The Windows/PC support thread
Discussion
Well obviously this thread is regularly visited... not.
Went down the Sheldon route with a clean install. Reason was didn't want to reintroduce any issues from before if there were any that I'd not noticed.
Basically quite easy, if tedious.
Easy to forget just how many updates you install over time. Walking back after some time to see it's still only on "Installing update 11 of 83" and also know you're going to have the "Preparing to configure Windows. Please do not turn off your computer" etched onto your retinas is a depressing experience. One of those sessions took over two hours, screen never changing, hard drive churning away...
Also had forgotten just how long it takes to install a full fat Microsoft Office suite.
Everything else fairly straightforward. Only difficulty was a new version of Adobe Digital Editions had come out and it seemed reluctant to speak easily across Nook e-reader, county and university libraries. It does seem better at handling multiple identitie which is a bonus once figured out. Maybe the old one could do this and I just hadn't sussed it.
Anyway thanks for help and advice.
Went down the Sheldon route with a clean install. Reason was didn't want to reintroduce any issues from before if there were any that I'd not noticed.
Basically quite easy, if tedious.
Easy to forget just how many updates you install over time. Walking back after some time to see it's still only on "Installing update 11 of 83" and also know you're going to have the "Preparing to configure Windows. Please do not turn off your computer" etched onto your retinas is a depressing experience. One of those sessions took over two hours, screen never changing, hard drive churning away...
Also had forgotten just how long it takes to install a full fat Microsoft Office suite.
Everything else fairly straightforward. Only difficulty was a new version of Adobe Digital Editions had come out and it seemed reluctant to speak easily across Nook e-reader, county and university libraries. It does seem better at handling multiple identitie which is a bonus once figured out. Maybe the old one could do this and I just hadn't sussed it.
Anyway thanks for help and advice.
A bit late (may have been better to start a new thread given the tumbleweeds in here) - I'd always recommend a clean install. Back-ups for programs are only important if you don't have the time and/or the media. Whilst I do have my OS SSD backed-up that's probably more to do with me not trusting SSDs yet.
Nothing like a fresh install though - like a spring cleaned house.
Nothing like a fresh install though - like a spring cleaned house.
Anyone have any ideas why Win 8 updates would start failing? Have tried with AV and firewall disabled, and have also cleaned off all the McAfee and Norton leftovers after uninstalling the trial versions of their products HP kindly decided I wanted on my new PC (late last year) - Haven't changed anything significant that has coincided with the problem starting; just seems random... The Microsoft update troubleshooter hasn't sorted it either 
Hello all.
I have a 5-ish year old Dell Inspiron 530S desktop which is causing problems on start up. The initial Dell screen with a loading bar appears and completes as normal. This is sometimes followed a couple of lines of text which mention BIOS. The computer then goes to a blank screen with an underscore flashing on and off in the top left hand corner.
Is the computer at the end of its life? What could have caused it and can/how it be fixed?
Thanks in advance
I have a 5-ish year old Dell Inspiron 530S desktop which is causing problems on start up. The initial Dell screen with a loading bar appears and completes as normal. This is sometimes followed a couple of lines of text which mention BIOS. The computer then goes to a blank screen with an underscore flashing on and off in the top left hand corner.
Is the computer at the end of its life? What could have caused it and can/how it be fixed?
Thanks in advance
grumbledoak said:
Sounding like backups for any data, then. You do have backups, right?
As far as the PC goes, a new HDD + new operating system costs on five year old PC is quite probably a write-off.
No. Thankfully just pictures. Thanks. I'll start looking at new desktops then. Any recommendations? Doesn't need to do anything fancy and ideally not expensive.As far as the PC goes, a new HDD + new operating system costs on five year old PC is quite probably a write-off.
Is there any way that a desktop disk can be plugged into the equivalent of one of those Usb disk cassette thingies.
Reason is that it sounds just like what happened on my old thinkpad a few Christmases ago. Just plugged it into one of those devices and there was nothing much wrong with it.
All it needed was a copy across to another drive just to be sure and away we went.
All data was backed up three times a week so never going to be a panic but a lot less painful than expected.
Reason is that it sounds just like what happened on my old thinkpad a few Christmases ago. Just plugged it into one of those devices and there was nothing much wrong with it.
All it needed was a copy across to another drive just to be sure and away we went.
All data was backed up three times a week so never going to be a panic but a lot less painful than expected.
I would see if a mate/local computer shop can do more for the existing one; it might not be a total loss. ETA- yup, a USB disk cassette might do it.
A new PC needs a new thread really. I quite like the look of the teeny-tiny Lenovo Q190s.
And backup your data - SkyDrive and GoogleDrive are free!
A new PC needs a new thread really. I quite like the look of the teeny-tiny Lenovo Q190s.
And backup your data - SkyDrive and GoogleDrive are free!
grumbledoak said:
I would see if a mate/local computer shop can do more for the existing one; it might not be a total loss. ETA- yup, a USB disk cassette might do it.
A new PC needs a new thread really. I quite like the look of the teeny-tiny Lenovo Q190s.
And backup your data - SkyDrive and GoogleDrive are free!
Thanks. I'll ask a mate who's local.A new PC needs a new thread really. I quite like the look of the teeny-tiny Lenovo Q190s.
And backup your data - SkyDrive and GoogleDrive are free!
Hi all. Got a problem with my desktop which has a dual boot windows 7 ultimate x64 and linux mint on.
I bought a laptop a couple of years ago and now primarily use that as a result my desktop has become a paperweight for the last few years as if i've ever needed it i've booted into linux mint. Anyway now i've booted it into windows it sais i may be a victim of counterfeit software build 7601. I've done a trick to get rid of the messages on the desktop but now i cant activate it again with the key i have for the computer. As a friend who i have pretty much lost touch with built the computer i don't know what he used for the OS genuine or not? the reason for dusting off the cobwebs is i want to play Mechwarrior online with it as my laptop just doesn't have the Ooomph to handle it at an acceptable level. Its also deciding to suddenly say the the C: drive is full which is unusual.
So do i need to buy a new copy of windows and start from scratch, or can i revive what is already on there with a new Key (which looking at Windose website you cant buy for 7 anymore?)
Any help much appreciated.
I bought a laptop a couple of years ago and now primarily use that as a result my desktop has become a paperweight for the last few years as if i've ever needed it i've booted into linux mint. Anyway now i've booted it into windows it sais i may be a victim of counterfeit software build 7601. I've done a trick to get rid of the messages on the desktop but now i cant activate it again with the key i have for the computer. As a friend who i have pretty much lost touch with built the computer i don't know what he used for the OS genuine or not? the reason for dusting off the cobwebs is i want to play Mechwarrior online with it as my laptop just doesn't have the Ooomph to handle it at an acceptable level. Its also deciding to suddenly say the the C: drive is full which is unusual.
So do i need to buy a new copy of windows and start from scratch, or can i revive what is already on there with a new Key (which looking at Windose website you cant buy for 7 anymore?)
Any help much appreciated.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff