Calling all IT experts around here HELPPPPP

Jen · #1 10-03-2009, 12:01 AM

Hey guys i know a few of you around here specialise in IT
I really need some help
:help :
Here i was just cruising around here doing what i do best being happy and posting smilies and annoying a few peeps while burning a DVD in the back ground Then arhhhhhhhhh computer freezes but wait thats not all so i reset the computer and now it just keeps rebooting and shutting down on me arhhhhhhhhhhhh so now i can only get in here in safe mode with networking PHEWWWW everything is so much bigger in here lol but now i am very limited with what i can do
Is this an easy fix or should i just get even and throw the computer out the window

:bash comp:

Jen · #2 10-03-2009, 12:03 AM

PS i tried system restore that didnt fix it

marki · #3 10-03-2009, 12:13 AM

Hi Jen

I'm no IT guru but I think if you told people what operating system you are using those that are could help.

Ciao Mark

Jen · #4 10-03-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marki

Hi Jen

I'm no IT guru but I think if you told people what operating system you are using those that are could help.

Ciao Mark

Oh yeah thanks Mark that might help hey
Um i have an old school dinosaur windows XP pro (with no back up disc)
80gig hard drive which is totally full have over 9000 songs on there
512mega bytes RAM i have about 300mb of memory left on there

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #5 10-03-2009, 12:26 AM

now if i remember correctly Jen

there is a rule of thumb that you should have at least 10% free space on your hard drive

start by doing a disc cleanup - then delete more files if you have to - and see how you go from there

geoff

luka · #6 10-03-2009, 01:30 AM

1. Shut down computer and unplug it from the mains. Wait at least a minute and then plug it back in.
This works most of times but you really have to unplug it and wait a min. Just shutting down is not enough.

2. Try running a hard drive scan in safe mode (open my computer, right click on c: drive, select properties, then tools and then select error checking).

More drastic measures:
1. Boot windows installation disk and select automatic repair. Be prepared to have to install some software again.
2. Back up everything and do a clean windows install.

Also, unrelated to your problem, make sure you have at least several gigs of free disk space or windows will slow down heaps. Defragmenting the drive will also help.

Barrykgerdes · #7 10-03-2009, 09:21 AM

Hi Jen

I had that happen to me last week when I tried to update a video driver. I tried for hours to get it right. Ended up putting a disk image back on. But later I tried something else and I think that if I had turned the computer off at th mains and waited 10 minutes all would have been OK.

Barry

Liz · #8 10-03-2009, 09:45 AM

Any luck Jen?

I had major problems with my PC couple of months ago - kept freezing, shutting down, blue screens

etc .... tried many things ... ended up being some well hidden trojans deep in my system. Ran all my virus scans, and finally bought Spydoctor - ran a deep scan and voila - a little nasty lurking ....... all OK one the nasty was eliminated ........ huge relief.
May or maynot be your problem

Shaun · #9 10-03-2009, 10:32 AM

Hi,

The fact you can still boot up and got online in safe mode tells me that it maybe a driver issue, you say you have tried restore and that did not help.

More than likely it could be DVD or video related, if you are willing to try give this a go.

1) Shut down pc and unplug from wall
2) Take cover off the pc
3) Unplug the 2 cables going to the dvd player (the one with 3 wires is the power the other might be skinny red one or a wide flat grey one) if it is the grey flat one look for a red stripe down one side and remember the side that was on so you can put it back the same way when needed.
4) Plug pc back in wall and try to start normaly or select last known good configuration.

If this fails go to second option

Second Option

Start pc in safe mode right click "My Computer" select "Properties" select "Hardware" then select "Device Manager"

Expand the list under "Display adapters" right click your adapter and select "Uninstall" when done reboot the pc.
If there was a problem with drivers this should reinstall the driver once rebooted.

Baddad (Marty) · #10 10-03-2009, 05:21 PM

Oh dear! Oh Me Oh My,
Jen has not posted for hours.

Me-thinks her computer has had enough of its keys being punched,

swallowed her up and spitting her up to the stars.

Alien abduction???

COME BACK JEN WE REALLY LIKE YOUR PURPLE WRITING.

I can't even get the colour shade right.

acropolite (Phil) · #11 10-03-2009, 07:27 PM

Jen, my suggestion is to get another HDD, currently you can buy around 500gb for $100 or so. Do a fresh install of XP. Put your old HDD as a secondary leaving the files intact. You should be able to easily find a copy of XP, if you have a serial sticker on the side or back of your PC that's all you need apart from a copied install disk.

If all the above sounds too daunting, find a local IISer with the necessary skills to assist (perhaps a wanted ad in the icetrade section

)

turbo_pascale (Rob) · #12 10-03-2009, 07:51 PM

Jen,

Before you get carried away re-installing etc, make a backup of everything (if you don't have a recent backup already, you're asking for trouble).

A second hard drive is a good idea. Cheap, easy, and given the vintage of your system, quite possibly a good idea to get a new hard drive anyway.

I work off a strategy of multiple hard drives. One for Windows/applications, one for all my "data". If Windows has a complete breakdown, I lose nothing I can't just re-install. Might be overkill, but this process has saved me at least twice in the last few years, and as recently as November last year when I dropped the windows/boot hard drive when I was putting it in a new computer.

If you can manage it, an INTERNAL drive is a good way to go because it will not require any drivers. An external hard drive is a little more expensive (it's the same type of hard drive just with a power supply and an interface to USB), but it will require drivers on XP (maybe) and will probably be a headache.

I concur that the problem is probably driver related. Video is normally a pretty good culprit too. After you've backed up everything from safe mode, then the un-install advice given so far is good.

ps. Swan Hill is just a little bit too far for me to come and help - if you were a bit more local I'd be there!

Turbo

Jen · #13 10-03-2009, 09:45 PM

Awwwwww thank you too all your lovely tips and gestures
ok im still in safe mode
(I dont have any serial numbers on my computer i got ripped off on that one but thats another story for a rainy day )
I have partitioned my hard drive so i have 60gig on one and 20gig on the other
Anyway i done a bit of a clean up after my big clean up OMG i now have 6 gig of space hahah isnt it amazing what you can do if you have a clean up
anyway i am now about to try some other suggestions you lovely peeps have put up here for me
PS i will keep ya posted
Ok here it goes if im not back in a few daysyou will know that i have happily used a hammer to fix my problem
cheers

Jen · #14 10-03-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baddad

Oh dear! Oh Me Oh My,
Jen has not posted for hours.

Me-thinks her computer has had enough of its keys being punched,

swallowed her up and spitting her up to the stars.

Alien abduction???

COME BACK JEN WE REALLY LIKE YOUR PURPLE WRITING.

I can't even get the colour shade right.

dont worry i wont be gone for very long
It will take more than a broken computer to keep me out of this place

Jen · #15 11-03-2009, 05:17 PM

ok tried turning off from the main supply that didnt fix it

IM STILL IN SAFE MODE

ive poped back in to try the next step

#16 11-03-2009, 05:33 PM

Hi Jen, I am I.T tech by trade so i might be able to help

"80gig hard drive which is totally full have over 9000 songs on there
512mega bytes RAM i have about 300mb of memory left on there"

RAM memory is random access memory so it doesn't actually store data onto it permanently.I think you mean to say you have 300mb left on your 80GB hard drive.
If thats the case, your hard drive is very full and will cause system instability.

Here is a few things i would suggest you do.
1) Remove any unneeded junk on the computer - you want to have at least 1-2GB free. Then run a DEFRAG on your local disk.

2) Go to "My Computer" and Right click on your Local Disk Drive (C:\) Choose "Properties" and then on the top Tab choose "TOOLS" . Then under "Error checking" click on "Check Now".

This can take some time , sometimes a hr or more. This tool will check your system files and the local disk to ensure it is erorr free, if errors are founded the tool will fix it.

I am quite sure this will fix your problem.

3 When you say it keeps restarting, from which point does it keep restarting? When you choose SAFE Mode, there should be a option to start windows in its last known good configuration.

Let me know how you go with the above.

Cheers,
Ash

dugnsuz (Doug) · #17 11-03-2009, 05:45 PM

Hi Jen,
Is your computer an ACER? If it is and you're running AVG antivirus there may be a conflict - this happened to me at work. All Acer PCs with AVG installed would restart and shut-down repeatedly, never booting up. The IT guy came and fixed it - said it was something to do with an update or such!!??. Let me know if that sounds possible and I'll find out what he did.
Doug

RB (Andrew) · #18 11-03-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen

IM STILL IN SAFE MODE

I think it's the best mode to keep you in Jen !

madwayne (Wayne) · #19 11-03-2009, 06:15 PM

Too funny RB. You're a moderator, is there any way we can disable emoticans for people entering IIS in safe mode.....

Wayne

RB (Andrew) · #20 11-03-2009, 06:20 PM

In Jen's case Wayne I'm just a moderator not a Miracle Worker.......