try this help file: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm

Cheers guys - I'm sending it back.

Update: 13 keys are working...
Is this ominous or what?

I don't really know what category this fits into, since I don't know where the problem lies yet, but hopefully someone can help me.

This is a 6 month old acer laptop, so it'll go back under...

Great!

;)

Does http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/WindowsXP/AdminTips/Security/RemoveSavedPasswords.html help?

Believe it or not adding ram requires a reactivation. :(
The windows that companies preinstall is OEM software - Microsoft is supposed to only activate this stuff once, though if you can provide a...

are the folder settings set to try to preview them in some way? e.g. if you leave it there for a while does it eventually complete what it wanted to do and display some sort of preview? other than...

is this:

in response to this:

If it is, then actually you can on every pc I've ever touched. If you hit 'boot sequence', you can change it through hard drives 0 to 3, which correspond to every...

well you could consider using a partition resizer like http://www.zeleps.com/
however, they all reccomend you back up your data in case it goes wrong....

incidentally have you read...

did this link have anything to do with this question?
http://www.blackviper.com/AskBV/XP25.htm

When you say 'a certain program' does that mean you can't tell us what it is?

well by fiddling around with services I managed to screw up a computer, wheras I've never had any problems after using msconfig. That's why I use msconfig anyway...

:lol:

could you boot from a second hard drive and use easycleaner's undo feature?

yes if you're careful but wouldn't it be easier to uninstall? e.g. via add/remove in the control panel?

edit: personally I use easycleaner: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download414.html
Note that...

it sounds more like it is an oem copy that hasn't been activated. There should be a phone number to ring or a website to visit in order to activate it.

Office XP only opens 30 (ish) times before...

Disadvantage ofcourse is that when the heads get clogged you have to spend ages cleaning them...
What country are you in? In the UK OEM Lexmark Cartridges are quite expensive everywhere.

I h8 refills... ;)

start -> run
type msconfig
click startup tab
See what's loading that you don't need. untick anything you don't need and press ok.

Clean up folders and files on your desktop.

Can't think of...

What search utility?
What file was missing?

Personally I'd get the free version of Zonealarm: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
It's far more effective.

was it one of those compatible cartidges? if so then that's more than likely...

It wasn't all that difficult as I remember it... Got me worried when it diverted from the automatic phone system to an operator though!

there's one on bootdisk.com but it's $4 to access it...
http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

the one you want is near the bottom.

Have you connected a normal phone to see if there is a dial tone?

have you tried the other stuff on the link I provided? namely:

did you remember to remove the sticky tape covering the nozzle? otherwise here is the lexmark troubleshooting page for your perusal:...

sounds like it could be overheating.
Try taking the side off the pc to play. You might want to place a large fan to blow nice cool air into the case too.

If that works then you need to see about...

try this article: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;279614

solution from: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/computing/kb/kb0747.html
There is no native Windows-based method for changing the Administrator password if you've forgotten it. The best solution available...

You could also try lavasoft adaware - http://www.lavasoft.de/

Basically you need to go start -> run, type msconfig, and uncheck from the startup tab pg4ds32m if you can find it, but also pup.exe, over.exe etc if present.
Check out:...

how long does it run for before shutting down?

you could try running stinger on there: http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/