Posts by hughv

This seems to be a definite reformat. Even at my rate, the time spent to repair this machine would cost as much as new Dell.
If he doesn't have install disks, he almost certainly "borrowed" all his "costly" software.
I'd even be uncertain about saving the data, as it may contain the infection.
Copy the data, reformat and reinstall and let him know the data may be infected. A good scan should be run before installing the data.
I've had to give up on a few machines due to time/cost restraints, and it may be the best answer in many cases.

Check "Regional and Languages" in Control Panel.
See here also:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-022

FF with the "Open in IE" plugin.
When I'm on a computer without FF I really miss it.
Tabs rule.

Sorry:
chkdsk /f n:

My HP only gets an hour.
I think you'll find a battery rating at the HP site.

You have a virus-probably "Orkut w32.USBworm
Do you have an up to date anti virus installed?
See here for removal instructions (I haven't tried them).
http://johndasfundas.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-remove-orcu-virus.html

just to be sure:
In the run box, type: chkdsk /f

Have you run chkdsk /f on this drive?
I'm new here-apparently the sticky about no support questions in this forum is no longer valid?

That's normal behavior for chkdsk.
Let chkdsk /f run to the end and you should be good to go.
If you still get SMART errors, replace the drive.

Yes, continue.
In most cases I've seen it will recover most of your data.

Try chkdsk /f on both drives.
Do you have S.M.A.R.T. turned on?
This usually enabled in the BIOS and may give you some useful info.

Hard Sci Fi, when I can find it, although I admit to having been hooked by Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series.
I'm a Vietnam combat vet, so military fiction appeals, as well as techno-thrillers, spy novels and murder mysteries.
Non-fiction is pretty much limited to politics and technology.
My parents gave me a lot, but the love of reading was their greatest gift.

Take a look at this page, especially the "Top 10 Vista Hacks":
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9004871
They aren't really hacks, just ways to tweak the system so it's more responsive. There's a lot of other Vista info here as well.
Mostly, though, spend some time learning the differences between Vista and XP. Vista's gotten a lot of bad press, some deserved, but a pre-installed system should be just fine.

I'm Hugh and I'm new to this site.
It looks very interesting, especially as there seems to be a lot experts hanging out.
I'm retired, like computers and reading, and I used to live on Lawn Guylen, but I wised up and moved to Annapolis.