The General "Computer Issues" Thread

[Burgundy Ranger]

Most of my searches -- doesn't matter what engine, doesn't matter what browser -- are being hijacked to one of those "wanna-be" search sites that lead you to the sites THEY want you to visit.

I've run anti-Malware (twice), Spybot and Ad-Aware and still nothing. This comes after spending all morning getting rid of the "Windows Antivirus Pro" bug.

what happens when you actually type a webside in the address bar? Since anti-malware didnt find anything, it could mean that you have a browser hijack virus and you need antivirus software to get rid of it, or it could be that you have a victim of a pharming attack (not very likely) in which case you would need to call your ISP see what the problem is and maybe switch you to a different DNS server.

After doing the search, I go to the sites fine by CC&P'ing the URL into the address bar. But straight clicking -- even for the cached versions -- within the search results leads to nowheresville.

I have McAfee on a constant run but another scan couldn't hurt. I'll do that when I get home.

A search (I'm at work now with no such problem) suggests it could be a rootkit.

 

[Hanshotfirst1138]

try restarting your pc.

Still didn't work. Which is wierd, because it works in IE...

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Still didn't work. Which is wierd, because it works in IE...

reinstall it.

 

[PowerZord]

"Plugged in, not charging" my HP laptop. Windows Vista premium. it happens ramdomly. and it's not the charger since it works without the battery

 

[En Sabah Nur]

"Plugged in, not charging" my HP laptop. Windows Vista premium. it happens ramdomly. and it's not the charger since it works without the battery

explain in better detail, it happens when you dont have the battery in there only? Does it happen when you have it on battery power or with battery but plugged in?

 

[G. Wen]

did you try what I told you to do? connect to the router with your pc by using a network cable and see if the problem still exists. If it does, its your router, if it does not, its your wireless built in card thats acting up.

I did what you told me to do, and it seems to work fine for the most part, but it did time out for a short while (less than 5 min.) but I'm connected again.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I did what you told me to do, and it seems to work fine for the most part, but it did time out for a short while (less than 5 min.) but I'm connected again.

if the connection went out when you were hard wired to your router, its your router thats faulty, not your wireless signal.

 

[warnerbroman]

windows can't update (vista)

 

[defunctzombie]

Do you have "Never check for updates" on?

 

[Rho]

I googled some stuff that included holding down certain keys at start-up.

The Command+S one slightly worked. It began booting then took me to the weird black screen with a bunch of white text code and stuff. It said to type "exit" to continue booting. I did so, and it froze up..

Now, holding the power button down does NOTHING.
A little while ago, the fans would come on and the start-up tone would be heard.. Now, nothing.

It's still not working. :/

I really don't want to seem like an annoyance.. But I'm really in need of help with this. :/

 

[warnerbroman]

Do you have "Never check for updates" on?

where?

 

[PowerZord]

explain in better detail, it happens when you dont have the battery in there only? Does it happen when you have it on battery power or with battery but plugged in?

It happens when i'm charging the battery, suddenly stops charging and it saids: "Plugged in, not charging" it fixes itself randomly

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I really don't want to seem like an annoyance.. But I'm really in need of help with this. :/

After no replies from anyone to any of your posts, I think its obvious that nobody here can troubleshoot a Mac. You are on your own with it. Sorry but its true.

It happens when i'm charging the battery, suddenly stops charging and it saids: "Plugged in, not charging" it fixes itself randomly

It could be the contact on the battery is not working well or it could be the power connector not working well. When it happends, dont wait for it to "fix itself" try juggling the battery (with out taking it out) and the power cord to yuor laptop. See if that fixes it.

windows can't update (vista)

What happends when you try to do a manual Windows Update?

 

[PowerZord]

I ran the laptop with it's battery out for hours and no problems. I'm guessing it's the battery.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I ran the laptop with it's battery out for hours and no problems. I'm guessing it's the battery.

in that case take out the battery and clean the contacts with alcohol or and alcohol prep pad.

 

[warnerbroman]

What happends when you try to do a manual Windows Update?

it downloads 2 out of 4 things

 

[defunctzombie]

it downloads 2 out of 4 things

I assume you get a failed notification? If so that means it's trying to install an update you already have.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I assume you get a failed notification? If so that means it's trying to install an update you already have.

or an update thats incompatible with your system. nothing to worry about, just unselect them so they dont come back again

 

[WolfieKiwi]

The backlight in my Gateway laptop recently burned out a few days ago. I went to the Geeksquad (never again) and they gave me the option of sending it away for two weeks to a repair shop with no refund if the laptop coudln't be fixed. My laptop is over three years old and according to them, "the backlight burning out issue" is a common one and most people just buy another computer.

So, I'm wondering what's the better option: Is it worth it to purchase a new bulb or buy a new laptop instead? (Honeslty, I would rather keep my laptop.)

 

[Beefy]

The backlight in my Gateway laptop recently burned out a few days ago. I went to the Geeksquad (never again) and they gave me the option of sending it away for two weeks to a repair shop with no refund if the laptop coudln't be fixed. My laptop is over three years old and according to them, "the backlight burning out issue" is a common one and most people just buy another computer.

So, I'm wondering what's the better option: Is it worth it to purchase a new bulb or buy a new laptop instead? (Honeslty, I would rather keep my laptop.)

First you need to make sure it's actually the backlight, and not the screen itself that's damaged.
When the laptop is powered on: take a flashlight and shine it on the screen almost parallel to the screen or at about a 20 degree angle from the surface of the screen. If you can't see an image, then the screen is bad. If you can still see an image, then it's either the backlight or the inverter.

Most of the time a laptop screen that won't light up is caused by a bad inverter and not a problem with the backlight.
Try replacing the inverter first. They're only about $20 on eBay, and much cheaper than replacing the screen.

(And most replacement laptop screens do not come with a replacement inverter. I had a friend whose laptop screen would not light up and he bought a new screen/backlight and it did not fix the problem because the inverter was bad. So we replaced the inverter and it turns out the old screen/backlight was fine.)