The Windows/PC support thread

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Rickyy

6,618 posts

218 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
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Hi guys, hoping for some help.

I have a Lenovo VB71LUK, all-in-one desktop PC. I can't get any display from it at all, it sounds as if it's powering up and the power light illuminates, buts that's all.

Anything I can try before I send it for repair?

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
quotequote all
Nothing at all when you boot such as the post or BIOS screens?

Rickyy

6,618 posts

218 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
quotequote all
I eventually got it to work, but it will happen again if I switch it off.

I get no display whatsoever, it's as if someone has unplugged the monitor on a conventional PC.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
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Came to my computer this morning to find that Windows had "done an important security update" and had "restarted my computer".
Windows was actually hanging halfway to closed down, but the above were the messages i got when i restarted the computer manually.
I am still on Windows XP, because I like it, and because I don't get on with Windows 8 (which I use at one of my clients).

I thought that Microsoft were no longer supporting XP - so why did I get a security update?

And, second question, if I install Windows 8, can I set it to work like XP or 7, ie without the front end, and will I need to re-install all my applications and all my data?
I hate "upgrades"........

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
QBee said:
Came to my computer this morning to find that Windows had "done an important security update" and had "restarted my computer".
Windows was actually hanging halfway to closed down, but the above were the messages i got when i restarted the computer manually.
I am still on Windows XP, because I like it, and because I don't get on with Windows 8 (which I use at one of my clients).

I thought that Microsoft were no longer supporting XP - so why did I get a security update?

And, second question, if I install Windows 8, can I set it to work like XP or 7, ie without the front end, and will I need to re-install all my applications and all my data?
I hate "upgrades"........
If you like XP, 7 isn't that much of a leap interface-wise. It's also a much better OS than XP. If you are going to W8, ensure you have 8.1 update and install Classic Shell and it'll look and feel pretty much like 7.

I was an XP die-hard and wouldn't go back to using it now if you paid me.

(I run both W7 and W8).

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
Funk said:
QBee said:
Came to my computer this morning to find that Windows had "done an important security update" and had "restarted my computer".
Windows was actually hanging halfway to closed down, but the above were the messages i got when i restarted the computer manually.
I am still on Windows XP, because I like it, and because I don't get on with Windows 8 (which I use at one of my clients).

I thought that Microsoft were no longer supporting XP - so why did I get a security update?

And, second question, if I install Windows 8, can I set it to work like XP or 7, ie without the front end, and will I need to re-install all my applications and all my data?
I hate "upgrades"........
If you like XP, 7 isn't that much of a leap interface-wise. It's also a much better OS than XP. If you are going to W8, ensure you have 8.1 update and install Classic Shell and it'll look and feel pretty much like 7.

I was an XP die-hard and wouldn't go back to using it now if you paid me.

(I run both W7 and W8).
If I buy an upgrade from XP to 7 (which I also use at another client) do I just have to install it, or will I have to restore all data and re-purchase my programs. The main one is Office 2007.

karona

1,918 posts

185 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
QBee said:
If I buy an upgrade from XP to 7 (which I also use at another client) do I just have to install it, or will I have to restore all data and re-purchase my programs. The main one is Office 2007.
There is no upgrade path from XP to Win 7. The installation sticks everything on the drive into a folder called "Windows Old" and performs a full, bare, install of Win 7. You'll need to reinstall everything (with Win 7 compatible versions), extract your data from Windows Old then delete the folder to win back 100s of Gigabytes of disk space.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
My computer is a MacBook Pro. I run Parallels, and Windows within that. Parallels 8 certainly supports W7. From memory it has 4Gb RAM, but after your advice I will check, thanks.

Kozy

3,169 posts

217 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Hi I need support on a few issues I am having with a new machine.

First up, I have installed Google Chrome V38 and it renders fonts horrendously. I've had a search for fixes and all I seem to find that it is a known bug but there's no real solution to it apart from editing script within a website you run to correct it.

Second, I am attempting to install and run WAMP server and it tells me that it can't run because MSVR110.dll is missing. Searched and found the Microsoft Redistributable packages that need installing to fix it. Installed them, it didn't fix it, it's still missing.

Last up, I am trying to configure an IMAP email account within Outlook 2007. On successfully adding the account, it synchronises all the folders but from then on, won't download any new ones even though they show up on the phone. Again another issue reported online but with no definitive solution.

Any PHers able to assist with any of these issues at all?

