HELP is at hand for General PC queries, not Foxestalk ones

[AoWW]

Awaiting delivery of my new laptop. I'm excited. Just wanted to share....

[CupidStunt]

Intermittent Internet connection

I've got Sky broadband and my connection regularly gets disconnected.

I've checked the PCI maintenance facility and un-clicked the power saving option (disconnect from internet when not in use).

Is there anything else that could be set up that's causing this. MrsG using an older slower pc with XP rarely has this problem.

Sometimes it disconnects whilst I'm replying to a post -it's sooooooooooooo annoying.

When I try to reconnect even though it's listed it wont do so and I have to restart my PC and even this doesn't always resolve it. It used to happen quite a bit on my laptop but now I've cleared that down it rarely happens - this mostly a problem, certainly a bigger problem on my new super dooper desktop PC.

Wireless? Ethernet?

Open your router settings (I guess you know how to do that?) 192.168 etc etc and check whether UPnP is on/off turn it off if its on,and then reboot, that might work

If wireless, try using Ethernet adapter for a bit

Check test socket hidden behind BT socket

Change filters

And btw anti vir' shouldnt block the internet

Just a few basics that you should be trying

Edited 29 July 2009 by CupidStunt

[Hitesh]

Awaiting delivery of my new laptop. I'm excited. Just wanted to share....

Would you like to share which laptop you are getting???

[DB11]

Wireless? Ethernet?

Open your router settings (I guess you know how to do that?) 192.168 etc etc and check whether UPnP is on/off turn it off if its on,and then reboot, that might work

If wireless, try using Ethernet adapter for a bit

Check test socket hidden behind BT socket

Change filters

And btw anti vir' shouldnt block the internet

Just a few basics that you should be trying

Shouldn't, yes. Doesn't mean it doesn't

[CupidStunt]

ok

anti vir doesnt block internet then not in my experience anyhow

thats the firewalls job

Edited 29 July 2009 by CupidStunt

[DB11]

Norton Anti Virus, has blocked the internet many a time; it has been a common problem when people have complained they cannot get internet. Usually, it's because Norton's become corrupted. Remove Norton, and the internet works again.

[CupidStunt]

Never heard of Norton antivirus on its blocking access to the net before, maybe on a LAN network as it might detect some activity as suspect giving a false positive

If it Norton suite i'd say yes maybe,but never just the antivirus, and if it did, it was probably a bug in the program.

But if you say it has, then i take your word for it, cant be arsed to google

I use Nod32 on mine btw, useful little proggy, always found Norton a resource hog,but i havent used it for a few years, think 2003 was the last time

If anyone wants a cough cough, working version of it,let me know,and i will host it somewhere for download ( I have ESET.NOD32.Antivirus.Business.Edition.4.0.417 -which is fully update-able)

[lou]

Our Norton used to block the net all the time! We changed to Macafee and its been fine

[CupidStunt]

Its very unusual for people to have just the anti vir installed, most users have the suite which includes a firewal;

what version u have?

Edited 29 July 2009 by CupidStunt

[DB11]

Alright then if I got it mixed up. Just Norton then, ok?

But the latest edition of Norton doesn't take up much resource, it's a lot better than previous years.

[the_bowman]

Listening to music on my laptop earlier, whole thing froze, so I turned it off

Now I can't boot - it gets through the xp loading screen, then flashes a blue screen which I don't have time to read, and reboots.

If I try to start in safe mode, it freezes at the MUP.SYS driver and eventually reboots

When I try to run the recovery console. it freezes and I can't put anything in.

When I try to repair the xp installation, the only partition it finds is "C: Partition1 [unknown]", so I don't have the option to repair.

I really, really don't want to wipe it, I've got too many files on there and programs installed.

Help welcome

[Hitesh]

Listening to music on my laptop earlier, whole thing froze, so I turned it off

Now I can't boot - it gets through the xp loading screen, then flashes a blue screen which I don't have time to read, and reboots.

If I try to start in safe mode, it freezes at the MUP.SYS driver and eventually reboots

When I try to run the recovery console. it freezes and I can't put anything in.

When I try to repair the xp installation, the only partition it finds is "C: Partition1 [unknown]", so I don't have the option to repair.

