Orpington Astronomical Society

Random Rambling Ruminations => PC Helpline => Topic started by: Fay on Dec 08, 2010, 11:51:28

Title: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 08, 2010, 11:51:28
Signed off ok last night. This morning, would not come up correctly,so had to redo. Screen had odd pattern also welcomr to XP box. Screen wanted me to mess about with these two clocks, to rid these stripes, not seen this before. Restarted computer, and screen black, lights not on on the wireless receiver for mouse and keyboard. Took screen to PC world, screen ok. HE SAID NEEDS ALL DATA TAKING OFF & RE INSTALLING EVERYTHING.

He could be wrong. I have 2 hard drives on there and backed up one to the other about 2 weeks ago. I thnk XP recovery may be on computer as no Packard Bell disc.
Have sensitive info on there so do't want PC world having it.

Please if anyone can give advice Or help me sort  it out, I will pay. Needless to say, I am in panic mode. I have not been messing about with it.

I am on laptop, so not so easy to come online.

Thanks


Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 08, 2010, 12:30:09
Have you  unplugged everything that you plugged in yesterday ?

I'm thinking you plugged your router into a socket that you didn't know if it was the right one.

Better still, unplug everything except keyboard and mouse (and power) and try rebooting again.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 08, 2010, 12:44:30
You will not believe this..............................well, you will
The power button on top of the screen, was turned off......................................thing is, why did it play up this morning? The screen could not have been turned off as I had not used it since last night.

PC WORLD WOULD HAVE WIPED MY DRIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, the mouse/receiver light was still not on, and it would not connect to internet.  I have taken them out of their mutual hub & plugged in separately, so thinking there could be a problem with the hub, could that have upset the applecart?

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Mac on Dec 08, 2010, 13:02:45
QuoteHE SAID NEEDS ALL DATA TAKING OFF & RE INSTALLING EVERYTHING
Crap.

QuotePC WORLD WOULD HAVE WIPED MY DRIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yup thats all they can do.

The main reason is it would probably take them years to find the problem,
the quickest way is as above, wipe and reinstall.

If they want to do that you are better off buying a new hard disk,
installing xp afresh and then copy over all the stuff you want.

I dont think we installed hyperos on to your desktop did we?

Mac


Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 08, 2010, 13:30:48
Fay the screen could have been turned off by PC world.
You were poking around with wires and plugs yesterday at the back of the PC - you could have loosened the screen plug and if there was a loose contact that could explain all the weird stuff this morning.
Try and put everything back the way it was yesterday before the router experiments - and do it SLOWLY and CAREFULLY.

The lights might not be on the keyboard/mouse hub because they may need to be re-registered to the hub - there's usually a tiny button underneath somewhere that you press when the PC is on.
You'll know if it's working because you can move the mouse cursor around.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 08, 2010, 13:31:50
No Mac we didn't

Well bottom line is what caused the problem in the first place & lesson learnt BACK UP to external drive every week!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Mac on Dec 08, 2010, 13:41:33
QuoteBACK UP to external drive every week

Why.

Unless the hard disk is dead then everything on it is available.
Mac.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 08, 2010, 14:41:50
QuoteUnless the hard disk is dead then everything on it is available.

Not if PCWorld get their mits on it  :-?
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 08, 2010, 15:23:22
Well I back up the C to the D, as two hard drives on desktop. What if one goes down & takes the other with it?

Also, how do I do a screen print?
Thanks

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Mac on Dec 08, 2010, 15:31:58
QuoteWhat if one goes down & takes the other with it?

How?

unless its a virus and totally wipes everything.

One hard disk failing wont affect the other (assuming two hard disks)
if the d partition is on the same disk, then yes if the disk fails you will probably loose everything.

