, but that data will be retained. She worries that she will loose Dreamweaver, which costs $500 but she got free when she was in a class at Eastman School of Music two years ago. (Her full backup to external HD was a year ago.) By now, she might have tried the HP recovery program, don't know. Any advise? b_s-wilk wrote: BIOS battery? Bad RAM? There's some amazing deals coming up next week and for Christmas. BLACK FRIDAY! YES!! Or she can buy $1100 worth of software with $1450 in rebates and use the difference to get a free computer. Betty * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
Google is your friend see: http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS335US337aq=fsourceid=chromeie=UTF-8q=b.exe http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS335US337aq=fsourceid=chromeie=UTF-8q=b.exe db Robert Carroll wrote: Update on dead computer -- a HP desktop with Windows XP Home. Daughter bought a power supply for $20, installed it, and the computer runs. She mentioned afterwards that a downloaded iTunes video would play only very slowly. I asked her about her antivirus software -- she had none. I advised to download AVG and Malwarebytes. She did, found some viruses with AVG; Malwarebytes wouldn't install. Soon after removing viruses, computer boots only to a blank screen but with wallpaper. Safe mode shows only black screen but for safe mode in four corners. No start button. Task Manager shows many processes running including b.exe which might be a virus. Because HP, no Windows CD available. Tried boot to last good but failed -- same result. Tried everything else can think of short of the HP recovery program. The recovery program starts from C: drive and says that all applications will be deleted, OS repaired, but that data will be retained. She worries that she will loose Dreamweaver, which costs $500 but she got free when she was in a class at Eastman School of Music two years ago. (Her full backup to external HD was a year ago.) By now, she might have tried the HP recovery program, don't know. Any advise? b_s-wilk wrote: BIOS battery? Bad RAM? There's some amazing deals coming up next week and for Christmas. BLACK FRIDAY! YES!! Or she can buy $1100 worth of software with $1450 in rebates and use the difference to get a free computer. Betty * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
Second follow-up on daughter's HP desktop: She ran the HP recovery program that said that programs would be deleted but data saved. After running, programs were saved but data deleted. Per my advice, she tried to download AVG antivirus. MS Internet Explorer wouldn't download; she installed Firefox. With this, AVG program would download, but not install. Trying to install simply returned her to the AVG download website. She successfully downloaded Malwarebytes and is now running same. It was finding numerous problems as of a few minutes ago. I'm thinking that the only way to fix her computer is to reformat reinstall OS. But since HP didn't include a Windows XP disk when purchasing her computer, I will have to offer one of mine to her. Is there a copyright issue here? Some of my Windows OS disks were bought for computers that I once had but are discarded now so that the same disk OS would be installed on only one computer at the same time. Robert Carroll wrote: Update on dead computer -- a HP desktop with Windows XP Home. Daughter bought a power supply for $20, installed it, and the computer runs. She mentioned afterwards that a downloaded iTunes video would play only very slowly. I asked her about her antivirus software -- she had none. I advised to download AVG and Malwarebytes. She did, found some viruses with AVG; Malwarebytes wouldn't install. Soon after removing viruses, computer boots only to a blank screen but with wallpaper. Safe mode shows only black screen but for safe mode in four corners. No start button. Task Manager shows many processes running including b.exe which might be a virus. Because HP, no Windows CD available. Tried boot to last good but failed -- same result. Tried everything else can think of short of the HP recovery program. The recovery program starts from C: drive and says that all applications will be deleted, OS repaired, but that data will be retained. She worries that she will loose Dreamweaver, which costs $500 but she got free when she was in a class at Eastman School of Music two years ago. (Her full backup to external HD was a year ago.) By now, she might have tried the HP recovery program, don't know. Any advise? * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
That should work. But what worries me is the condition of the hard drive, at least make sure it passes SMART tests. Dreamweaver only needs a key and the original disks to reinstall. But it's also fairly useless these days for modern CMS-driven websites. Unless she's taking web design courses, in which case she would need the newest DW. I'd say don't obsess about it. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
Don't know how long ago she got the HP, but I just purchased one and there is an HP provided utility to burn a 3 DVD set which will restore the machine to its factory settings; i.e. the OS and the other junkware programs. I know Lenovo does the same thing; no disks with the purchased machine, but a utility to create the reinstall disks. See if you can find such a utility on your HP. Robert Carroll wrote: I'm thinking that the only way to fix her computer is to reformat reinstall OS. But since HP didn't include a Windows XP disk when purchasing her computer, I will have to offer one of mine to her. Is there a copyright issue here? Some of my Windows OS disks were bought for computers that I once had but are discarded now so that the same disk OS would be installed on only one computer at the same time. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
