Posts by hughv

I agree with caperjack.
You might check event viewer for clues.

You'll need to use someone else's computer if you can't use this one. Download the drivers and transfer them to a jump drive or a CD.

You need to fix the driver problem first, especially the ethernet driver.
Go to the PC maker's web site and get the drivers.
If you don't know how, post the computer model and make.

Did you reinstall all the drivers?
Look in device manager for yellow marks.

DVD/CD-ROM drives: HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR 8162B and LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-812S do I uninstall both of these. When I reboot are they reinstalled? What would cause the drive to be dead?

Yes. Uninstall both. They will be reinstalled when you reboot.
I think this is the place to start,as a bad laser would just fail to burn or read, not crash your computer.
Open Control Panel/Admin Tools/Event Viewer and look for red marks under System and Applications for clues to your other problems.
You seem to have many problems, and we need to figure out the cause to advise you.

Try a repair install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Many computers had trouble with SP2, and you may find info on this at the Compaq site.
If you write back, include the model number.

Try the Fujitsu forums:
http://support.fujitsu-siemens.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=20

Some times those old guesses come in handy!
Well done.
Be sure to mark the thread "solved", so others will be able to find it.

This device makes the job much easier:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2329300&CatId=470
Remove the drive from the case, attach the adapter and look for the drive in My Computer or disk management.
If the drive is still good, you should be able to move/copy the files.

"This unit has years and years of information in it and I really need to be able to get to it."
So, that would seem to eliminate formatting.
You need to get this drive out of the case to isolate the problem.
Attach it to your machine via USB adapter or one of the IDE channels, then see if it spins up or is recognized.
All HD manufacturers make diagnostic software which may help if you run into problems.

My understanding of these external cases is that they include a controller, so the USB factor is secondary.
You may be running into a controller limitation, so a USB adapter may help, or you could attach the drive directly to your PC on one of the IDE controllers to see of you get lucky. Change the jumper appropriately, of course.

There seems to be 2 factors:
The reliability of the case. Metal cases cool better, and some have cooling fans. Cheap enclosures seem to fail often.
Drive reliability. Lots of opinions, but I think it's a crapshoot.
My WD drive has always been trouble free.
I've got a Toshiba 2.5" drive in a free case that's been banged around and carried in my truck for a couple of years, and it's always been reliable

can anyone help me in my new 250gb hdd seagate sata..it only detects 125gb due to bios limitation, i have a seatools to set it to its maximum capacity but dont know how to do..please help me

You should start a new thread.
When you do, tell us why you haven't updated the BIOS.

I'd start by looking for an updated video driver or reinstalling the current one.

Uninstall the CD in Device manager and reboot.
It's possible the drive is dead.

FS7600 seems to be the monitor model number. What's the model number of the computer?
You should try a repair install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Almost every maker posts their manuals online or includes it on the CD that came with.
If you still can't find it, post the exact model number.

I don't get this delay, and I'm using 1680 X 1050.
I have 2GB RAM and a 512 MB video card.
Compare the specs on this machine to your machine at work. RAM is cheap. Try adding some and see if it helps.
It couldn't hurt to try the Office Repair procedure (That's a guess).

Start with Event viewer and look for System/Application errors.
Control Panel/Admin Tools/Event Viewer
Asus boards have a temp monitor program that might help.

Just create a new shortcut:
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"
Drag this shortcut to the start menu.
Have you enabled the Quick Launch Tool Bar?

Post ipconfig /all

Is this a powered hub? How many devices are attached?
Your computer may be looking for devices that were attached previously and are now missing. Delete any such devices.
With the computer running, and the USB hub working, delete all the USB entries in device manager and reboot to force a reinstall of the drivers.

You could also post the question in a tech support forum like this one.
If the solution doesn't work, tell us what adapter you have.

Wikipedia on Defrag:
"Sequential reading and writing data on a heavily fragmented file system is slowed down as the time needed for the disk heads to move between fragments"
Let me translate-Defragging can speed up disk access.
Not a guess, a routine part of troubleshooting problems like this. If you want help, it's best not to insult the helper.

Scannow should fix it:
Run
sfc /scannow
The Windows CD must be in the drive.

When you opened the My Docs folder, you opened Explorer.
You can also type explorer in the run box.
Are you looking for Internet Explorer?
It's at:
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"
You sound like a good candidate for a System Restore:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx

Try this fix from Kelly's Korner:

Extract a New Copy of Msconfig.exe

Open a command prompt window. Insert your XP CD into the drive and enter the following command:

EXPAND -R X:\I386\MSCONFIG.EX_Z:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\BINARIES

Three suggestions:
Run a full AV/Spyware scan to be sure you've quarantined/Healed/Removed everything. (Use the "Immunize" feature in Spybot).
Turn off System Restore, reboot and turn it back on. These files often persist in the System Restore files.
If you still get the Pop Ups, post a Hijack log in the Spyware forum.

Look under Communications.

Use the XP repair install instructions here:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
If that doesn't work, you'll need to remove the drive and copy your files to another machine.
This adapter makes it easy:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2329300&sku=M501-1220

That really sucks.
You have a 10/100 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Download Belarc to identify it:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Then we should be able to find a driver.

In Folder options, look for File Types, scroll down to URL. (Don't mess around in here).
Click on Open , then edit.
Action:Open
Application used:undll32.exe ieframe.dll,OpenURL %l
Use DDE is checked
Application:ieframe
DDE App: Blank
Topic: System
I suspect you could install Firefox to solve this, or just reinstall IE.

Removal instructions are here:
http://www.411-spyware.com/remove-psguard
"Spy Doctor" or "Spyware Doctor"?
You won't get an "Open With" option with a shortcut.
Select "Properties" and paste the url entry here so we can see what it says.
Does Internet Explorer work?

There is nothing to "guess" at about defrag.
Run the "analyze" routine and you will know for certain.
Likewise with chkdsk. These are routine checks that have to be made before moving on to other possibilities.
Have you tried PP in Safe mode?
Look in Event viewer as well, to see if any App or System errors occur with the disk or with PP.

"Secondary" refers to the driver for the second display, and seems to be legit.
Comlete re-install instructions are here, and I would suggest that's the next thing to try:
http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=28435

If they didn't delete the data, look in C:\Documents and Settings\User Name
You may find several accounts, but drill down to My Docs/My Pics in each and you may find your images.
You could also use the search feature.

The cold boot problem may be a bad power supply.
I wonder about the boot device priority issue. What, exactly have you set it for? If it doesn't stick, you gotta' wonder about the CMOS battery.
If you can't get to Safe Mode or Last Known, you should seriously consider a fresh install or a Repair install.

Start with the usual:
Defrag, Chkdsk, virus and spyware scan.
Do you get error messages?
Are any other programs slow?
Is your HD getting full?
Is windows up to date?

I know. Just hoping.
It seems odd that you guys don't use MS's Outlook backup software:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en
I assume it would work with a server.

.N2K is the auto-complete file for her profile:
http://filext.com/file-extension/NK2
Look here for the pst file:
C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Login as Administrator, go to user accounts:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/admins.htm

This MS KB article should help:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/811151

Both work and home came with Office 2003.

CPU Intel Pentium IV 1.79 GHz
RAM 384 MB
HD 40 GB, 30GB used

Like I said, I don't think this is a system capability problem, because I can speed it up by clicking on the the unfilled thumbnail boxes.

You have a minimal amount of RAM, a slow (ish) CPU and your HD is getting full.
I didn't hear a reply to my suggestion about chkldsk and defrag, so I sort of lost interest.
Is your copy of PP up to date?

I jz checked the Event Viewer n it shows a huge list of errors under Application and System heads but none under Security head

Don't make me work so hard: what kind of errors did you see?
We're most interested in the ones that recur.
Be specific so we can help.

Boot to Safe mode with networking and see if you can connect.
I'm not convinced that a virus is your problem.
Look in Control Panel/Admin Tools/Event Viewer for system/application errors.
Post ipconfig /all.

I agree with jbennet.
If you're going to make such a change, you'd best have a very good reason for it, and I don't see any such reason.
The File/Edit/View bar is missing in the default IE set up. What's up with that?
I've turned off Aero in every Vista set up I've done so far, and no one has complained about not having to learn a new interface.

"Getting funky" is not a technical description, even though it may be accurate.
Try to be more specific.
Many Dells have a diagnostic option you can access at boot. Run the HD diagnostics test.
Run defrag and chkdsk.

In Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager:
See what video adapter is shown.
Right-click any and all, then select "Uninstall".
Reboot, and see if the correct card is detected and reinstalled.
You may need to have the drivers handy to complete this step.

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html

I'm in favor of Real VNC.
Set it up on both machines, forward the appropriate ports and you're in business.
See here for more:
http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Linksys/WRK54G/ICUII.htm