QuoteAlso, how do I do a screen print?
(http://i.mycommentspace.com/221/22149.jpg) :cheesy:

or press the print screen button,
open paint and then press Ctrl+v
Mac


Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 08, 2010, 15:40:22
Ha Ha very funny Mac
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 09, 2010, 08:39:29
I am on a wing and a prayer with the computer. When closing down last night said it had recovered from critical error, I have copied the error codes. This morning would not open, had coloured blocks along the bottom of screen, i closed it down & opened in Safe Mode, then closed again & opened normally.

I can't copy & past the error codes.

BCCode:10000007e BCP1:C0000005 BCP2: 804EF196 BCP3: BA5278EC BCP4: BA 5275E8 OSVER: 5_1_2600 SP: 3_0 Product: 768-1

c.\DOCUME~1\fay\Locals~1\Temp\WER c358.dir 00\Mini 120810-01. dmp
"      "      "      "        "    "      "   "      "           "     sysdata.xml

Hope someone knows what this means, & if anyone can help, I am ok to pay.

Thanks
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 09, 2010, 09:23:08
Did you unplug everything and is the message above appearing with everything unplugged ?
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 09, 2010, 10:02:30
Did I unplug what Mick?

All I had plugged in was wireless adaptor & Speedtouch USB. Printer & Scanner always in as well.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: RobertM on Dec 09, 2010, 10:32:05
Sounds like there is a resource conflict with the wireless adaptor or Speed touch USB.  Did it happen on first restart after adding the wireless adaptor ?

BTW. What do you mean by 'Printer and Scanner always in as well' ?

I would offer to come and have a look but I've so much on at the moment I might not be able to get over till after the w/e.

Robert
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 09, 2010, 12:11:56
QuoteDid I unplug what Mick?
All I had plugged in was wireless adaptor & Speedtouch USB. Printer & Scanner always in as well.

All of the above.
At the moment, you only know that something is not working correctly.
If you unplug anything that is not needed by the pc (printer, speedtouch, wireless etc), you can then see if there is a fault on the pc.
So the only things you need to have plugged in is keyboard, mouse, monitor and of course power.
Unplug everything with the power off then restart the system, if the fault is still there, the fault could possibly be the pc.  If the fault is gone, then one of the things you plugged in may be causing the problem.
Plug one of the items back in and restart the pc a couple of times - if it is still ok, plug another item back in and restart etc.

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Mac on Dec 09, 2010, 12:42:34
As said.
Start the computer in safe mode with only the keyboard, mouse and monitor plugged in. (preferably wired devices and not wireless)

Once the pc is up and running do the following.
Run scan disk on the c drive.
Right mouse click the c drive ( from windows explorer), select properties; select tools; click on error checking; make sure the fix system errors is ticked.

When that has finished (depends on the length of string) run your antiviruses.
Assuming all of that is clear,
re-boot your system and allow it to start normally.

Once this has loaded, shut down and plug in things one by one and reboot.
The one that is causing the problem will stop it from booting.


If on the first normall boot it dosent boot corectly
go back to the safe mode boot options and select logged, this will create a text file showing what its trying to load.
Then try and copy and paste the last 10-20 lines here.

Mac
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 09, 2010, 14:42:30
ok, taken it all on board. Will only have wireless receiver in, as that runs the keyboard & mouse, have to have them.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Mac on Dec 09, 2010, 15:06:50
Quoteok, taken it all on board. Will only have wireless receiver in, as that runs the keyboard & mouse, have to have them.

Start the computer in safe mode with only the keyboard, mouse and monitor plugged in.

(preferably wired devices and not wireless)

As they might not work in safe mode, that's all. ;)
so you could find yourself with another problem of the keyboard and mouse not working in safe mode.

Mac.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 09, 2010, 15:51:46
I've only got wireless. They did work in Safe Mode this morning
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Mac on Dec 09, 2010, 16:25:13
Thats ok then,
did it reboot normally after that?
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 09, 2010, 16:36:14
I was in safe mode, it seemed ok, Turned it all off again & it started ok
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 09, 2010, 21:30:25
Chris came around from work. He has set up wireless with the two laptops, & updated lots of things on the desktop. Not 100% what the cause of the problem is, but keeping an eye on it, running AVG at the moment, see how it goes.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 09, 2010, 22:49:31
Result of AVG scan     Infection Trojan Horse start page!!!
Moved to Virus Vault
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 09, 2010, 23:25:35
Ok desk top supporters here the technical update.