I really, really don't want to wipe it, I've got too many files on there and programs installed.

Help welcome

What was the last thing you did, installed and changed (settings wise) when you last had it running? Or did you have any automatic updates running?

Also, the reason you may not be able to do the windows repair is because it doesn't have the drivers built in to the CD to recognise your hard drive and therefore can't see the C drive. There are ways around this but depends on your system/hard drive. Are you running a Dell by any chance? I had a similar problem where I had to change the hard drive settings in the BIOS so that Windows would then recognise it and do any repairs. From what you have said, it sounds like the best starting point. Also, wiping should always be the last resort because at the end of the day, with the use of another hard drive with an OS (XP or Linux) on it, you can easily grab the data off it so you won't lose it!

Post as many details as possible, like the make and Model of your laptop etc and depending on how eager you are, access your BIOS and go to the hard drive settings and see what kind of HD it is: You should see things like RAID, SATA, ATA etc. But when you exit, make sure you exit without saving and hence don't change any settings unexpectedly. Don't go in the BIOS if you don't have a clue what you are doing though!

[the_bowman]

What was the last thing you did, installed and changed (settings wise) when you last had it running? Or did you have any automatic updates running?

Also, the reason you may not be able to do the windows repair is because it doesn't have the drivers built in to the CD to recognise your hard drive and therefore can't see the C drive. There are ways around this but depends on your system/hard drive. Are you running a Dell by any chance? I had a similar problem where I had to change the hard drive settings in the BIOS so that Windows would then recognise it and do any repairs. From what you have said, it sounds like the best starting point. Also, wiping should always be the last resort because at the end of the day, with the use of another hard drive with an OS (XP or Linux) on it, you can easily grab the data off it so you won't lose it!

Post as many details as possible, like the make and Model of your laptop etc and depending on how eager you are, access your BIOS and go to the hard drive settings and see what kind of HD it is: You should see things like RAID, SATA, ATA etc. But when you exit, make sure you exit without saving and hence don't change any settings unexpectedly. Don't go in the BIOS if you don't have a clue what you are doing though!

Right, I'll answer you're questions first

Last thing I did? I didn't change anything, using it as normal, google chrome, msn and itunes, when it froze and I powered off.

I was using the CD I originally used to install XP on it, so I don't think that was the issue

I'm on a Toshiba Equium L40

But I've fixed it!

I reset the BIOS to factory, then tried to start normally.

It got to the blue 'windows must check disk' etc... so I let it do that, it deleted a lot of corrupt sectors, then froze

I restarted, skipped the screen this time and it works fine now!

How long before it dies again though... that's a mystery

[lavrentis]

Awaiting delivery of my new laptop. I'm excited. Just wanted to share....

Spill the beans..

[Hitesh]

Right, I'll answer you're questions first

Last thing I did? I didn't change anything, using it as normal, google chrome, msn and itunes, when it froze and I powered off.

I was using the CD I originally used to install XP on it, so I don't think that was the issue

I'm on a Toshiba Equium L40

But I've fixed it!

I reset the BIOS to factory, then tried to start normally.

It got to the blue 'windows must check disk' etc... so I let it do that, it deleted a lot of corrupt sectors, then froze

I restarted, skipped the screen this time and it works fine now!

How long before it dies again though... that's a mystery

Nice one. It sounds like the BIOS reset did it. I then suspect that it was a change in the settings on your Graphics card or sound card etc that lead to the issues!

[DB11]

Listening to music on my laptop earlier, whole thing froze, so I turned it off

Now I can't boot - it gets through the xp loading screen, then flashes a blue screen which I don't have time to read, and reboots.

If I try to start in safe mode, it freezes at the MUP.SYS driver and eventually reboots

When I try to run the recovery console. it freezes and I can't put anything in.

When I try to repair the xp installation, the only partition it finds is "C: Partition1 [unknown]", so I don't have the option to repair.

I really, really don't want to wipe it, I've got too many files on there and programs installed.

Help welcome

I know you've fixed it, but first repair would have been more appropriate than second repair, which sounds like you were trying.

