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

[DB11]

Me again, it's the desk top this time. When I start it up it gets so far and freezes. I've switched it off at the plug and then restarted it again but it keeps happening just the same.

Try 1st repair. It may be a corrupt Windows file.

Or it may be a virus - does it boot in Safe Mode?

[Webbo]

Do you get any beeps when it starts? And does the Windows splash screen come up or does it freeze before that?

Yes and yes.

Try 1st repair. It may be a corrupt Windows file.

Or it may be a virus - does it boot in Safe Mode?

I don't know how to start it in safe mode.

[DB11]

I don't know how to start it in safe mode.

When it's booting up, keep hittign F8 like a mad man. It'll go to a black screen with loads of choices; using the arrow keys on the keyboard go up / down to 'Safe Mode' and hit enter.

If it gets to the XP loading screen without getting to the safe mode option, you've missed it so try again.

[Webbo]

Yes it starts in safe mode. What do I do next?

[DB11]

Yes it starts in safe mode. What do I do next?

Well safe mode only starts the essential Windows files so it's possibly a virus that is stopping Windows from booting in normal mode.

Do the normal virus scans.

Run HijackThis to take out all unwanted start up items and processes. If you're lucky the virus should be here so it will stop affecting you but you still need to take it out even if it's disabled now. Run CCleaner on all the computer accounts (if the strain of virus is bad then it will close this as it realises you are trying to remove it. if this happens boot into safe mode and do this)

Once CCleaner has been ran download MALWARE BYTES and then update it, do a quick scan (as you've ran ccleaner to remove all the crap it should only take around 5 minutes) this should find some infections and then remove them. Reboot PC. With your anti virus eg. AVG or Norton update it then run a full system scan. Reboot. Job done.

HijackThis : http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-Hijack...4-10227353.html

CCleaner : http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup220.exe

MalwareBytes : http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-...4-10804572.html

ComboFix : http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exe

If they start closing down because the virus knows that you're trying to remove it then reboot in safe mode and try running them. If the files still don't open, then get ComboFix and run that. If it won't run you'll have to rename the file to something like "DB11isgreat.exe" and then run it. If this doesn't work and they still don't open then you'd could take out the hard drive, put it in another computer as a slave and then boot it up. As it's the slave it won't boot up to this hard drive but you can still access it from the computer. After this, tell the working computer to scan the other hard drive.

Edited 19 June 2009 by DB11

[Webbo]

I've done most of what you've said but I couldn't download hijackthis because the internet's not working. I restarted and the computer froze again.

[DB11]

I've done most of what you've said but I couldn't download hijackthis because the internet's not working. I restarted and the computer froze again.

HijackThis won't work in safe mode anyway. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

Try doing a first repair.

[Webbo]

HijackThis won't work in safe mode anyway. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

Try doing a first repair.

Sorry Dan, what's that?

[DB11]

Sorry Dan, what's that?

Put the Windows XP disc into the drive, and reboot the PC. Make sure that the PC is set to boot to disc, and press "Any key" when it asks you to, to boot from disc.

Hit F8, saying you agree

At the first blue screen where you can press 'Enter' or 'R' - hit 'R' to repair the Windows installation.

After it loads a black screen will appear where you can enter information

The Windows installation will, by default, be '1' so press 1 then enter

Enter admin password then press enter (default is no password so just press enter)

Type 'chkdsk /p/r' then press enter.

Wait for it to repair and then type 'Exit' and see if it works.

[Webbo]

Nope. I put in the rescue disc and restored it to it's factory settings but when it restarted it froze again. Unless someone can recommend something else it looks like I'll be buying a new one tomorrow.

Can anyone recommend a budget desktop?

[DB11]

Nope. I put in the rescue disc and restored it to it's factory settings but when it restarted it froze again. Unless someone can recommend something else it looks like I'll be buying a new one tomorrow.

Can anyone recommend a budget desktop?

Hmm..... well if it started in safe mode then it would suggest that it isn't faulty Ram or anything

[Webbo]

Hmm..... well if it started in safe mode then it would suggest that it isn't faulty Ram or anything

I really don't know enough about these things to comment,it was getting a bit old anyway. Thanks for all your efforts Dan.

