More PC nightmares!

[Andre98]

Okay, here's the deal. Turned on my PC, the Compaq Presario 900Mhz AMD Athlon on the cable modem, and I get the warning below. Obviously, I cannot get Internet Explorer going. It won't go away, and I did a restart twice, but I couldn't do it by crl/alt/del, I have to cut the power for a hard shutdown. I am on Netscape now, and dodging this explorer box. I can move it around, but cliuck on close or the "x" gets rid of it for about 3 seconds.

Should I uninstall it and install a fresh IE?

[Andre98]

It also causes the web page transitions to freeze, so I was only able to make these two posts by clicking on the close to make it disappear long enough for the post to go through. I'm ready to use my $50 Comp USA gift certificate to get some brand new funk!

P.S. I ran a sweep with the brand new McAfee Virus scan (nothing found),and the Webroot Spyware.

[ice-c]

damn...
i'm stumped.

[swtjamaica]

...you MAY have to contact microsoft tech support to get that issue solved...if memory serves correctly, there is a patch you can download, BEFORE you call microsoft...have you done that yet?

[Andre98]

I had downloaded some WMV files and played them on Windows Media Player. Now they only show up as black garbled text.

[zuriyahe]

Well...I'm stuck on what to do about this one...

So you know what I do whenever that happens....?


1) Back up the files that you want to keep
2) Break out the ole system restore disk
3) Let nature take its course.

:D

[Andre98]

Hmmm, its been since 2000, where are those puppies.

In the meantime, i had a noticed on yahoo that there was a virus attacking Windows products. Also a pop up appeared on my xp laptop, that auto downloaded a mcAfee update. I'll give it time, and take it in for service if I can get "certain material" offloaded!

[Tettsuo]

Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/)
This is the current upgrade to Firebird. Leave IE alone Dre.

[zuriyahe]

So far, Firefox is pretty stable...

(I am using it right now at work :D )

But I think that there must be some SERIOUS reason why Andre's IE is malfunctioning.

I say:

1) Do a system restore before doing anything else.
2) Then get firefox, IE, Oprah or whatever.

[Andre98]

I was hoping to ge files off the drive before taking it in, but it's frozen soild. Nothing, even hard shutdowns are shaking it from complete paralysis with that same box in my first post. With CPUs running at just a few hundred $$, the only decision left is whether to mail order or go to a store for my next computer.

[gammite]

Originally posted by Andre98
I was hoping to ge files off the drive before taking it in, but it's frozen soild. Nothing, even hard shutdowns are shaking it from complete paralysis with that same box in my first post. With CPUs running at just a few hundred $$, the only decision left is whether to mail order or go to a store for my next computer.

how much u wanna spend?
what will the computer be used for?

[RockYoKoo]

Man start over..... it is best. Less time and money.

You got to Dre, wip it out and start clean.....

Fa real fa real

[Andre98]

It's obvious that I want to spend as little as possible.
Let's see:

I like having two CD drives, one being a CDRW of course. I dont know what I'm missing with the whole DVD ROM/RW thing, so I wasnt thinking along those lines yet, especially if its going to drive up the price. Still weighing the difference between that and these component DVD recorders.

My now frozen proccessor was 900mhz, so what's the norm now, 2Gig or more? And plenty of RAM, although I saw one of you say you had more than a Gig of RAM. Maybe only 512 is fine. I am not going to be doing anything fantastic with it, but I do want to finally get a legal copy of Photoshop and stop fucking with these outdated knockoffs. I'll put a video cature device in it, like the card version of the ATi TV Wonder that I have now in USB form. The audio was out of sync on the USB version and I read that the card is better suited. That's it...I have the monitor, printer. The current package prices I see in Curcuit City and Best Buy are monitor and printer for $500- $600. Or is a notebook the way to go, evenn if you are not moving it much....just in case, so you could be more portable down the line?