There was nothing wrong with USB's, what was plugged in and what was running on it.  But there are a few issues as follows;

Firstly the screen drivers and graphics card drivers were old and wrong, possible just life.

The screen goes alseep when nothing happens on the PC, on re-start sometimes the PC is not starting properly, this is either a driver or a hard drive issue, I have setup some login and we will look at this next week.

We replaces the existing virus scanner with AVG, the Symantec one is awful and slow.

Wireless network needed a password, no need for mains networking Fay walked down the garden with the laptop.

But the new wireless router is dropping the signal a bit, one to fix later.


So nearly there.  And boy XP is slow!
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 10, 2010, 08:20:33
will not start at all today, only  safe mode. I thought that once AVG had quaranteed the trojan it would have been ok, but seems not that simple
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 10, 2010, 12:59:05
It must be grumpy, ok will call you later.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 10, 2010, 14:41:00
thanks Chris. Please call landline as, would you believe, mobile not working. Has a look of cracked glass,but not. Can wireless signal do anything to it
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 10, 2010, 16:50:07
Hi,

No fay it wont be the wireless.

Chris
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 09:14:06
Well it seems I need a new motherboard. Does anyone know where I can ge the following:


ASUSP5S800-VM/S

If i can get this one then all my info on the drives can be saved

I must thank Chris for sorting my wireless, without that i would have been lost at this time. 

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: RobertM on Dec 17, 2010, 09:20:52
just googled for "ASUS P5S800 VM S" and got this: http://www.palmtechnology.co.uk/store/asus-p5s800-vm-s-socket-775-motherboard.html?___store=default (http://www.palmtechnology.co.uk/store/asus-p5s800-vm-s-socket-775-motherboard.html?___store=default)

Are you sure it's the motherboard.  It's unusual for motherboards to go faulty, the most common problem is that the CMOS battery goes.

Did you get your virus issue sorted?

Robert
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 11:38:54
well this friend has run every test imaginable & has found a couple of bubbles on motherboard near the graphics card. He tested my drives, power etc with other equipment, but all seems ok. Well He sorted the virus with AVG but it did not sort the problem out. Thanks for that link Robert, will have a look
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: RobertM on Dec 17, 2010, 12:29:31
Maybe that PC is telling you something - if it's old enough then I think you have to consider your options !
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 12:59:27
well wanted to keep XP. Does everthing work ok with Windows 7? Or are there problems with some drivers etc?
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 17, 2010, 13:48:29
QuoteDoes everthing work ok with Windows 7?

No, but what do you mean by everything ?
Most printers, modems or other common stuff will very likely work, it's only when you start getting into the weird stuff like astro cameras and software, things could get flaky.

Take a look at what you use on the PC, if there is any odd software or hardware you use, look at the manufacturers website to see if they are compatible with W7.

Don't forget XP is still available but be cautious if you get a really high spec PC because that might not work with XP.

Somebody with more experience will give you better advice.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 13:55:53
well, it is looking like this motherboard is a scarcity, I would rather try another board, as they are not too expensive, than go down the road of a new computer. I would just have to reinstall everything. I do have most of the programs on the desktop that I have on the laptop, as I alsoprocess on that one & try different astro things out on it. If i have a camera problem etc, I can try it out on the desktop, so I use it for a lot of things. Big problem if a lot of programs did not work, would give in & just sit in the chair, dribbling, for the rest of my life :lol:

BTW Mick, I went onto a HTC forum, & you have to back up all info & take that phone back to factory settings to be able to get a Google account so APPs can be downloaded..................now why does that not surprise me?????? 
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: RobertM on Dec 17, 2010, 14:05:34
Fay, have you been drinking  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 14:36:57
Not yet, but I'm thinking of getting blotto now, to numb what is left of the brain!!!!! :!
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 17, 2010, 14:49:21
QuoteBTW Mick, I went onto a HTC forum, & you have to back up all info & take that phone back to factory settings to be able to get a Google account

No you don't

You need a google email account as we said last night which is a piece of cake - you were almost there last night (when you can get a signal that is), then just go to "Market" and download what you like.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 17, 2010, 15:47:56
Quote from: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 12:59:27
well wanted to keep XP. Does everthing work ok with Windows 7? Or are there problems with some drivers etc?

QSI works well with Windows 7
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 17, 2010, 16:00:05
QuoteQSI works well with Windows 7

Problem solved then  :lol:
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 16:10:14
mick,  you have to sign up to Google when you first get the phone,  or take it back to factory conditions to get an account. Not sure how you backup contacts onto laptop as nothing in the phnes folders
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 17, 2010, 16:23:09
You've only had it a day, how many changes have you already made ?

You should just be able to backup onto the phones memory card

Have you actually tried to sign up to a google email account ?
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Mac on Dec 17, 2010, 16:29:16
use the internet on your PC to sign up for a google account.

Oh i forgot your PCs' Kerfutten.  :cheesy:

well when its working, just sign up for a google mail account.
and then set up your ~HTC
thats all i did.

Mac.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Ian on Dec 17, 2010, 19:15:30
get titanium backup on your android phone. Even better if you can give it root access (that's a new thread though...)
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 20:19:49
 :o
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 20:26:04
Ian, does Titanium backup contacts as well as APPS?
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 20:32:50

Mick, I can only go to the point, that you did last night, and it goes no further
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: If you skipped signing in to a Google Account when you first set up your phone, you may encounter problems when using some Google applications. If these problems persist, you may need to factory reset your phone and enter your Google Account details when you set up the phone again. To factory reset your phone, see Performing a factory reset (hard reset).
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: RobertM on Dec 17, 2010, 20:44:21
QuoteMick, I can only go to the point, that you did last night, and it goes no further

:o :o :o :o :o
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 20:55:43
Robert,

I am surprised at the way your mind works, thought you were conservative      :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Tony G on Dec 17, 2010, 20:58:15
Quote from: RobertM on Dec 17, 2010, 20:44:21
QuoteMick, I can only go to the point, that you did last night, and it goes no further

:o :o :o :o :o

I did see a Campervan there last night. Is this where you 'Discuss' things ;)

Tony G
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Ian on Dec 17, 2010, 21:04:08
Quote from: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 20:26:04
Ian, does Titanium backup contacts as well as APPS?
well there's good news and there's bad news.

Good news is yes, it backs up contacts. The bad news is that it requires root.

What phone do you have?
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 21:55:41
htc wildfire
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: RobertM on Dec 17, 2010, 21:58:21
Quote from: Tony G on Dec 17, 2010, 20:58:15
Quote from: RobertM on Dec 17, 2010, 20:44:21
QuoteMick, I can only go to the point, that you did last night, and it goes no further

:o :o :o :o :o

I did see a Campervan there last night. Is this where you 'Discuss' things ;)

Tony G

Don't tell me, the lights were off  :lol:
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Ian on Dec 18, 2010, 00:11:42
Quote from: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 21:55:41
htc wildfire

less good. It's a bit new for a nice root hack.

However, take a look at mybackup. not as good as titanium, but doesn't need root. You may have to pay for it to restore the contacts though. It's worth checking.

There's also this thread (http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f10/change-default-google-account-solved-10584/) about adding a google account. Unfortunately, that requires you to delete your contacts I think, so you still need to back them up.

Incidentally, if you're on orange they have their own backup app...

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 18, 2010, 08:54:16
When you try to sign up to google, have you got wi-fi and/or 3g turned on ? 

You do need internet access to get to google.

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: The Thing on Dec 18, 2010, 08:59:11
Quote from: Fay on Dec 17, 2010, 20:26:04
Ian, does Titanium backup contacts as well as APPS?
Fay, once you have your Google Account, set up Google Mail (on google via the web) and synchronise your phone contacts with Google contacts (you will need to set up sync in Settings on the phone). You then always have a live copy of your contacts stored on the web, and it's easier to maintain them through Google as well. Easy. You don't need to back them up as you would have done with an older phone like I did with my old Nokia.
QuoteUnfortunately, that requires you to delete your contacts I think, so you still need to back them up.
I didn't have a problem with this.

I believe any apps you download from Market are also remembered by Market so you can download them again if needed.

If you use Google Picassa you can do the same sort of thing with photos.

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Ian on Dec 18, 2010, 09:20:35
I think the problem is, fay hasn't got a gmail account but does have contacts on the phone. So she needs to back them up *before* signing in with google and then restore them. from then on, gmail does the honours with the backups.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 21, 2010, 21:22:55
Have just downloaded updated software onto phone, which has now enabled me to open  Google account & get lots of extra apps. Now got Google sky, maps etc etc

Will have to still change the phone as it continues to shut down when camera uses flash.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 22, 2010, 07:56:55
Fay, one thing that gets overlooked is that these smart phones eat batteries  :o

Your phone might just be cutting out because the battery is low when you take a flash picture (which uses a far chunk of power).
Try fully charging the phone and then take a flash photo to see if it shuts down then.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 22, 2010, 09:56:03
just tried it on a fully charged battery, no difference
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: mickw on Dec 22, 2010, 09:57:42
Hmmm

Sounds like it might be broken  ;)
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Dec 24, 2010, 09:52:56
regarding desktop, motherboard has come up, so ordered that & also a CPU ordered in case it is that. It can be sent back if not needed.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Jan 03, 2011, 16:43:30
Well, got a refund on the HTC, it would not charge, amongst other things. Vodaphone did not have more around so I now have a Blackberry 8500. Really like it, not just a phone, lots of extras but not like the HTC which was more like a computer.
Took a couple of weeks to suss out the Wildfire, but only a day for this one. Nice looking, easy to learn, used my HTC backgounds as well, which i was pleased about as I like a picture. keys a bit small, but, up to now, I like it very much.
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Jan 04, 2011, 15:36:45
Well, my friend, Richard has sorted the desktop!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!!!!

He replaced the motherboard as on the old one, 4 of the capacitors were sort of blown at the top, near the graphics card.

He got it up & running but because he left the graphics card out, in case it blew the new motherboard, the colours were ok on the screen but the resolution was wrong & not enough choices for image size.
So, he saved the correct graphics card  at PC World, I went & got it & now the pictures are correct on screen. I am just transferring all my saved data & hope all goes as well as it is at the moment.

Did not think I would have this outcome, just got to get it all back to normal. Thank God, Chris did my wireless connections, would have been so difficult if it had not been done.

I should be all settled when we get some clear skies, worries sorted!!!!!!Fingers crossed
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Carole on Jan 04, 2011, 17:39:12
What a nightmare Fay.

Glad it's finally sorted.

Carole
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jan 04, 2011, 17:43:12
See, format hard drive not allways the answer :-)

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Jan 04, 2011, 18:01:34
Yes it has been awful, Carole, all we seem to get in one way or another is problems.

Yes, Chris, PC World would have messed with the hard drive & still it would not have worked, costs mounting all the time. I am very lucky at the outcome
Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: RobertM on Jan 05, 2011, 13:57:14
You've been lucky this time but what happens if the hard drive goes - do you backup important data or can you afford to loose everything ?

Robert

Title: Re: Disaster with Desktop
Post by: Fay on Jan 05, 2011, 14:12:55
I am backed up Robert. At the moment trying to get these programs back on again