Jinx

11,345 posts

259 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Kozy said:
Hi I need support on a few issues I am having with a new machine.

First up, I have installed Google Chrome V38 and it renders fonts horrendously. I've had a search for fixes and all I seem to find that it is a known bug but there's no real solution to it apart from editing script within a website you run to correct it.

Second, I am attempting to install and run WAMP server and it tells me that it can't run because MSVR110.dll is missing. Searched and found the Microsoft Redistributable packages that need installing to fix it. Installed them, it didn't fix it, it's still missing.

Last up, I am trying to configure an IMAP email account within Outlook 2007. On successfully adding the account, it synchronises all the folders but from then on, won't download any new ones even though they show up on the phone. Again another issue reported online but with no definitive solution.

Any PHers able to assist with any of these issues at all?
Number 1 - no idea the font rendering in IE 11 is poor as well.

Number 2 - Download the MSVR110.dll and use the Regsvr32 command at the command prompt (e.g. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4897685/how-do-... ?

Number 3 - Sorry can't help switched to Thunderbird a long time ago.


Kozy

3,169 posts

217 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
quotequote all
Jinx said:
Number 2 - Download the MSVR110.dll and use the Regsvr32 command at the command prompt (e.g. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4897685/how-do-... ?
Turns out I was searching for solutions to MSVR100.dll being missing, when in fact it is R110 I need. R100 is the 2010 release of Microsoft redistributables and R110 is the 2012 release. Got the right one, reinstalled WAMP and it works perfectly.

Sticks.

8,708 posts

250 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Apologies if this is in the wrong place but.....

My PC won't start. It's a HP Pavilion with an AMD processor running Windows Vista. Obviously quite old now, 6 yearsa iirc. It has a solid green light at the back but won't respond to the on switch. It did this once before but responded when I disconnected the socket, held down the switch, reconnected the socket, and has restarted several times since.

I've checked plug fuse, changed (wall) socket used and the lead. It's been running Ok before this, and very quick since upgrading to BT infinity this week.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks

aazer89

542 posts

143 months

Wednesday 10th December 2014
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
Apologies if this is in the wrong place but.....

My PC won't start. It's a HP Pavilion with an AMD processor running Windows Vista. Obviously quite old now, 6 yearsa iirc. It has a solid green light at the back but won't respond to the on switch. It did this once before but responded when I disconnected the socket, held down the switch, reconnected the socket, and has restarted several times since.

I've checked plug fuse, changed (wall) socket used and the lead. It's been running Ok before this, and very quick since upgrading to BT infinity this week.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks
Hi
I would recommend a new power supply unit for this machine, sounds like it is on its way out. I havent googled myself but cant see it being too expensive, and relatively easy to replace.
Just unscrew nuts on the case, make note of which cable goes where, unplug, put new one in, plug cables in and then power on.

KR

Aaron

aazer89

542 posts

143 months

Wednesday 10th December 2014
quotequote all
Rickyy said:
I eventually got it to work, but it will happen again if I switch it off.

I get no display whatsoever, it's as if someone has unplugged the monitor on a conventional PC.
Sounds to me like a dodgey graphics card/connection to the graphics card. I havent looked at any all-in-ones so wouldnt be sure on troubleshooting inside the casing. but i would imagine you take the back off and then locate the graphics card and try reseating it (remove cables, unplug, then replace again) then try booting up again (without discharging the power).

KR
Aaron

fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
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I have a laptop running Windows 7, which is now refusing to boot saying one or more drivers is either corrupted or missing and that an installation disk needs to be used to boot.

I don't have a recovery disk, but can download one. Would simply placing these ISO boot files on a DVD and booting off this be likely to solve my problems?

When attempting "recovery", is any data on the hard drive affected?

Any other solutions/suggestions?

karona

1,918 posts

185 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
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fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
quotequote all
karona said:
no. just get an error when it tries to boot saying drivers are missing and that the installation disk must be inserted...

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
quotequote all
fergus said:
karona said:
no. just get an error when it tries to boot saying drivers are missing and that the installation disk must be inserted...
Sounds like Windows wants an install disk in order to repair the boot disk.

What's the exact error message you're getting?

fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
quotequote all
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer
2. choose language setting
3. click "repair your computer"

Status: 0xc000000f
Info: the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible


I don't have the installation discs anymore....

thks for the help so far!


Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
quotequote all
Yep, definitely needs a repair disc. If you can download one and burn it then do it. Pop the disc in when asked and Windows will pretty much sort itself out from there.