The Desktop Support Computer Girl Is In!

[sorcer3ss (RETIRED)]

Pop over to the let's chat thread miss vikki and we can continue our Aus chat there, and Liz as well of course, I would rather keep your thread clear, as it has some great info.

I used to use AVG but they updated it last year and it played up terribly after that so I had to remove it and find something else. A friend recommended Avast and I have been using that since and it has been great, I was pleased to see that both of the anti virus programs I have used were in your recommended group. I did try Nortons, I had used a previous edition and it was great but the new one was hopeless, everything would just freeze while it updated and it caused no end of problems for me.

 

[iataz]

Miss Vikki.. so glad you joined us.. and thanks for pointing that out about some of these unknown shady casinos.. we try to warn our members about these.. it's nice to have some else reiterate it..
And thanks for helping our members with any computer problems they may have.

 

[Cash Diva]

Miss Vikki,

THANK YOU SO MUCH! :0))You read my mind....I was searching for anti virus and anti spyware programs. Now I feel a lot better.
Your input is highly valued!

D~

 

[CALizzz]

I meant derail, not hijack. I just want all the computer stuff to be with the computer stuff, you know I suffer from OCD bad I didn't mean anything by it

I'm sorry baby, I was wrong...

I know how awesome you are!!! And now that your a Streaker, you are totaly being of service, Rock On!!

XoXoX

 

[MissVikki]

Miss Vikki,

THANK YOU SO MUCH! :0))You read my mind....I was searching for anti virus and anti spyware programs. Now I feel a lot better.
Your input is highly valued!

D~

No problem Diva! I am ALWAYS happy to help. If you have ANY other questions, don't hesitate at all! I'm glad my input is actually helping people. Yay!

Miss Vikki.. so glad you joined us.. and thanks for pointing that out about some of these unknown shady casinos.. we try to warn our members about these.. it's nice to have some else reiterate it..
And thanks for helping our members with any computer problems they may have.

Taz - I've seen the damage it's done to my mom's computer and it's not pretty. Most of the time, a good thorough virus and spyware cleaning can save the computer, but I can't even count how many times I've had to completely format (wipe out everything and build from scratch) my mom's computer due to certain casino's. It's an extremely hard lesson to learn, and can be costly to people that can't fix it themselves, or don't have daughters to fix it for them

~Vikki~

 

[CALizzz]

Hey Vic... If I make dinner, your choice- ya think you COULD come by and help me????

XoX

 

[MissVikki]

Alright ladies, todays lesson will be running chkdsk part 2!

As was said earlier on in the posts, Liz was unable to Defrag her computer. An error message would pop up saying to run "chkdsk".

I went over earlier how to run chkdsk. Start, run, type chkdsk, press enter, and let it run.

Well Liz tried this, and it didn't fix it her problem. This was my fault because I forgot to add a very important thing.

If you have a serious registry problem, or want a real thorough cleaning of your errors, you need to run a chkdsk /f. The /f is for FIX.

So, we will go over this right now.

Go to Start, and then click Run. In the box type chkdsk /f like so.

Hit OK or press enter. A window will pop up like this.

You need to type "y" and hit enter. The box will close by itself. (Note: If you have Spybot or any other Spyware Cleaning Software installed, it may notify you about a Registry change. ACCEPT the registry change, it's a good one).

Now you need to reboot your computer.

When the computer reboots, instead of going to a login menu as usual, it will go into the CHKDSK Fix program. This will cover your entire screen. It will be blue colored, with white text, and will go through 3 checks, fixing the major problems your computer has. Once it completes (you don't need to do anything) your computer will automatically reboot, and you're ready to go.

And that's it!

Even if you aren't having problems with your computer, I recommend doing a "chkdsk /f" once a month or so. It just keeps your computer happy, and running well.

~Vikki~

By the way, I was on the phone with Liz while she ran the "chkdsk /f" and after it had completed, she was able to defrag her computer with no problems or error messages. Problem solved, and she didn't have to wipe out her entire computer.

With regular maintenence, you, and your computer will be a lot happier.

 

[CALizzz]

True Dat!

You are a whiz kid!!!

