PC problems... any ideas what to do?

[Melonfish]

grab a copy of windows 7 online, install over the top, tbh sounds like windows is just on its way out.
if you had xp you could try a windows repair or even re-install using the disk but tbh it's just as quick to install windows again.
make a note of any programs you have that you like or even using your other hard drives back up these programs (grab the installers) all your shortcuts and bookmarks and pictures etc, re-install and just install the programs and whatnot again. simples.

xp is fine and all but i generally find win 7 better, it's a bit flashier and just as stable. don't be tempted by windows 8.1 that is seriously just for fondleslabs not regular pc's, well i say that, they say it's for both but it is so counter intuitive for a regular desktop pc as to make you want to stick forks in your eyes and run into walls.

 

[Markymark]

Careful with using a newer version of windows as certain items (ports/cards etc) may not have Windows 7 drivers availale if it's an old pc.

I'd try for the factory reset first as its the easiest option as it'll have all the drivers preloaded.

 

[Nihal]

xp is fine and all but i generally find win 7 better, it's a bit flashier and just as stable. don't be tempted by windows 8.1 that is seriously just for fondleslabs not regular pc's, well i say that, they say it's for both but it is so counter intuitive for a regular desktop pc as to make you want to stick forks in your eyes and run into walls.

I guess 7 will run smoothly on it,since its just 4 years old(assuming it had good specifications then)

 

[Melonfish]

i found any rig that will run xp will run 7 fine, you may need to pop another gig of ram in if you only have 1 but otherwise no worries.

i really don't know what it is with micro$oft, 3.11 was excellent 95 was hair tearing. 98 was excellent. ME was a joke, XP was excellent, vista makes you want to shove glass up you urethra, win 7 is excellent, win 8 is bloody odd. do they employ alternating dev teams i wonder. or is it the magic mushroom growing cycle over in redmond?

 

[MontyVeda]

...

i really don't know what it is with micro$oft, 3.11 was excellent 95 was hair tearing. 98 was excellent. ME was a joke, XP was excellent, vista makes you want to shove glass up you urethra, win 7 is excellent, win 8 is bloody odd. do they employ alternating dev teams i wonder. or is it the magic mushroom growing cycle over in redmond?

i think they use ex writers from Lost and Heroes

 

[shouldbeinbed]

go to filehippo or similar and pick up a free version of malwarebytes, it can spot nasties that don't look like viruses to AV.

alternately, at the top of the screen, have an ask on the geek chat board. Same log in details as here.

 

[Davidc]

As XP is more or less at the end of its life and malware of one form or another is bound to become more of an issue, maybe you should use this as an opportunity to try one of the alternatives. I'm currently trying Linux Mint XFCE . Try it, you might like it.

There can be an issue with peripherals. I keep an old XP PC running as a driver for 2 scanners and a printer for which there are no drivers for my Win 7 PC.

That PC (a good laptop in its day) now has dual boot with Ubuntu LINUX, which runs several useful programs .

One thing that's well worth doing is taking a disc image using Acronis or similar when a PC is new, so that if the OS corrupts or HDD fails it's possible to restore exactly as it was new. Same applies but even more so for Macs.

 

[MontyVeda]

...
have an ask on the geek chat board. Same log in details as here.

all the best geeks ride bikes

 

[Rezillo]

Have you tried last known good configuration?

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000626.htm

 

[MontyVeda]

aye.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

Do you have a recovery partition? If so (or a windows disk which came with your laptop) and you can reliably back up your data just put it back to the original installation. It's worth doing this every year or so anyway. As for not getting viruses use a limited/user account. Certainly not foolproof but helps along with anti virus and not installing rubbish software.

 

[Cyclist33]

I've got an new unused copy of Windows 7 32 bit btw if you can make it to Warrington to collect, although i won't be back till tomorrow evening.

I always find with these sort of probs, you can't really resolve it unless you're sitting at the computer. There are so many things it could be, but one tip from me (preparing to be roundly rebutted here) is drop all the third part antivirus and anti-spam stuff. Half of it is spam by another name. I have tried AVG free and the paid, pro, version, as well as the ones branded by Virgin and Sky (Bullguard and McAfee respectively I think), and switched about 18 months ago to Windows Firewall and Windows Defender, both of which are default installations in Windows 7, and haven't had any problems. I also actively ignore/junk any offers, invites, warnings or other inducements to anti-virus software that I didn't ask for!

 

[MontyVeda]

after running malware bytes, Ccleaner, ditching AVG and installing Avast... it seems to be running ok again... but have also backed everything up from my internal hard drive if i do end up doing a clean install... So thanks guys

but my new kettle does have that 'new kettle' taste... any tips on getting rid of the new kettle taste? The last one took about 8 months for the new kettle taste to fade... that's a lot of substandard brews.

this is my new kettle anger face