Flamin' computers

[p38arover]

I've just started the fourth reformat and reinstall of Windows XP on my laptop in the last 24 hours.

After getting everything installed (for the second time) late last night, I then installed Norton Systemworks 2006. After that, the computer would no longer boot. It appears the file system was corrupted and the Win set up wouldn't recognise the partition. I've had to delete the partition, repartition the drive, reformat and now I'm reinstallling windows.

I'm writing this on an old desktop that doesn't have a CD-ROM or DVD reader.

To top it off, I can't remember the access password for the wireless router so I'm not sure how I can log the laptop onto the home network.

Ron

[LoadedDisco]

Ron,
I had Norton system works on my desktop computer which I didn’t need in turned out to just slowed the computer down and did nothing more than the antivirus did anyway.
I also had Norton antivirus but now run AGV with a few extra programs and all runs up to speed now.

[p38arover]

I've become disenchanted with Nortons over the years. I've been using it since the days of IBM PCDOS.

It's possible the problems were caused by Norton GoBack. I'll not reinstall it. But I do need Internet Security (I think).

I've found the router password.

Ron

[LoadedDisco]

Im just running AGV which is free and occasionally I check the computer with Xoftspy which will pick up everything. It cost about $40.00
I have not had a virus problem. Yet. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Have been running this set up for 12month and have had the computer for 8 years.

Don’t forget XP is also running internet security.

[abaddonxi]

For your router - there's a reset button on the back which will take it back to factory default - usually admin/password or something equally simple, it's in the handbook or not time at all on google.

What's wrong with the laptop? How old? Is it the hard drive that's dying and looking like all kinds of other problems?

Cheers
Simon

[p38arover]

Originally posted by abaddonxi
For your router - there's a reset button on the back which will take it back to factory default - usually admin/password or something equally simple, it's in the handbook or not time at all on google.

What's wrong with the laptop? How old? Is it the hard drive that's dying and looking like all kinds of other problems?

Cheers
Simon

Actually, it was the WEP encryption password for the router I couldn't remember - but I found it when I accessed the router.

The laptop is a 2 year old Compaq Presario X1404AP.

XP was getting flaky and crashing on certain programs that used to run OK, other programs would no longer run. Norton LiveUpdate wouldn't and the Symantec help info was pretty useless.

If I wasn't so locked into Windows with all my apps, I'd have bought a Mac - although I can't drive my daughter's Mac. I'd need lessons.

This old PC needs reformatting and reinstall of Windows 98 SE. It crashes a lot on certain programs, too, but I need the laptop working first to use as a back up the old PC's data.


Ron

[abaddonxi]

WEP password gets wiped by reset.

Sounds like you had adware/virus problems. Aside from hard drive failure it's the most common problem. Particular signs of this are slowing down of system, inability to access programs, browser hijack, and inability of antivirus to update/scan.

A good test - too late now - is to use IE to open: http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default...id=ie&venid=sym (http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym)

http://www.symantec.com/securitycheck
This is an across the web virus scan of your computer. Tell tale sign is if you can't use it you surely have a problem - virus software starts by blocking this page.

Cheers
Simon

[p38arover]

I run SpyBot, Ad-Aware, Norton NAV, Norton Internet Security, etc., and do regular scans of the system but nowt has shown up.

However, I'll add those addresses to my Favourites.

Thanks, Simon.

Ron

[JDNSW]

And people wonder why I won't use Windows! My last lot of computer problems was caused by a motherboard failure, but the one before that was hard disk.

John

(Posted using Suse 10.0 operating system, number of reinstalls or reboots since installation = 0)

[Tusker]

Hi Ron,

We've had issues with XP on my laptop too.

Tip - running a virus scan in safe mode showed up a couple of virurses that the normal scan didn't.

The IT guy then lost more hair trying to work out how to get rid of them in safe mode..

Now if only my screensaver would work..

Regards
Max P

[abaddonxi]

Originally posted by Tusker
Hi Ron,

We've had issues with XP on my laptop too.