[ice-c]

i was thinkin i might pick up one of those DELLS in the commercial that are about 499...free shipping....

it's funny...the more piracy and such that we do...when we actually try to find legit copies of stuff....

it's SOOOOOOOO expensive.

recommend u look on ebay for software...you can often get the 'educational' version from there. that is what i did with XP PRO

[RockYoKoo]

Dre I meant just re format the hard drive, but if you going the new route....

I would not get a DVD drive, but you sound like you want to put video on your computer threw a camera. If that is the case then you need a FIREWIRE port on you new machine. Just ask someone at Circut City to show you how it benefits ya. It is basically a faster way to transfer data, like a faster USB line. Most camera's have a port that can transfer data to a computer via FIREWIRE.

If you dont need a lap top, dont get one unless you have a deal.

You tired of pirate software huh.....oh well. Photoshop is only on #7 Big Worm may have a copy.

And what are you going to do with photoshop, they have something cheaper called Photo Elements that has many of the Photoshop features, and is a good program for a novice. It is only like.....$99.00 http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopel/main.html

Legal copy.

Now if you got video, you may be interested in an editing software, those are less than $100 too.

512k is good ram for now too. If you have a monitor, and are satisfied with it, just get the computer without the new monitor.

Make sure you list your needs, then tell the sales person, but seems like you need Firewire port and prob a DVD burner depending on what you want to do with the video.

Keep on ROCKn it mane.....

[Andre98]

That will erase all the info, right?

Another thing i was wondering, was if after 4 years, it just crashed and should be replaced. I was within 2 gigs of capacity on the 30 gig harddrive.... was just about to off load a ton of music files i had let pile up. I can download them again, if I can remember them, but I would be dodging the Feds all over again...I was trying to bring that to an end.

I saw that 499 Dell deal, and that was with monitor, so i was looking for a cpu only for cheaper.

[RockYoKoo]

Originally posted by Andre98
That will erase all the info, right?

Another thing i was wondering, was if after 4 years, it just crashed and should be replaced. I was within 2 gigs of capacity on the 30 gig harddrive.... was just about to off load a ton of music files i had let pile up. I can download them again, if I can remember them, but I would be dodging the Feds all over again...I was trying to bring that to an end.

I saw that 499 Dell deal, and that was with monitor, so i was looking for a cpu only for cheaper.

If you already have a P4(I am assuming) then buy another hard drive, make that the c drive and format it.

The other can be the D, drive, but 1st run virus scan on it after you load the C drive.

It is hard to say but, either way you have to start over with a fresh drive. Copy your old data 1st though, ya know.

Rock on

[zuriyahe]

Originally posted by Andre98
I was hoping to ge files off the drive before taking it in, but it's frozen soild. Nothing, even hard shutdowns are shaking it from complete paralysis with that same box in my first post. With CPUs running at just a few hundred $$, the only decision left is whether to mail order or go to a store for my next computer.

Have ya tried to boot up in "Safe Mode"?

Usually, when you begin to boot up, if you hold down teh "F8" key, you will come up to a menu that will allow you to boot up in safe mode or to the C: prompt. I do not remember if that works for XP, but it does work for win 98 and I am sure it will work for Win ME.

If you can get to the C prompt, you might be able to get somewhere.

If you have your windows disk, I believe that you can re-install windows (without having to format your hard drive) from the C: prompt. This may give you time to recover your music files.

At computer shows, AMD processors are nearly a dime a dozen. If the issue is a processor issue (difficult to tell at this time), you may be able to get another AMD processor for CHEAP (LIKE FOR LESS THAN 100 BUCKS).

[Tettsuo]

Originally posted by zuriyahe

At computer shows, AMD processors are nearly a dime a dozen. If the issue is a processor issue (difficult to tell at this time), you may be able to get another AMD processor for CHEAP (LIKE FOR LESS THAN 100 BUCKS).
If you have a P4, you'll need to continue with P4's unless you're going to change your motherboard. AMD and P4 motherboards are not compatible.