With the machines # you can order a set from HP's site. I recently got an HP mini and I think my cost was about 15$ for a set. Stewart At 10:42 PM 11/23/2009, you wrote: Don't know how long ago she got the HP, but I just purchased one and there is an HP provided utility to burn a 3 DVD set which will restore the machine to its factory settings; i.e. the OS and the other junkware programs. I know Lenovo does the same thing; no disks with the purchased machine, but a utility to create the reinstall disks. See if you can find such a utility on your HP. Robert Carroll wrote: I'm thinking that the only way to fix her computer is to reformat reinstall OS. But since HP didn't include a Windows XP disk when purchasing her computer, I will have to offer one of mine to her. Is there a copyright issue here? Some of my Windows OS disks were bought for computers that I once had but are discarded now so that the same disk OS would be installed on only one computer at the same time. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
On Nov 17, 2009, at 10:05 PM, Rev. Stewart Marshall wrote: I have had it happen more than once, the cord somehow becomes oxidized (contacts) and I need to switch out cords with the monitor to get it to boot back up. Unplugging and replugging the cables a few times can sometimes get rid of oxidation. If that is the problem. Cheap and easy solutions should always be tried first. Seems to me that the most likely cause of problem is a bad on-off switch or a bad power supply. How to test? What are other likely causes of the problem? Either way, considering the age of the computer, it is not worth bothering with. It's time to play Laptop Hunters. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
BIOS battery? Bad RAM? There's some amazing deals coming up next week and for Christmas. BLACK FRIDAY! YES!! Or she can buy $1100 worth of software with $1450 in rebates and use the difference to get a free computer. Betty * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
Power supply more likely than the switch, I think. Make sure the switch on the back of the power supply hasn't been inadvertently turned off. Ellen H. --- On Tue, 11/17/09, Robert Carroll carrollcompu...@gmail.com wrote: From: Robert Carroll carrollcompu...@gmail.com Subject: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter? To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 8:37 PM Got a call from my oldest daughter just now that her HP desktop computer was dead. Worked well yesterday -- no disk noise -- cut off at night, now won't start. What to do? She says that when she presses the on button nothing happens -- no light on button, no startup, no noise. However, cable from modem causes light to illuminate on cable socket on computer (I think). Computer is plugged into power strip -- all devices are working that are plugged to power strip except computer. I advised her to switch computer power cable to another socket on power strip, to no avail. Computer is about 4 -- 5 years old. Seems to me that the most likely cause of problem is a bad on-off switch or a bad power supply. How to test? What are other likely causes of the problem? She's hoping to get a cheap laptop during the Black Friday sales, but she needs a computer now. How much should be a reasonable cost for a repair shop to charge if it is a power supply or a power switch? * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter?
Swap out power cords. I have had it happen more than once, the cord somehow becomes oxidized (contacts) and I need to switch out cords with the monitor to get it to boot back up. Also make sure it did not get turned off on the back. Stewart At 09:00 PM 11/17/2009, you wrote: Power supply more likely than the switch, I think. Make sure the switch on the back of the power supply hasn't been inadvertently turned off. Ellen H. --- On Tue, 11/17/09, Robert Carroll carrollcompu...@gmail.com wrote: From: Robert Carroll carrollcompu...@gmail.com Subject: [CGUYS] Dead desktop computer -- what is likely the matter? To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 8:37 PM Got a call from my oldest daughter just now that her HP desktop computer was dead. Worked well yesterday -- no disk noise -- cut off at night, now won't start. What to do? She says that when she presses the on button nothing happens -- no light on button, no startup, no noise. However, cable from modem causes light to illuminate on cable socket on computer (I think). Computer is plugged into power strip -- all devices are working that are plugged to power strip except computer. I advised her to switch computer power cable to another socket on power strip, to no avail. Computer is about 4 -- 5 years old. Seems to me that the most likely cause of problem is a bad on-off switch or a bad power supply. How to test? What are other likely causes of the problem? She's hoping to get a cheap laptop during the Black Friday sales, but she needs a computer now. How much should be a reasonable cost for a repair shop to charge if it is a power supply or a power switch? * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
