Computer Woes

[dieselsmoke1]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I didn't mention previously that this computer came with Windows ME, along with a certificate to upgrade to Windows XP for $20 when XP became available. I did that. It came with an XP "upgrade" CD and that didn't work. It also came with an XP CD that says for new computers only. After a great deal of time on the phone with Dell, they had me do what they called a "clean install" which did not involve formatting the hard drive. We finally got it working that way, but from that time on my hard drive is E: instead of C:. )</font>

Now there's a good basis for more fundamental problems than you can shake a stick at. OS upgrades are problematic at best. Combine a failed upgrade with a clean install without formatting.....geez Bird, you guys get extra points just to make the doggone thing breath. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'm guessing the reason Mr Dell did not want to format was because he wanted the native ME drivers to remain on the local disc. Easy way out for him, but IMHO you got shafted.

The registry and system files probably so screwed up now, the path of least resistance is format and do a clean install. Even a geek could spend coutless hours of something like this.

You've already got a Zip and CDRW. Plenty of media options for backup. Your current 20 gig is half full. I would not buy another drive if in your position.

What type of internet connection do you have? You mentioned a firewall earlier so I'm guessing it's some sort of broadband. I ask so as to evaluate whether it's worthwhile to copy your drivers to disc or download new versions. Drivers are usually pretty easy to find.

If you do decide format / install, consider not installing Norton this time. My personal experience is it causes more problems than it's worth. AVG 6.0 is a very good anti virus program and it's free.

Good Luck! I'll be glad to help if I can.

 

[Bird]

I never understood the "clean install" vs formatting and installing, but then there's lots of things I don't understand about computers. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif When we did the upgrade, I got an "upgrade" CD and also another Windows XP CD that says for "new" computers only.

I'm sure I've mentioned on the forum before that I've heard many times that Dell has the best support service, and that very well may be true, but when we did that upgrade, and it didn't work after many tries and lots of time on the telephone, they actually gave up and I would have been left with a worthless computer if it had been paid for! This is the only computer I ever bought and let them finance and was very glad I did because when they gave up and couldn't find anyone who could tell me how to make it work, I told the guy to go ask his supervisor where they wanted me to ship their junk, since I wasn't going to pay for it if it wouldn't work. He miraculously, and promptly, found someone who told me how to do that "clean install" and it worked.

I like the idea of of having two identical hard drives to have everything backed up instead of just my data files, but don't know just how that would operate, and wonder if that's such a good idea, how come I don't find any new computers that come with two hard drives. Anyway, I called Dell to see if I could still buy another hard drive the same as the one I have. Took a lot of time to play telephone roulette before actually talking to a human, then he seemed to have a hard time understanding what I wanted (I have the original packing slip so I could give him the name, item number, and part number). He finally told me that, yes, they had it. I asked how much it cost, and then after a considerable time, he told me they no longer have them. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I've also been looking at new computers and unfortunately it looks like Dell is the best deal I could find /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif so I suppose if or when I buy another one, I'd buy a Dell and let them finance it so I could be assured of some level of support if it doesn't work when it arrives.

But I've still got a few more things to check out before I do anything. One option, of course, is to just continue as is; it's working and I can do just about everything I need to do except use TurboTax and that isn't really necessary.

 

[JASTN70D]

Bird
Try doing a repair.! boot to the XP CD and when it finds your existing OS there will be a repair option that will redo the OS without loosing anything. Also uninstall the patches for I.E. and then reinstall with windows update. More than likely there is nothing wrong with your computer just the OS. No reason to replace it that I have seen from the posts.
'
John

 

[Bird]

John, that's something else I hadn't thought of; I'll try later today and see if it'll boot from the CD I have. And of course I have no idea how to find and/or uninstall the patches for I.E.

 

[JASTN70D]

If you need help PM me. But to uninstall patches go to control panel add remove programs and they should be listed as Internet Explorer ???? items

 

[Bird]

Well, I finally succeeded in getting a Dell tech support person on the phone who apparently knows what he's doing (first 3 I talked to didn't), and it was a very simple matter to get the sound working again. As for the other things, I'm still thinking about it. He said he'd walk me through doing a clean install again, but I wasn't ready for that; would have to back up a few more things before I'd do that.

 

[frank_f15]

NOT VERY SAVY on this techinal stuff, but i thought some patches once installed could not be removed? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif or did i read something wrong. thanks for the help!

 

[sendero]

Anybody who uses computers day in and day out has probably been where you are. I sure as heck have /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm pretty sure you have a virus infection. I'm assuming you have run decent virus scanning/repair software to try to resolve that.

Beyond that, I agree with the majority here. Get a new hard drive. Make the one you have now a slave, the new one the master. Install XP on the clean drive. You will have to reinstall everything and do all the setups, this will take hours and hours but it may well be the only way to rid yourself of this mess once and for all.

I would add that I've been using and programming for Windows since 1991. XP is easily the most stable version of Windows ever released. Although, I would mention that mine was much more stable (bulletproof actually) BEFORE I starting installing the service packs and security patches. Doing so has definitely opened up a couple problems. And MS wonders why nobody wants to install their darned patches /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[PBMAX]

Bird,
IF you do the clean install (format and reinstall) I would suggest you use the cd labeled "for use with new computers". It is mostlikely a full version of XP home and should keep you from having to upgrade from ME to xp. I could be wrong but have seen this often. Just pop it in the cd and see if it comes up. You do not always have to reboot. the cd will often just load and ask what you want to do.

Make sure you have the right software key for XP. I doubt it will except your ME KEY. I believe the xp keys are longer. You may be able to bully Dell into giving You a key if they sent it to as a fix if you can't find the one that comes with it.

I'm fairly avid gammer so problems used to be thick when I install and uninstall games. but with xp pro I have had lots fewer problems.

1st wether you reformat or get a new drive, put xp in a 10 gig or less partition and use the rest either as a whole or break it up as well,again 10gig or less partitions.
then get in the habit of storing your files in(on) one of them. that way if you have to reformat later you simply reformat C: and reinstall and once you reload your programs all your saved files are still there.

I have 60gig drive broken into 6 partitions and they are label as C: - H:
I do this all my games are saved to d: and E: drives (partitions) my the family pics on G: and so forth.

install all your programs to C: but do all your file saving on the other driveS(partitionS) this also makes it easy to make CD backups.

Also use the system restore to your advantage. Make a restore before you load any programs. Don't wait on xp to do it automatically it will not always do it when you need it most.
That way if a program does not work you can just go back.
If you don't know how do some of what all every one has sugggested. Get the YOUNG FELLOW to do it for you I bet he does... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

LIke many I refomat C:about once a year or so...While it is a pain to relaod all the programs I use. It is often the best way to prevent headaches.

I suppose gohst is the easy way as mentioned by others, but I cant find my copy... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif of gohst to make one for this years reformat.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Bird]

Paul, I'll have to admit to understanding parts of what everyone says, and not understanding parts. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif But I'm still learning a little bit from each message posted and sure appreciate everyone's help. I just got back home from buying a new 80GB hard drive; gotta do a little reading before I attempt the installation. I'm now using a 20GB drive and actually only using about half of it, but Fry's Electronics had the 80GB drive on sale cheaper than the 40GB drives. And if I screw things up too bad, Fry's has a service department that claims they can do almost anything, and if you get it to them by 10 a.m., it'll be ready by 6 p.m. or it's free. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Of course, I'm hoping I won't have to do that. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif