Computer question

[freakygirl]

I have to reformat my hard drive. It seems to be getting worse the longer I ignore the problems.

I have a few questions... I'm saving things like pictures and downloads that i want to keep on to cd.

How do I save my address book for my emails? And my saved emails? My messenger lists? I did find where the program files for Msn, ICQ and AIM are. Do I just save those files and when i reinstall them later, the names of my contacts will be there?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to do this later this evening and have it go as smoothly as possible.

 

[miles]

For smaller files like addresses, I always emailed them to myself and didnt open the message until I had reinstalled everything.

Why are you formatting?

 

[Willing and Unsure]

For smaller files like addresses, I always emailed them to myself and didnt open the message until I had reinstalled everything.

Why are you formatting?

what he said

 

[freakygirl]

For smaller files like addresses, I always emailed them to myself and didnt open the message until I had reinstalled everything.

Why are you formatting?

when I shut down my computer.. Start, Shut Down, Shut down.. it stops responding or goes into a restart. If i go to restart my computer it gives me an error message. (you know the annoying blue screen).

Windows (I think) has a corrupted file, even though Norton System works tells me everything is fine. Something isn't running right, I called the help line for my computer.. NOT Hewlett Packard but the other warranty people that I have an extended warranty with. They walked me through a bunch of things, and said it sounds like a software not a hardware problem.

I uninstalled the last program that I had installed before the problem started, and it's just getting worse. Not better.

They say to reformat the drive, and slowely reinstall everything. It's going to be a major pain in the ass. I'm thinking of dusting off the webtv.. I never had problems like this when I was on webtv.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Well I still think those people may be wrong - but then there is probably some info I don't know that they do.

Unfortunately support people too often resort to the "reinstall the software/OS", "reboot the computer", "reformat the Hard drive" solution when they don't have a clue what is going on.

They do that when clueless because they are fairly sure of several things:

1) If it is a software problem, reformatting the drive and reinstalling the OS and software will probably fix the problem. Although drastic and time consuming for the user, it usually works, and it doesn't cost them any time or money.

2) It gets you off their back for quite some time, maybe even permanently.

As for saving emails and addresses - what email app are you using? If it is Outlook then the email (and I think the addresses are in a file that ends with the "pst" extension. Look in the Outlook program folder for that file. If Outlook Express the filename is different.

 

[freakygirl]

Well I still think those people may be wrong - but then there is probably some info I don't know that they do.

Unfortunately support people too often resort to the "reinstall the software/OS", "reboot the computer", "reformat the Hard drive" solution when they don't have a clue what is going on.

They do that when clueless because they are fairly sure of several things:

1) If it is a software problem, reformatting the drive and reinstalling the OS and software will probably fix the problem. Although drastic and time consuming for the user, it usually works, and it doesn't cost them any time or money.

2) It gets you off their back for quite some time, maybe even permanently.

As for saving emails and addresses - what email app are you using? If it is Outlook then the email (and I think the addresses are in a file that ends with the "pst" extension. Look in the Outlook program folder for that file. If Outlook Express the filename is different.

Are you busy today? Wanna come fix my computer? I'm at my wits end with it, i've tried everything I know. I don't want to do the reformat bit. I did it just after we bought it (It was the last one of this model in stock so we got the "floor display" and i wanted a clean computer).

I'm using Microsoft Outlook as my email.

My support people are actually great.. I have a number that i can call and talk to the same person each time. They spent 3 hours the other night on the phone with me, and they weren't able to help.

 

[pabloback]

if you are getting "the blue screen of death" [technical term ] on a regular basis , your computer is to use another technical term FUCKED ! bin it and get a new one

 

[miles]

STG is right. They tell you to reformat because it's an easy out for them, but a major hassle, and almost always unnecessary.

Do not reformat! There are other ways to fix your problem.

When was the last time you ran scandisk and defrag? If you can't remember or have never done it, you need to before uninstalling anything else. There are plenty of free programs that will diagnose your problem. You should also download a copy of RegClean from download.com. It's an excellent and safe registry cleaner.

Norton System Works is an unnecessary suite that hogs your computer's resources and causes far more problems than it solves - trust me. The only program worth having is Anti-Virus. I'd remove the rest of it.

Try the above and let us know what happens. If it does, that will be $75.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

ummm... are you connected to the internet through a modem? if you are, you might wanna download the drivers for your modem to a floppy disk, that way you can definitely get back on the internet when you're all done reinstalling (if that's what you decide to do)

 

[Bob Peale]

I have to reformat my hard drive. It seems to be getting worse the longer I ignore the problems.

I have a few questions... I'm saving things like pictures and downloads that i want to keep on to cd.

How do I save my address book for my emails? And my saved emails? My messenger lists? I did find where the program files for Msn, ICQ and AIM are. Do I just save those files and when i reinstall them later, the names of my contacts will be there?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to do this later this evening and have it go as smoothly as possible.

FG,

Are you running outlook? if so, your .pst file saves your mail and everything.

If you are running the latest versions of AIM and MSN, they store your contact lists on a central server, so you don't need to back anything up, but remember to also go to "My Documents" and get Messenger Files (files sent to you by people on your list).

 

[miles]

pabloblack

if you are getting "the blue screen of death" [technical term ] on a regular basis , your computer is to use another technical term FUCKED ! bin it and get a new one

That's complete bullshit. The BSOD is almost always a software problem and is no reason to rplace your PC.

 

[freakygirl]

if you are getting "the blue screen of death" [technical term ] on a regular basis , your computer is to use another technical term FUCKED ! bin it and get a new one

yeah right.. I don't think so

 

[pabloback]

yeah right.. I don't think so

you dont know how to save emails but you can tell that your cpu is not showing all the classic signs of imploding .......you are the one that asked for advice
you have been warned

 

[freakygirl]

STG is right. They tell you to reformat because it's an easy out for them, but a major hassle, and almost always unnecessary.