XoXoXo

 

[iataz]

Oh Miss Vikki over here... it's Taz with a question..

I have an HP Pavillion dv6000 laptop.. every so often it gives me the pop up message that HP updates are available and ready to be downloaded and installed.. however when I try to update it tells me that the installation has failed.. AND I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY..
It has been that way since I bought it..
The one I'm having problems updating is the maintence and security.


I'm glad you didn't have to format your Mom's computer..
I have done that though with computers I'm getting rid of.. that way all my personal stuff is wiped off of it (I am nice though and re install the operating system)..

 

[iataz]

Never mind.. I think I figured out the problem

 

[iataz]

MissVikki

WHERE ARE YOU??

this ckdsk thing doesn't work with Vista

 

[MissVikki]

Taz, I am so so sorry I haven't been around. It is Midterm week at college for me, so I've been swamped. I haven't been able to get around to answering any questions, and I wanted to amend some of the things I have said, to help out Vista users. I know a lot of people still use XP, I use it myself, I've got a Laptop with Vista that's on the fritz (motherboard issues) so it's hard when I can't walk through it with you to tell you what to do.

After today, today being my last class before spring break, I will go through the process of doing it in Vista. I know everytime Microsoft goes to their next Operating System, it makes it harder and harder to get into the command console (the little black box) and fix things. Back when Microsoft started, DOS was the "Backbone Operating System" and Windows ran on TOP of DOS. This was the same with Win95, but after Win98 and beyond, the DOS Command Prompt is a part of Windows, not it's own System. It's just a program now.

I'll have to write this down, check some things out, and we'll get it sorted out, I promise!

Thank you for the patience, it's greatly appreciated!

-Vikki

 

[MissVikki]

One real quick thing though Taz, I know that every person I've ever assisted with an HP became a headache for both of us. They want you to install THEIR updates, and when this doesn't work, it causes problems.

For instance, I build my computers from scratch. So, I know I've got Windows XP OS, A GeForce Video Card, a This, and a That. So when my computer acts up, I go to http://update.microsoft.com (I turn off automatic updates, I don't like Windows updating and rebooting my computer when I'm in the middle of writing a term paper) and update myself. If there is a problem with the Display Drivers, I go to NVidia's website to upgrade my GeForce Drivers. Etc etc and so on.

Also, HP's give some un-necessary updates. I know that people that buy Dell's do not have this problem. I bought my dad one a couple years ago (he still uses it, he only checks email and work stuff, so he doesn't need a high powered machine), and there aren't any special "Dell Updates".

My friend had a Sony Vaio laptop, and I know HE had issues. Often, when you buy a computer pre-made (Alienware Computers and Dell Computers are the exception!), they partition your hard-drive, and put secret files and programs in this special hidden partition (A partition basically means splitting the drive. When you install Windows, you have the option to create a partition yourself. Just say your hard drive is 400 gigs. You can have ALL 400 Gigs as Drive C: or Partition the drive and have 200 Gigs on C: 100 Gigs on E: and 100 gigs on F.

I would not be surprised if HP has a hidden partition on your computer that you CANNOT SEE.

Which makes it hard to fix things, say you got a virus, or some nasty malware or spyware. If it managed to get into a drive that you can't see or access, it makes it nearly impossible to remove or fix.

Either way, we'll get it sorted out, I promise!

Thanks again!

-Vikki

 

[iataz]

oh you are soooooooooo right..
I tried to install microsoft updates and it didn't take properly so the only thing my computer would do was to keep trying to install the update..
Finally after 7 hours of waiting for it.. ( yeah tell your Mom Taz was that patient).. I called HP tech support ( thank goodness I still had warranty).
Tech support had to dial into my computer to take control of it and did the chkdsk thing ( not sure how) and there was a lot of errors on it.
I'm back up and running now.. but I have had more problems with this computer then any I have ever owned.. and in case I never told you

I HATE VISTA AND IF I COULD GET RID OF IT I WOULD

 

[iataz]

oh and good luck with Midterms

 

[CALizzz]

I need to re-read, to give my Mom's computer a kick!

XoX

Liz