Try to reinstall your XP system. An option will come up an ask if you to reformat. Don't choose that one, choose to leave the current file system intact. Run your virus scan program from the disk, and burn your music files as data files. That should only take about 4 or 5 disks (depending on the amount of music you may have on the drive). If you have other files to burn do it now, cuz you're going to reinstall again and format the drive (wiping everything out).

As Rock suggested, get another harddrive and store your stuff there.

[Andre98]

This computer in question is the 900mhz AMD Althlon, with Win ME. I'll try the f8 key deal. Still cannot find the system restore disks. I went PC shopping and saw a nice 2.7 ghz desktop with firewire, a dvd-rw and cd rom 512mb ram for $700. That's an Athlon, which the clerk said beats a Celeron. One step up for $200 more is a P4. I started to salivate...didnt need to hear a bell....but I'm still looking...a hate the "price match" pitch...if I'm the one who has to do the leg work, I'll do it before I buy and you won't get the business at all.

Meanwhile back at the ranch:
On a good note, in the effort to get my laptop on the cable modem, the laptop's 100/10 ethernet card was not responding to it's virgin run at being connected to the cable modem. I had run the Optimum Online software on it, and the phone tech said all looked well from his end after walking me through IP numbers and pinging the connection. etween those twoThe only link he can't test is from modem to computer. I had to swap the network cable b So anyway:

I went to pick up another Rj45 cable to see if that was the problem. By the way, for $4 more, I saw there was a Rj45 labeled CAT5e and one that is labeled FastCAT5e 'high speed-350mhz+' I thought it was all high speed! What the hell I got the higher one. Also had another cable modem in my hand, for use upstairs. But that would still mean, once the 1st floor destop is replaced, unplugging one of the two to use the laptop on cable, unless of course i buy a THIRD!

That's when the wireless router aisle said "Psst! Over here...yeah you... come into the 21st century!" I ignored that voice, because it sounded gay, but I did remember that it was also suggested on here that a wireless router was the way to go. So i put back the modem, bought a wireless router, a wireless card fior the laptop ( typing on it now!) and a wireless adapter w/ USB connection for the upstairs PC that has no ethernet card.

Progress..... $214 (before rebates) and counting.

Thanks for all the help!

[RockYoKoo]

Originally posted by Andre98
This computer in question is the 900mhz AMD Althlon, with Win ME. I'll try the f8 key deal. Still cannot find the system restore disks. I went PC shopping and saw a nice 2.7 ghz desktop with firewire, a dvd-rw and cd rom 512mb ram for $700. That's an Athlon, which the clerk said beats a Celeron. One step up for $200 more is a P4. I started to salivate...didnt need to hear a bell....but I'm still looking...a hate the "price match" pitch...if I'm the one who has to do the leg work, I'll do it before I buy and you won't get the business at all.

Meanwhile back at the ranch:
On a good note, in the effort to get my laptop on the cable modem, the laptop's 100/10 ethernet card was not responding to it's virgin run at being connected to the cable modem. I had run the Optimum Online software on it, and the phone tech said all looked well from his end after walking me through IP numbers and pinging the connection. etween those twoThe only link he can't test is from modem to computer. I had to swap the network cable b So anyway:

I went to pick up another Rj45 cable to see if that was the problem. By the way, for $4 more, I saw there was a Rj45 labeled CAT5e and one that is labeled FastCAT5e 'high speed-350mhz+' I thought it was all high speed! What the hell I got the higher one. Also had another cable modem in my hand, for use upstairs. But that would still mean, once the 1st floor destop is replaced, unplugging one of the two to use the laptop on cable, unless of course i buy a THIRD!

That's when the wireless router aisle said "Psst! Over here...yeah you... come into the 21st century!" I ignored that voice, because it sounded gay, but I did remember that it was also suggested on here that a wireless router was the way to go. So i put back the modem, bought a wireless router, a wireless card fior the laptop ( typing on it now!) and a wireless adapter w/ USB connection for the upstairs PC that has no ethernet card.

Progress..... $214 (before rebates) and counting.

Thanks for all the help!

Go Dre, man do da dayum thang.

once ya go wireless.....YA CANT GO BACK.....LOL

Keep on ROCKn it.

[gammite]

yeah, wireless is a great thing. i have installed networks at a few of my friends homes and they wonder how they operated before they got the wireless.

dre, if you are still looking around.......

1. AMD Athlon XP vs. Intel Pentium 4

no difference. as a matter of fact AMD benchmarks better than Pentium 4's in most tests. Of course, Intel has the better name so that is why their market share is dominant. For performance vs. value go with AMD. For bragging rights, with a certain crowd, go with Intel. Any gamer would go with AMD. Most corporations go with Intel. Gaming is by far the most taxing task a computer has to do. Office applications, for the most part, can be run on a Pentium II 350mhz.

***Celerons are downgraded Pentium 4's. Technically speaking for what you want to do it would be fine. But mentally I can not justify owning a Celeron when I could buy an AMD, probably for less, and get the performance of a Pentium 4.

2. Try not to buy a computer at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc....

for what you want to do with your computer you can get deals for around 500 or even less after rebates. but you will probably have to buy online. here is a good deal from dell. their tv deals are usually good but with a little research on their site you can usually do a little better.

for instance here is a BOMB deal that expires on 2/25/04:

Get a highly equipped DellTM Dimension 2400 desktop regularly priced at $549 for only $399 after $150 mail-in rebate.2 This system comes loaded with a FREE Hard drive upgrade and FREE Memory upgrade PLUS FREE Shipping (online only)! Offer is only valid on the following system and expires 02/25/04!

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor at 2.66GHz
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
FREE Hard Drive Upgrade!
FREE Memory Upgrade!
FREE Shipping!
$150 Mail-in Rebate
Monitor not included

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/promo.aspx/q1wk4_od_dimen?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

if i wanted to do what you do with your computer i would hop on this like like a mutt on a bitch in heat.

and one last thing. i urge everyone to do their homework on buying anything computer related. keep in mind that most computer products come from a limited number of producers. in many cases you can buy generic products and get the same thing you would buy if bought a brand name product.

dre, you got a decent deal on your wireless solution, but you could have "probably" gotten everything for less than $100 -$150. the homes that i networked paid less than $120 for everything to network multiple computers.

good luck with your adventure dre!

[Pamalicious]

Now I want a new computer! Mine is ancient!


Chanting:

Gotta get the house! Gotta get the house! Gotta get the house!

[gammite]

I went to pick up another Rj45 cable to see if that was the problem. By the way, for $4 more, I saw there was a Rj45 labeled CAT5e and one that is labeled FastCAT5e 'high speed-350mhz+' I thought it was all high speed!

This is exactly what i mean, dre. a rj45 cat 5 cable is a rj45 cat 5 cable. if it is labled as such then it must meet certain specs. the real funny part is that the cable labled 'fast' probably got produced in the same factory as the the one that was not labled fast.

it is the same thing with USB cables. A USB cable is a USB cable. period. Best Buy sells them for 20 dollars a pop when i can go to micocenter or order them online for 6 buck a piece.

given the option i build my own cables. it is much cheaper and i can sit in front of the tv and build them without taking out any addtional time to do so. for instance, a 50 foot cat 5 cable at the store will run you around 30-40 dollars at a minimum.

I can build two 50 foot cat 5 cables from the bulk section of a computer store for less than 25 dollars.

folks, don't be fooled by the marketing!

[gammite]

Originally posted by Pamalicious
Now I want a new computer! Mine is ancient!


Chanting:

Gotta get the house! Gotta get the house! Gotta get the house!

I hear you pam. if the computer is working then put all them duckets to the house.

remember, this is the year of the HOUSE!!!

shoot, with the tax write off alone after you get the house you can buy a computer to put all of our peon machines to death!