Tip - running a virus scan in safe mode showed up a couple of virurses that the normal scan didn't.

The IT guy then lost more hair trying to work out how to get rid of them in safe mode..

Now if only my screensaver would work..

Regards
Max P

That's what told me something was wrong with my mum's laptop yesterday, I walked passed the computer and noticed there was no screensaver or power down wasn't working.

Too many hours later.

BTW spyware doctor - have to pay for the cleaning bit - scans and finds things that adaware and spybot don't find. Once you have the locations it isn't hard to weed them out. Most adware stuff is .exe in a temp folder.

Cheers
Simon

[Ace]

I run norton at home because i can get the corporate edition for free from school, i dont have a problem with it. Matt

[p38arover]

Up and running.

But....

Some of the DVDs onto which I restored the data before reformatting are no longer readable - even though I had restored from them last night!.

Gaaaahhhhh!


Ron

[Ace]

Originally posted by p38arover
Up and running.

But....

Some mof the DVDs onto which I restored the data before reformatting are no longer readable - even though I had restored from them last night!.

Gaaaahhhhh!


Ron

Gotta love em.

Just one question ron, what does mof mean? https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Matt

[abaddonxi]

Originally posted by p38arover
Up and running.

But....

Some of the DVDs onto which I restored the data before reformatting are no longer readable - even though I had restored from them last night!.

Gaaaahhhhh!


Ron

Haven't tried this http://www.smart-projects.net/isobuster/ but heard of it from here http://www.dansdata.com/io056.htm and he knows what he's talking about.

Cheers
Simon

[p38arover]

Originally posted by Ace+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ace)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-p38arover
Up and running.

But....

Some mof the DVDs onto which I restored the data before reformatting are no longer readable - even though I had restored from them last night!.

Gaaaahhhhh!


Ron

Gotta love em.

Just one question ron, what does mof mean? https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Matt[/b][/quote]

I saw that shortly after posting and amended it but not before you saw it. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Ron

[Sharpie]

do not load up norton unless you have SP2 Already installed on your pc or it will freeze!!!!!!!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Originally posted by JDNSW
And people wonder why I won't use Windows! My last lot of computer problems was caused by a motherboard failure, but the one before that was hard disk.

John

(Posted using Suse 10.0 operating system, number of reinstalls or reboots since installation = 0)

Operating Systems used on this site

Windows: 91.06 % (4964695)
Linux: 0.512 % (27930)
Mac/PPC: 3.280 % (178836)
FreeBSD: 0.000 % (22)
SunOS: 0.005 % (291)
IRIX: 0.000 % (7)
BeOS: 5.502 % (3)
OS/2: 0 % (0)
AIX: 0 % (0)
Unknown:5.135 % (279970)

I suppose that makes you "Unknown" JD

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Mudnut]

It is one of the reasons that I have been a Mac user since 1987. At least at home. At work, when the computer crashes, I just call the IT people, and they fix the problem. It might take a while though. I've just got a MacBook Pro laptop, and have Windows XP Pro on a partition. I guess I'll have to start looking for anti virus software soon. Have not bothered yet as I don't hook the computer up to the net while in Windows. The Apple partition is still my main operating system. The best of both worlds comes to mind with my new computer!!

[p38arover]

Originally posted by Sharpie
do not load up norton unless you have SP2 Already installed on your pc or it will freeze!!!!!!!

SP2 was loaded prior to Norton installation.

Ron

[p38arover]

Originally posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Operating Systems used on this site

Windows: 91.06 % (4964695)
Linux: 0.512 % (27930)
Mac/PPC: 3.280 % (178836)
FreeBSD: 0.000 % (22)
SunOS: 0.005 % (291)
IRIX: 0.000 % (7)
BeOS: 5.502 % (3)
OS/2: 0 % (0)
AIX: 0 % (0)
Unknown:5.135 % (279970)

I find the numbers unbelievable!