Do not reformat! There are other ways to fix your problem.

When was the last time you ran scandisk and defrag? If you can't remember or have never done it, you need to before uninstalling anything else. There are plenty of free programs that will diagnose your problem. You should also download a copy of RegClean from download.com. It's an excellent and safe registry cleaner.

Norton System Works is an unnecessary suite that hogs your computer's resources and causes far more problems than it solves - trust me. The only program worth having is Anti-Virus. I'd remove the rest of it.

Try the above and let us know what happens. If it does, that will be $75.

did a scan disk and a defrag yesterday.. i usually do them every sunday, but i did it before i started backing up and stuff..

My computer friend swears by Norton.. and to be honest.. after he installed it (within a few days) is when the problems started. Maybe i should uninstall it.. worth a try anyway.

 

[freakygirl]

you dont know how to save emails but you can tell that your cpu is not showing all the classic signs of imploding .......you are the one that asked for advice
you have been warned

What the fuck have i ever done to you? Nothing.. so shut the fuck up.. I know enough about my computer to know that this is a problem that is fixable.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Are you busy today? Wanna come fix my computer?

If you were closer, or it was summertime, I would take a look at it, but I write the software, and I can barely fix my own computer. FWIW, my computer does something very similar and I just live with it. I get a BSOD (blue screen of death) about half the time I boot up; I think it is the SCSI card (or its driver) I put in for my scanner. Once it boots I leave the computer up for the day. Sometimes it takes a few tries and then it boots fine. I have found it works better if my scanner is on when I boot.

 

[Bob Peale]

did a scan disk and a defrag yesterday.. i usually do them every sunday, but i did it before i started backing up and stuff..

My computer friend swears by Norton.. and to be honest.. after he installed it (within a few days) is when the problems started. Maybe i should uninstall it.. worth a try anyway.

Professionally speaking, I can tell you that we almost always pull it off. In most cases, I don't even like the components that come with the package - they don't work the sam eas the stand alone products.

I'm with miles - run NAV because it really is the best out there, but pull the other crap off.

 

[freakygirl]

McAfee is my virus scan... I don't use the Norton for anything but fix and repair.

There is anothe program, called WinSpeedUp.. no idea what it does.. anyone else know?

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

you dont know how to save emails but you can tell that your cpu is not showing all the classic signs of imploding .......you are the one that asked for advice
you have been warned

Oh come on PB, BSODs are most often initiated by the OS and usually can be fixed. Sometimes they are caused by installed hardware, but either way it can usually be fixed. Your advice basically sucks unless it was meant in jest, which doesn't seem to be the case from your tone.

FG, can you copy down exactly what the BSOD says word for word and post it here (or send it in an email to shymcguy@yahoo.com )? That might give me a clue as to the source of the problem.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I'm with miles - run NAV because it really is the best out there, but pull the other crap off.

Agreed - too often people put every utility they can find on the computer when they don't need a quarter of it. Pull off all the crap (preferably by running the uninstall) and see what happens. Do it one at a time and try to reboot after each uninstall.

Often, but not always, the last thing you uninstalled that then allows a clean reboot, is the thing that was causing a problem. Sometimes it is an interaction between one or more software packages that won't happen alone.

 

[freakygirl]

Sure..

I'll be back in a few minutes

 

[Bob Peale]

McAfee is my virus scan... I don't use the Norton for anything but fix and repair.

There is anothe program, called WinSpeedUp.. no idea what it does.. anyone else know?

*ding ding ding*

First warning bell...although they profess otherwise, McAfee and Norton don't play nice together (much like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam).

If you load Systemworks when you boot up, there is definitely a possibility that you have a conflict brewing with Virus Shield.

If what you want are the utilities, but Norton Utilities. SystemWorks load several TSRs that expect you to be running a Norton only system.

Not that this is specific to Norton - McAfee Office behaves the same way.

 

[freakygirl]

*ding ding ding*

First warning bell...although they profess otherwise, McAfee and Norton don't play nice together (much like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam).

If you load Systemworks when you boot up, there is definitely a possibility that you have a conflict brewing with Virus Shield.

And this would cause the shut down and the restart to act like that?

Everything else on my computer is fine.. i have no problems with anything but shutting down.. or restarting. If I just hit the power button on the tower, computer goes off or turns on. No problems when turning on the computer. Everything loads just fine.

STG- When i restart the computer going thru the start shut down method.. i get this

Windows

A fatal exception OE has occured at 00287175D90. The current application will be terminated.

*Press any key to terminate the current application (when i do this the screen goes black)

* Press CTL+ALT+DEL again to restart your computer. You will lose any unsaved information in all applications. (when doing this, nothing happens)

Press any key to continue

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

STG- When i restart the computer going thru the start shut down method.. i get this

If all your other application have already been shut down then it sounds like you have a background app that isn't shutting down correctly. Usually those background apps are things like virus checkers, etc. - try removing them one by one.

What version of windows are you running again? I like W2K because I can bring up the task manager to see who is playing well with others.

 

[miles]

Scrap that WinSpeedUp thing. Do you download a lot of software?
Even after uninstalling all those tempting freebies the program leaves behind little pieces of itself that can screw up your system.

Have you downloaded any file sharing apps, like Kazaa, Bearshare, etc. All of them come with spyware software that run in the background without you knowing it. To further clean up your computer download AdAware. It's a great free utility that removes spyware you never knew existed. I had PC problems a few months ago and couldnt find the prob. Ran AdAware and it removed some software that piggybacked with something I downloaded. End of problem.