PC fettling and repairs thread

[Proto]

We have a MacBook Pro with a screen that is cracked . Denial from son whom left something hard on the keyboard and slammed shut .

Does work though if plugged into a monitor . However huge cost to replace so can see it being scrapped .

Same problem with ours. 2018 MacBook Pro screen failed, ribbon cable from motherboard is a known issue. Can’t easily remove screen so a whole new lid/screen combo - £425 🙀🙀🙀

Six months later, wife picks up (gently) the open MacBook by the careen/lid and cracks the screen. Can’t face another £400+ bill so it’s now sitting in a drawer gathering dust. I’d never buy another.

 

[Seevio]

Six months later, wife picks up (gently) the open MacBook by the careen/lid and cracks the screen. Can’t face another £400+ bill so it’s now sitting in a drawer gathering dust. I’d never buy another.

Talking about the Macbook and not the wife I presume?

 

[DCBassman]

Indeed, but for how much longer, before Firefox won't update? Not likely to be that long. However, that machine might be fairly easy to patch up to the next macOS edition.

And that time has arrived. August 2023 updates to Firefox and Thunderbird will not run on MacOS High Sierra.

 

[DRM]

And that time has arrived. August 2023 updates to Firefox and Thunderbird will not run on MacOS High Sierra.

When august comes I will see what other browsers are available, I don’t think all is lost yet

 

[DCBassman]

When august comes I will see what other browsers are available, I don’t think all is lost yet

Oh, it'll be a while until things actually start to break, but almost certainly not beyond a year.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Is there a way to reset a computer keyboard? One laptop has started to type "pe" whenever I try to us the "e".

 

[Venod]

SSD fun.

I installed a SSD drive to my old desktop, to use solely for Zwift, its been fine and impressed me with the quick boot times, but failed to boot recently, saying some memory error, wasn't sure if it meant motherboard memory or what, anyway I created a Windows 10 USB instalation, now this wouldn't install on the SSD drive or an existing normal HD drive after several attempts.
By changing the file system on the normal drive to MRB I did eventual get W10 on the HDD, then set the file system as GPT on the SSD, I then had to use Macrium to clone the HDD to SSD and all is working again.
So my questions to the experts, is what caused the boot failure and why can't I install a fresh copy of W10 to the SSD straight from a USB drive, anybody with crystall ball powers ? I could do with some advice.

 

[the_mikey]

SSD fun.

I installed a SSD drive to my old desktop, to use solely for Zwift, its been fine and impressed me with the quick boot times, but failed to boot recently, saying some memory error, wasn't sure if it meant motherboard memory or what, anyway I created a Windows 10 USB instalation, now this wouldn't install on the SSD drive or an existing normal HD drive after several attempts.
By changing the file system on the normal drive to MRB I did eventual get W10 on the HDD, then set the file system as GPT on the SSD, I then had to use Macrium to clone the HDD to SSD and all is working again.
So my questions to the experts, is what caused the boot failure and why can't I install a fresh copy of W10 to the SSD straight from a USB drive, anybody with crystall ball powers ? I could do with some advice.

Depends if there was anything on the drive already, windows or the installation software won't necessarily write over a protected or encrypted partition. In general, I use the Command prompt in Administrator mode and use DISK PART to clean the HDD/SSD before reusing it, and format, then restore windows from your main PC. Whether it supports MBR or GPT is dependent on your Bios/hardware, Windows 10+ should be happy with either format.

 

[lazybloke]

SSD fun.

I installed a SSD drive to my old desktop, to use solely for Zwift, its been fine and impressed me with the quick boot times, but failed to boot recently, saying some memory error, wasn't sure if it meant motherboard memory or what, anyway I created a Windows 10 USB instalation, now this wouldn't install on the SSD drive or an existing normal HD drive after several attempts.
By changing the file system on the normal drive to MRB I did eventual get W10 on the HDD, then set the file system as GPT on the SSD, I then had to use Macrium to clone the HDD to SSD and all is working again.
So my questions to the experts, is what caused the boot failure and why can't I install a fresh copy of W10 to the SSD straight from a USB drive, anybody with crystall ball powers ? I could do with some advice.

For any non-booting computer, check no USB sticks have been left in ports!

Otherwise... can you remember the exact error message? Always best to snap a pic so you can look up errors at your leisure.

So many possibilities otherwise, eg a failing button battery meaning your BIOS is losing the correct configuration settings.

Inability to reinstall Windows is a bit weird. Mkey's advice is good if Windows Setup could 'see' the drive.
If on the other hand the drive wasn't visible at all, then probably some drivers needed to be provided. In the old days you'd do this is a floppy drive. I think these days you have to add the drivers to the USB key.

 

[Venod]

Further info.

It started installing W10 to the SSD, in fact it probably installed it but couldn't get past the what do want to use the computer for, it gives a range of options it want blank on this screen before I selected options, it also went blank on previous screens on other occasions, I wiped the drive prior to trying, thing is its working fine with a clone of the HDD, but doesn't give any confidence for a clean install from scratch if needed.

 

[GuyBoden]

Further info.

It started installing W10 to the SSD, in fact it probably installed it but couldn't get past the what do want to use the computer for, it gives a range of options it want blank on this screen before I selected options, it also went blank on previous screens on other occasions, I wiped the drive prior to trying, thing is its working fine with a clone of the HDD, but doesn't give any confidence for a clean install from scratch if needed.

Could be a Bad Block in the SSD.

I don't use Windows, but if running diagnostics doesn't solve anything, the only answer is to format the drive.

 

[lazybloke]

If even the Windows Setup is hanging at odd times, then I'd suspect a more fundamental hardware error is the problem here.

Wasn't there a mention of a memory error originally? the Windows Setup USB media does have an option to go into recovery mode and a memory diagnostic, or at any point where it's waiting for user input you might simply be able to get to a command prompt by pressing SHIFT and F10, an running the memory diagnostic with the command MDSHED

If you can't get that far, then try removing and reseating the memory modules in case they're not quite plugged in properly. Same with the graphics card if there is one.
And if you have multiple memory modules, there might only be one with a problem, so you could try removing one at a time and trying again.

 

[Venod]

Wasn't there a mention of a memory error originally? the Windows Setup USB media does have an option to go into recovery mode and a memory diagnostic, or at any point

Yes it said memory,but the address was all zeros.
I reseated both memory modules just in case, as it's running OK with the cloned copy of W10, I will keep my fingers crossed and see how it goes.

 

[DCBassman]

Is there a way to reset a computer keyboard? One laptop has started to type "pe" whenever I try to us the "e".

Not that I'm aware of. Unplug, turn upside down, and bash gently on the desktop and see what falls out. If no joy, probably new keyboard time.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Not that I'm aware of. Unplug, turn upside down, and bash gently on the desktop and see what falls out. If no joy, probably new keyboard time.

Unfortunately it's a laptop. I have a replacement ready as it was dying slowly, but I'd hoped to keep that one as my "no internet connection" writing laptop.