4.9 million users of Windows on this site? 8O

Ron

[JDNSW]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pedro_The_Swift &#064; May 9 2006, 09&#58;08 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Operating Systems used on this site
Windows: 91.06 % (4964695)
Linux: 0.512 % (27930)
Mac/PPC: 3.280 % (178836)
FreeBSD: 0.000 % (22)
SunOS: 0.005 % (291)
IRIX: 0.000 % (7)
BeOS: 5.502 % (3)
OS/2: 0 % (0)
AIX: 0 % (0)
Unknown:5.135 % (279970)
I suppose that makes you "Unknown" JD
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
[/b][/quote]

Could be - Suse is a distribution of Linux - I don&#39;t know how the site identifies the OS, could be either in the Linux or unknown, but I would suspect most of the unknown is various Linux distributions that the site doesn&#39;t recognise, and the "Linux" is the few that it identified as Linux rather than a specific distribution.

(Linux strictly refers to the operating system kernel, which is usually distributed as part of a package together with a large number of utilities plus application software. Suse is the name used by Novell for its distribution, but there are probably about fifty common distributions, which are not only generally compatible, but in fact have most of the software in common. For example most distributions come with both KDE and Gnome desktops and software such as Open Office and the Gimp.)
John

[p38arover]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JDNSW &#064; May 9 2006, 12&#58;18 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
And people wonder why I won&#39;t use Windows&#33; My last lot of computer problems was caused by a motherboard failure, but the one before that was hard disk.
John
(Posted using Suse 10.0 operating system, number of reinstalls or reboots since installation = 0)
[/b][/quote]

Here are some basic descriptions of what may happen if airplanes had different operating systems running them.

DOS: Everybody pushes it till it glides, then jumps on and lets it coast till it skids, then jumps off, pushes, jumps back on, etc.

DOS with QEMM: Same as DOS, but with more leg room for pushing.

Macintosh: All the flight attendants, captains and baggage handlers look the same, act the same and talk the same. Every time you ask a question, you are told you don&#39;t need to know, don&#39;t want to know and everything will be done for you without your knowing, so just shut up.

OS/2: To get on board, you have to have your ticket stamped 10 different times by standing in 10 different lines. Then you fill out a form asking how you want your seating arranged--with the look and feel of an ocean liner, a passenger train or a bus. If you get on board and off the ground, you will have a wonderful trip, except when the rudder and flaps freeze, in which case you have time to say your prayers before you crash.

Windows: Colorful airport terminal, friendly flight attendants, easy access to a plane, and an uneventful takeoff. Then, all in a sudden, boom&#33; You blow up without any warning whatsoever.

NT: The terminal and flight attendants all look like those the Windows plane uses, but the process of checking in and going through security is a nightmare. Once aboard, those passengers with first class tickets can go anywhere they want and arrive in half the time, while the vast majority of passengers with coach tickets can&#39;t even get aboard.

Unix: Everyone brings one piece of the plane. Then they go on the runway and piece it together, all the while arguing about what kind of plane they&#39;re building.

CAIRO: The airplane is distributed among 47 different hangars in 13 airports scattered over 8 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and a remote mountain hideaway in Nicaragua. But you don&#39;t need to know where the airplane is or who it belongs to in order to fly it. Actually, you don&#39;t fly the airplane itself; you fly a simulation that behaves just like the real thing except that you don&#39;t go anywhere. But that&#39;s okay, because when the world is at your fingertips you never need to leave home.

[Bytemrk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I find the numbers unbelievable&#33;

4.9 million users of Windows on this site? 8O [/b][/quote]

Ron I suspect that the stat is telling you 4.9 million page requests from Windows machines https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


but I could be wrong https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


I&#39;m with you on Norton products ... in the early days they were unbeatable. To be honest the Corporate AV is still quite good. But the rest of their consumer products are .... well not as good as they could be.

I have made many dollars removing viruses from machines where people told me... " Can&#39;t ba a virus a have Norton antivirus&#33;"

Good to here you have it back up and running.

Mark

[George130]

Just don&#39;t use borton crash guard. Had more friends lose their system to that peice of software than its ever saved. It just seems to make everything unstable.