[stez]

i have one of these:

and yesterday it just shut off, and now won't start up anymore. it has some LCDs at the base which flash once, but that's it it fails to actually start up. help/advice/ideas please.

cheers me ducks, i'm stuck back on my crappy laptop again now

[CupidStunt]

Could be various things wrong with it,and without someone looking at it,its hard to tell

could be the motherboard/power supply

You can try and removing the ram,disconnect the HD and DVD drives etc,then see if it boots, if it dont then, then you can plug it all back in,and try it again but this time just take out any PCI cards you have,if any.

My guess its the motherboard and/or power supply

[stez]

Could be various things wrong with it,and without someone looking at it,its hard to tell

could be the motherboard/power supply

You can try and removing the ram,disconnect the HD and DVD drives etc,then see if it boots, if it dont then, then you can plug it all back in,and try it again but this time just take out any PCI cards you have,if any.

My guess its the motherboard and/or power supply

ok, thanks for that. now if it is the motherboard, am i best replacing it like for like or can a pop any old type in there? i may be able to get a replacement part from a friends old tower

(i'm better with cars than computers!)

Edited 2 August 2009 by peter_tork

[CupidStunt]

I'd say you cant just use any old motherboard, depends on what bits that will fit into it and if it will fit in the case you have in respect to the slots for usb etc, then depending on what disk you have with it wil affect this decision also

If it is the motherboard, then your best bet is to replace it like for like,thus avoiding any issues

[BoneDog]

i have one of these:

and yesterday it just shut off, and now won't start up anymore. it has some LCDs at the base which flash once, but that's it it fails to actually start up. help/advice/ideas please.

cheers me ducks, i'm stuck back on my crappy laptop again now

When that happened to me, it was the power supply unit. I had the lights that flashed but nothing happened. Got a new power supply for about £12 and was back to normal.

I reckon it's gonna be that cos sounds exactly the same as what happened with mine.

I didn't bother getting it checked out first cos power supplies are so cheap I just thought I'd try a new one, and it worked. (so if you know how to change power supply unit I'd just risk buying one of them)

Edited 3 August 2009 by El Empty

[Katy]

My laptop is full of complete crap and I've hardly any memory left on it, I've deleted a load of things but it's the hidden memory that's the problem I think.

I'd like to format it but what I need to know is what exactly is wiped when I format it? Will windows vista be taken off, and if so how do I get it back without the disk? (It was there already when I got the laptop new)

Any advice would be gratefully received, cheers.

[davieG]

My laptop is full of complete crap and I've hardly any memory left on it, I've deleted a load of things but it's the hidden memory that's the problem I think.

I'd like to format it but what I need to know is what exactly is wiped when I format it? Will windows vista be taken off, and if so how do I get it back without the disk? (It was there already when I got the laptop new)

Any advice would be gratefully received, cheers.

I recently did my laptop but it came with a recovery disc which pretty much restores it to how it was when you bought it - did you get one of those.

As far as I know reformatting will remove your operating system you should be able to download a version off the net but you'll need your ownership code which should be on a label on your laptop somewhere.

I learn't all this from DB and a few others

[Katy]

I recently did my laptop but it came with a recovery disc which pretty much restores it to how it was when you bought it - did you get one of those.

As far as I know reformatting will remove your operating system you should be able to download a version off the net but you'll need your ownership code which should be on a label on your laptop somewhere.

I learn't all this from DB and a few others

Thanks DG, I will have a hunt for the disc.

[Hitesh]

Some don't come with a disk so you may not find it!

Also, Some manufacturers pre-partition hard drives with a "backup" section so that you can easily restore should something go wrong. Windows Vista already comes with a utility that provides info on your partitions. If you go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Storage > Disk Management.

This then should load a window giving information of the partitions of your hard drive. However, you won't be able to get rid of it and add it to Vista without re-installing.

As long as you keep a copy of you license key you can obtain any Vista Disk which is the same version (ie. Home Edition, Home Premium, Ultimate etc) and install using the license key. When formatting and in your case, re-formatting the hard drives, you completley lose everything and its a fresh install.

I think there is a way to add the partition to your sections where Vista is installed but don't know off hand how this is done..sorry!

Edited 3 August 2009 by Hitesh