[Webbo]

Me again. I've got my new computer and it's all set up except I can't install my printer. I've put in the CD but it gets so far and then it says it can't install the printer. It worked alright with the last computer.

[DB11]

Me again. I've got my new computer and it's all set up except I can't install my printer. I've put in the CD but it gets so far and then it says it can't install the printer. It worked alright with the last computer.

Are you on a different OS?

What is your operating system and what's the printer?

Have you followed the instructions, such as the printer must be connected to the PC and turned on (so the PC can find it and then knows what driver it must install)

[Webbo]

EDIT; I downloaded the driver direct from Lexmark and it works ok now.

Btw why wouldn't load from the disc though?

Edited 20 June 2009 by Webbo

[DB11]

EDIT; I downloaded the driver direct from Lexmark and it works ok now.

Btw why wouldn't load from the disc though?

Disc scratched?

Operating System different?

Faulty disc drive (if it didn't even read the disc)

[JoeyB]

If you go into tools/options/privacy there's a tab for cookies where you can put allowed or not allowed cookies. There's also a saved password option under tools/options/security.

Not sure if that does it.

Still not worked, any other ways?

Oh and now my sound has just gone, but the drivers don't need updateing and its not on mute

Edited 26 June 2009 by JoeyB

[dandannieldanok]

Hello people help/advice needed.........

Before anyone asks, I have trawled through what google brings up about this but I was just wondering if anyone has ever had the same problem. Over the last few days my computer has randomly been turning itself off with no warning. From what I've read it could be a variety of things from the heat to viruses. Because it keeps switching off I can never complete a virus scan (how ironic ) but from what gets scanned I'm getting no unusual results. The heat could be the answer but the tower has an internal fan and I've had it on all day before in warm conditions so I'm sceptical about that but obviously not ruling it out. In fact of course I'd rather it be that than a virus.

Just wondered if anyone has had this happen before and what it turned out to be.

Any help/advice is gratefully received.

[Smudge]

Hello people help/advice needed.........

Before anyone asks, I have trawled through what google brings up about this but I was just wondering if anyone has ever had the same problem. Over the last few days my computer has randomly been turning itself off with no warning. From what I've read it could be a variety of things from the heat to viruses. Because it keeps switching off I can never complete a virus scan (how ironic ) but from what gets scanned I'm getting no unusual results. The heat could be the answer but the tower has an internal fan and I've had it on all day before in warm conditions so I'm sceptical about that but obviously not ruling it out. In fact of course I'd rather it be that than a virus.

Just wondered if anyone has had this happen before and what it turned out to be.

Any help/advice is gratefully received.

Have you cleaned the fan? It may be dirty or need replacing. If it still shuts down even after cleaning, leave the case panel off and if possible use an extra fan to keep the air moving. If you dont have one use your vacuum to pull the air through the casing. If that works it would seem that you need a new fan; you'll also be able to run a virus/malware check.

Edited 2 July 2009 by Smudge

[DB11]

Take side panel off, turn PC on and put your hand on the processor or fan or something and see if it's hot.

Also, when turning it on, go into the Bios and look at the CPU temperature and see if it's abnormal.

Have you cleaned the fan? It may be dirty or need replacing. If it still shuts down even after cleaning, leave the case panel off and if possible use an extra fan to keep the air moving. If you dont have one use your vacuum to pull the air through the casing. If that works it would seem that you need a new fan. In amy event you should be able to run a virus/malware check.

Don't be silly that will short the board.

[Smudge]

Take side panel off, turn PC on and put your hand on the processor or fan or something and see if it's hot.

Also, when turning it on, go into the Bios and look at the CPU temperature and see if it's abnormal.

Don't be silly that will short the board.

I was suggesting the vacuum be outside but near the case so as to move the air. Don't call me silly you whippersnapper.

Edited 2 July 2009 by Smudge

[dandannieldanok]

Thanks for the advice Smudge and DB11.

[DB11]

I was suggesting the vacuum be outside but near the case so as to move the air. Don't call me silly you whippersnapper.

I wasn't calling you silly, I was saying the idea was silly. Which I still standby even after your clarification.

[Smudge]

Silly me! I should know by now that I'm not young enough to know everything.

[Smudge]

Thanks for the advice Smudge and DB11.

Let us know if that fixes it.