Eastsidechris Member Username: Eastsidechris
Post Number: 80 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 4.229.27.161
| Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 11:30 pm: | |
My Sony Vaio (desktop) is on the fritz and it looks like it needs a professional to take a look at it (it boots up, but the task bar is locked, meaning that anything not on the actual desktop is inacessible--including grad school papers that are due in a week that are on my WordPerfect program! And no, the computer is not quite ancient yet--2002, Windows XP system).I'll bite the bullet and take it into Best Buy or someplace like that, but can anyone recommend any alternatives who are reliable, quick and relatively affordable? Thanks. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 917 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.152
| Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 11:41 pm: | |
While Windows is booting, repeatedly depress the F8 key to boot into safe mode. Scroll down the menu to safe mode, let it crunch away for awhile. If it boots into safe mode, you can transfer your files, and more importantly, Windows might actually repair itself. Restart the computer into normal and see if it now works. If you can't get into safe mode... |
Ddaydave Member Username: Ddaydave
Post Number: 330 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 67.149.185.244
| Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 11:57 pm: | |
reboot in safe mode with networking and do an online antivirus scan http://www.trendmicro.com/home /default.asp or install one if yours is outdated here is a good free one http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1 and with some help someone a little more advanced in computers click start then run and run msconfig and see if theres a bug running on startup unclick it and reboot ..and by the way if you ever install a new anti-virus you must uninstall the old one first to running at the same time will lock up your computer |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 257 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42
| Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 12:00 am: | |
Try the computer place in the 10000 block of Telegraph. They'll look at your system (probably without cost) and give you a go/no-go recommendation. They also have older P-3s and such like older Dell Optiflex GX1s for sale for around $100 or so, if you need a cheaper backup. They also sell parts for building or upgrading your own system. Lots of older parts - really cheap too. There's also another place about a mile west of them that you can check out. |
Islandman Member Username: Islandman
Post Number: 100 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.42.171.59
| Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 12:51 am: | |
Hell, I'll look at it. I'm relatively affordable compared to any place you'd take it too. No charge if I can't fix it. I've been in the IT industry for 8 years. |
Paulj Member Username: Paulj
Post Number: 346 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.251.199.185
| Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 12:52 am: | |
My father runs a PC repair business, you can find him at www.pcsym.com . He comes to you, you can also give him a call at 248-760-0420. Ask for Bruce. |
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister
Post Number: 508 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.169.65
| Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 2:49 am: | |
Computing Express at the Penobscot. These guys are the best and you can't beat the prices. Ask for Rob, he's the owner. #1 in my book. They've been doing stuff for me for years. Supplies, print cartridges, A to Z in computer repair, upgrade, purchase advice and everything else. Can't beat 'em. Computing Express - Penobscot (Griswold side) 313.962.4880 Mon-Fri, 9 to 5. later - naturalsister |
Eastsidechris Member Username: Eastsidechris
Post Number: 81 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 66.238.170.32
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:28 pm: | |
To respond to my original message, I ended up taking my computer to JRAComputer, which was a great decision. Jon charges $49 for on-site work, but gave me a HUGE break for dropping off the computer to him directly. I get the Computer Moron of the Year award: turns out my PC was infected with something like 180 viruses! I had Norton Anti-Virus, but--much to my surprise--he told me you actually have to pay a monthly fee to get current updates on it. Duh!!! Anyway, he had to wipe out my whole C drive and needed to install a new CD-Rom drive and I got it all done for under $150! I'd definitely go back to him in a heartbeat. Here's his info: www.jracomputer.com 586-775-4868 |
Machoken Member Username: Machoken
Post Number: 1149 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.85.155.145
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:31 pm: | |
You could have given me $150 to put Linux on there and you wouldn't have to worry about viruses anymore. |
Matt_the_deuce Member Username: Matt_the_deuce
Post Number: 561 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.248.252
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:34 pm: | |
Buy a mac |
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell
Post Number: 2367 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.58.120
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:35 pm: | |
NAV charges a yearly renewal [$30], not monthly. Once set up it transparently sniffs out and downloads new virus definitions as they come out, also enhancements to he NAV software. You should also set up Windows Update to likewise sniff out and automatically download and install patches for Windows. |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 293 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 4:27 pm: | |
I've had good results with Grisoft's AVG Professional - $39 for a two-year subscripion. Grisoft, a Czech company has been around for 15 years. Last fall, Intel Capital acquired a significant part of Grisoft. |
Track75
Member Username: Track75
Post Number: 2253 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 12.75.18.77
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 4:29 pm: | |
You can get 6 months of NAV for free if you download it through the fairly new Google Pack software download package. I'm not sure what happens after 6 months but I wouldn't be surprised if the updated virus defs continued to be free as a way to keep people using Google Pack. |
Islandman Member Username: Islandman
Post Number: 105 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.42.171.59
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 4:29 pm: | |
Grisoft is all I use; I second that. Luckily I started using it while it was free, so I still get the free upgrades. Works very well, and I prefer to NAV, McAfee, etc. |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 294 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 4:41 pm: | |
For about $10 more (two years), Grisoft will integrate its software firewall with AVG Pro. I just use the freebie ZoneAlarm firewall as a Trojan-horse gatekeeper in conjunction with the hardware firewall. I'll probably upgrade to the combo AVG/FW when the subscription ends in August. I always suffered some minor lack of functionality with either McAfee or Symantec. I could use McAfee for nothing because Comcast includes it with its 6 Mbs broadband but prefer my current non-McAfee setup. (Message edited by LivernoisYard on March 16, 2006) |
Ddaydave Member Username: Ddaydave
Post Number: 340 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 67.149.185.244
| Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 5:25 pm: | |
norton resource hog ..I prefer my avg free over norton |