The Windows/PC support thread
Discussion
Tyre Smoke said:
Hi bud, ran it again, and again. Still the same.
Oddly though, since ditching Chrome and installing Firefox, things have improved no end.
Bugger!! Hmm .. really the best option for this HD would be to (looks for the "nuke" smiley..) Oddly though, since ditching Chrome and installing Firefox, things have improved no end.
it! Seriously though we will need to get a bit erm, sterner with it. Before we do, have you got the windows restore disks for the laptop? The activation key should be on a sticker underneath.. But we will need restore media before we go much further. Plan "B" is to perform a low-level (thorough) format of the HD. This will wipe the drive *COMPLETELY* as well as marking sectors as bad, etc., ready to reinstall windows et al. A pain in the bum, but will get the job done, assuming you have the restore media....Edited to add: Chrome is a fine browser - deffo not the culprit here although perhaps some of its data is in a dodgy bit of hard drive ..
Edited by KimZ on Monday 5th November 15:29
Hi, this site was recommended by a friend. I'm no Windows novice, for the last ten years I've built our pc's but I'm struggling to indentify a problem on my wife'd pc.
This is not one of mine, both our PC's went down with different errors within days of each other. She has a second hand (shop bought) running Vista.
Tends to have a lot of screens up together, usually 3 different email progs, chat boxes, online games.
Recently, playing Castle Age on Facebook, and on other things, she's noticed it freezes, then she gets a "kill or wait" box up, Either way it can take several minutes before it decides to carry on.
I thought it was RAM, it only came with 1Gb, not enough for Vista and her usage. It will take 2Gb in 2 slots, but no other 1Gb sticks we've tried in PC3200 speed (as per the stick fitted) will work, it just beeps.
The board isa Winfast number HYWP 60302183, PC 0M02-GX-GLS, the RAM has MD0AD6G3141Y0K1E58 "memory export" and ddr(3) 1GX16 s/n 744J0 (ADNGC1A16)
Anyone have any ideas? Thinking on trying to get more RAM, if we sort which two sticks it likes, and/or a decent graphics card.
This is not one of mine, both our PC's went down with different errors within days of each other. She has a second hand (shop bought) running Vista.
Tends to have a lot of screens up together, usually 3 different email progs, chat boxes, online games.
Recently, playing Castle Age on Facebook, and on other things, she's noticed it freezes, then she gets a "kill or wait" box up, Either way it can take several minutes before it decides to carry on.
I thought it was RAM, it only came with 1Gb, not enough for Vista and her usage. It will take 2Gb in 2 slots, but no other 1Gb sticks we've tried in PC3200 speed (as per the stick fitted) will work, it just beeps.
The board isa Winfast number HYWP 60302183, PC 0M02-GX-GLS, the RAM has MD0AD6G3141Y0K1E58 "memory export" and ddr(3) 1GX16 s/n 744J0 (ADNGC1A16)
Anyone have any ideas? Thinking on trying to get more RAM, if we sort which two sticks it likes, and/or a decent graphics card.
Bohally said:
Cheers,
Have more or less installed all 64 bit Vista network drivers... Still not working. I give up for tonight.
Hi Bohally - Difficult vendor implementations can often be fixed by use of slimdrivers, a free utility that is rather good at fixing stubborn hardware and software/drivers problems! Linkie: https://www.slimwareutilities.com/slimdrivers.php. Have more or less installed all 64 bit Vista network drivers... Still not working. I give up for tonight.
Give it a whirl and let me know how you get on.
Ciao!
Novice query here. I'm thinking of replacing my hard disk with an internal SSD. To backup everything on the HD I simply copied the entire drive over to a folder on an external drive I use for backups.
I don't have any of the original disks, or backups of the system from when it was new, so my concern arises from getting all the device drivers and system files etc. up and running again when the new drive is installed.
So, a few novice questions;
1) What's the best way to create a reliable external boot disk i.e. it'll either be a DVD or USB stick, but exactly how ? I presume I'll need one after fitting the new SSD ?
2) How do I format a new SSD upon installation ?
3) How do I get all the Windows files and resources back in an operable and reliable situ on the SSD when it's installed ?
System is currently running Vista. I don't have an issue running with a fresh install of Windows, so long as I don't have to pay Microsoft for it seeing as they got their licence fee when this machine was bought, but I reckon I definitely have to be able to keep all the drivers and resource files for the hardware in the machine, am I right ?
I don't have any of the original disks, or backups of the system from when it was new, so my concern arises from getting all the device drivers and system files etc. up and running again when the new drive is installed.
So, a few novice questions;
1) What's the best way to create a reliable external boot disk i.e. it'll either be a DVD or USB stick, but exactly how ? I presume I'll need one after fitting the new SSD ?
2) How do I format a new SSD upon installation ?
3) How do I get all the Windows files and resources back in an operable and reliable situ on the SSD when it's installed ?
System is currently running Vista. I don't have an issue running with a fresh install of Windows, so long as I don't have to pay Microsoft for it seeing as they got their licence fee when this machine was bought, but I reckon I definitely have to be able to keep all the drivers and resource files for the hardware in the machine, am I right ?
You started ringing bells there. 
It's an Acer Aspire 7520.
I'd searched through the utilities and applications but none of the backup options seemed to save the system files.
Your post reminded me of the little green 'e' logo in the corner of the machine which launches some in-built Acer widgets and controls.
There's an option here to create backup discs of the system and all the drivers.
I came across the following text in the Notes on the System Backup utility though:
"If you restore the system using a backup CD/DVD, the hidden partition will remain. If you install a new hard disk to replace the old one, the Acer eRecovery Management partition will be removed completely.
The backup discs created by Acer eRecovery Management are only guaranteed to run in the optical drive that came with your machine. They may not work in other optical drives."
What do you think my chances are ?! LOL !!
Is there a chance this could be an indication of trouble ? It *should* work though ?
It's an Acer Aspire 7520.
I'd searched through the utilities and applications but none of the backup options seemed to save the system files.
Your post reminded me of the little green 'e' logo in the corner of the machine which launches some in-built Acer widgets and controls.
There's an option here to create backup discs of the system and all the drivers.
I came across the following text in the Notes on the System Backup utility though:
"If you restore the system using a backup CD/DVD, the hidden partition will remain. If you install a new hard disk to replace the old one, the Acer eRecovery Management partition will be removed completely.
The backup discs created by Acer eRecovery Management are only guaranteed to run in the optical drive that came with your machine. They may not work in other optical drives."
What do you think my chances are ?! LOL !!
Is there a chance this could be an indication of trouble ? It *should* work though ?Edited by Corso Marche on Wednesday 20th March 09:54
You can use that utility to create a set of backup discs to install on a new drive. Whether there will problems due to the fact it is an SSD drive (extra drivers needed etc.) - I can't answer as I have no experience of SSD.
The message about the hidden partition refers to an inbuilt function - you can press Alt + F10 at startup and the system will boot from this hidden partition to restore your system onto the existing hard drive. YOu can't use this to install to your SSD - it will only install to the C partition on the existing hard drive.
HTH
The message about the hidden partition refers to an inbuilt function - you can press Alt + F10 at startup and the system will boot from this hidden partition to restore your system onto the existing hard drive. YOu can't use this to install to your SSD - it will only install to the C partition on the existing hard drive.
HTH
Ok numpty question follows.
Asus laptop just returned from warranty repair for failed optical drive, no other issues laptop was working perfectly. Obviously they have wiped the drive and restored to factory setup.
That's not an issue as am paranoid about backups. All data is backed up including full backup and system image just before sending back.
So given that before anything else will make recovery disk and factory setup backup the question is how to restore.
Adopt the easy way and just restore from the system image backups for C and Ddrive.
Or do it like Sheldon and reinstall all the software from scratch then the data separately.
There is no software that wouldn't reinstall as fairly frequently trawl through anx and un install stuff don't want
Asus laptop just returned from warranty repair for failed optical drive, no other issues laptop was working perfectly. Obviously they have wiped the drive and restored to factory setup.
That's not an issue as am paranoid about backups. All data is backed up including full backup and system image just before sending back.
So given that before anything else will make recovery disk and factory setup backup the question is how to restore.
Adopt the easy way and just restore from the system image backups for C and Ddrive.
Or do it like Sheldon and reinstall all the software from scratch then the data separately.
There is no software that wouldn't reinstall as fairly frequently trawl through anx and un install stuff don't want
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff