Famicom World

My computer, HP Pavilion Vista, has been pissing me off for two days. It takes forever for any program to startup, Firefox took 5 minutesto to start. It refuses to restart and shutting down takes a long time. Oh and I can't open the task manager.

Any ideas on what to do?

Nothing's wrong, you're just running vista.
Seriously though, try a system restore or some kind of anti-virus software.

Gimme a screencap of your task manager, I specifically want to see if anything interesting is taking up a ton of CPU space.

No you don't understand, task manager refuses to open.

Download HijackThis:

http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html

and click "Do a Systemscan and Save a Logfile"

Post that Logfile on here.

So I have no idea what any of this means but here you go.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:40:59 PM, on 3/1/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18000)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\QuickPlay\QPService.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QLBCTRL.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP QuickTouch\HPKBDAPP.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\HpqSRmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\HPWAMain.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\WiFiMsg.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\hpwuSchd2.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LightScribeControlPanel.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Lite\daemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\ONENOTEM.EXE
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.bin
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Shared\HpqToaster.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPHelper.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Taskmgr.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Taskmgr.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgui.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgscanx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\Windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Pavilion&pf=laptop
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.daemon-search.com/startpage
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Pavilion&pf=laptop
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Pavilion&pf=laptop
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: &Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: AskBar BHO - {201f27d4-3704-41d6-89c1-aa35e39143ed} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: NCO 2.0 IE BHO - {602ADB0E-4AFF-4217-8AA1-95DAC4DFA408} - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\coShared\Browser\2.0\coIEPlg.dll
O2 - BHO: Symantec Intrusion Prevention - {6D53EC84-6AAE-4787-AEEE-F4628F01010C} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\IDS\IPSBHO.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: HP Print Clips - {FFFFFFFF-FF12-44C5-91EC-068E3AA1B2D7} - c:\Program Files\HP\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_framework.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Show Norton Toolbar - {7FEBEFE3-6B19-4349-98D2-FFB09D4B49CA} - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\coShared\Browser\2.0\CoIEPlg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: DAEMON Tools Toolbar - {32099AAC-C132-4136-9E9A-4E364A424E17} - C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Toolbar\DTToolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: Ask Toolbar - {3041d03e-fd4b-44e0-b742-2d9b88305f98} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QPService] "C:\Program Files\HP\QuickPlay\QPService.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QlbCtrl] %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QlbCtrl.exe /Start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OnScreenDisplay] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP QuickTouch\HPKBDAPP.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UCam_Menu] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\YouCam\MUITransfer\MUIStartMenu.exe" "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\YouCam" update "Software\CyberLink\YouCam\1.0"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpqSRMon] C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqSRMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Health Check Scheduler] c:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\HPHC_Scheduler.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpWirelessAssistant] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\HPWAMain.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WAWifiMessage] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\WiFiMsg.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [lightScribe Control Panel] C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LightScribeControlPanel.exe -hidden
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [HPAdvisor] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Advisor\HPAdvisor.exe autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools Lite] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Lite\daemon.exe" -autorun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DW6] "C:\Program Files\The Weather Channel FW\Desktop\DesktopWeather.exe"
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - Startup: OneNote 2007 Screen Clipper and Launcher.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\ONENOTEM.EXE
O4 - Startup: OpenOffice.org 3.0.lnk = C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\quickstart.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: HP Smart Select - {58ECB495-38F0-49cb-A538-10282ABF65E7} - c:\Program Files\HP\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_extensions.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\AluSchedulerSvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: B's Recorder GOLD Library General Service (bgsvcgen) - B.H.A Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\bgsvcgen.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Lic NetConnect service (CLTNetCnService) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Com4Qlb - Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\Com4Qlb.exe
O23 - Service: COM Host (comHost) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\VAScanner\comHost.exe
O23 - Service: GameConsoleService - WildTangent, Inc. - C:\Program Files\HP Games\My HP Game Console\GameConsoleService.exe
O23 - Service: HP Health Check Service - Hewlett-Packard - c:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\hphc_service.exe
O23 - Service: hpqwmiex - Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Shared\hpqwmiex.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\LuComServer_3_4.EXE
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate Notice - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe
O23 - Service: QuickPlay Background Capture Service (QBCS) (QPCapSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\HP\QuickPlay\Kernel\TV\QPCapSvc.exe
O23 - Service: QuickPlay Task Scheduler (QTS) (QPSched) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\HP\QuickPlay\Kernel\TV\QPSched.exe
O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: XAudioService - Conexant Systems, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\xaudio.exe

--
End of file - 12344 bytes

C:\Windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe

Is a common Windows program, but has also been reported to be a malware file placed on the computer that looks like the real thing.

What sort of anti-virus/malware protection do you have on your computer?

O2 - BHO: &Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll

Did you install this toolbar yourself?

O2 - BHO: AskBar BHO - {201f27d4-3704-41d6-89c1-aa35e39143ed} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll

This is malware.

O3 - Toolbar: Ask Toolbar - {3041d03e-fd4b-44e0-b742-2d9b88305f98} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll

As is this.

OK, go back into HijackThis, click Run a System Scan Only, and place a check over the following items, then click "fix checked".

O2 - BHO: AskBar BHO - {201f27d4-3704-41d6-89c1-aa35e39143ed} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Ask Toolbar - {3041d03e-fd4b-44e0-b742-2d9b88305f98} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll

And then tell me how your computer is running.

I did install that toolbar but it sucks, I should get rid of it. I deleted those two and instantly my computer is running better. As for anti-virus I'm running AVG, I'm not sure if it's good or not though.

Are you able to now use the Task Manager?

Is that all you have? No wonder, you need more than just one anti-virus scanner!

Here are some good options for malware scanners:

Spybot: Search and Destroy
SUPERAntiSpyware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Download any of them, update whichever one, and let it scan your computer.

Afterwards, post a fresh new Hijackthis log!

And if you use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, please post that log as well!

So it got so bad I had to do a system restore, everything seems fine now. I'm running like every spyware program out there.

Bumping this for need of computer help.

My computer makes an annoying alarm noise when I plug it in. Nothing shows up on the screen, but the fan whirrs.

I dont know why this is happening, any suggestions?

The alarm noises are a code.  Your PC will beep a certain number of times in order to indicate what's wrong with it.  You usually need to track down the manual for your motherboard in order to figure out what the sequences mean.

If you can post information about the computer (make / model of the computer assuming it's a Dell or HP or other retail box; make / model of the motherboard if it's a custom box) then I (or someone else here) might be able to google up a manual for you.

Failing that, common problems for this sort of thing are loosely fitted hardware (RAM / video cards / whatever), bad power supplies, or worse.

Also some motherboards beep like a police siren when something's wrong with the CPU fan (not connected or running slowly) to avoid frying the processor. Open up your case and check that your CPU fan is running correctly.

My first instinct is that there is a loose power cable on his video card. Those things make a hell of a racket when they're not getting the juice they need; plus, I personally think that he would have said it was a beep and not an alarm if it had in fact been a beep... though that's my own little theory. :P

Either way, it could be a loose power cord on a video card which would explain the noise and the lack of any images on screen.

Fixed it

RAM was in wrong :X


Argh.

What was your RAM doing that made it seat itself wrong, sir??? :-\

it was taken out and put in a box with like 40 other RAM sticks and I put it back in wrong :X

I tried logging in to Steam, and after I typed in my username/password..it thought for awhile, and then gave me a "Microsoft .NET Framwork Error" It says the remote server returned an error 501.  Syntax error in parameters or arguments.


Any help?

Install the latest .NET Framework? ???

How often is it updated??  I got this computer in October, so I don't think that would be the problem...but I guess I can sure try it.  I also don't think that's the problem, because I was playing it a few hours ago.

I don't really know, I was just throwing it out there as a possible solution. Apparently the latest version is 3.5 SP1.

Of course, you could always try random things such as re-installing Steam, or at the least, restarting your computer. :D

How long has it been giving that error?  Sometimes it's a temporary problem on the server.  I would try again periodically.

I haven't tried since my first post.  I'll try again and edit this.

EDIT** It works, but this time, it didn't ask me to log in...it just started to automatically connect my account...so I have no idea.

Sometimes I'll get random errors with Steam, too. It's not very common, but it does happen every now and then. I set it to remember my login info, and I'm guessing you did too if it automatically logged you in.

So it's working now?

Yup, it's working, except I still haven't gotten Gmod to load lately, because every time I try and open it, it seems like it gets stuck when it's loading the map...but it can do everything before that.

EDIT** Specifically, it gets stuck when it's about half way through loading the map.  It gets stuck at the "Loading resources" part.  Should I increase my virtual memory?  Because, sometimes, the program quits on itself and the computer says it stopped working..

Alright guys, I just got a Logitech USB headset, because my built-in microphone sucks, and it was sounding weird and skipping on Skype/MSN.  My problem is, since the headset plugs in via USB, my computer doesn't detect the microphone, so if I try and talk in anything but Skype, the computer thinks I'm talking to my bulit-in mic, and my voice is sounding quiet and muffled.  My question is: How do I get my computer to detect my USB headset's microphone and set is as my default?

(http://www.techsmith.com/img/learn/camtasia/6/sys-audio/audio-xp.jpg)

Select your USB mic in the Sound Recording drop-down list and then check "Use only default devices", then click Apply and OK. You may need to restart your applications for the changes to take effect.

Thanks 133MHz!  Works great!

Speaking of weird problems, my laptop suddenly started turning itself on every day during the night for the past week or so. It just happened from one day to another and it has been like that ever since. It's a crappy Packard Bell EasyNote PB07. I'm particularly ashamed of owning such a shitty laptop but I was poor and desperate.

I used to leave it on the living room table plugged in and with the lid closed. Due to this it badly overheated the first time it turned itself on. I can't be bothered to remove the battery and AC adapter every night so I just leave it open to prevent overheating and then I turn it off when I wake up in the morning.

There's no option in the BIOS to turn it on at a certain time so that's out of the question. I've been logging the time it starts up every night and it seems to happen between 3:00 and 4:00 AM. (I just run systeminfo in the morning to check the machine's uptime and substract it from the current time, nothing fancy).

Can anyone recommend a good computer exorcist?  ::) :P

A mallet is all the exorcism you'll need.

(http://www.computerexorcist.com/banner1.jpg)

Wicked! Can you set your computer to a setting that shuts itself off quickly?

It's like the iPod Nano I used to have - it'd turn itself on & drain itself.  I eventually lost it - which gives me the creeps; it could still be out there! :o

Quote from: 133MHz on January 29, 2010, 10:04:28 pm
Speaking of weird problems, my laptop suddenly started turning itself on every day during the night for the past week or so. It just happened from one day to another and it has been like that ever since. It's a crappy Packard Bell EasyNote PB07. I'm particularly ashamed of owning such a shitty laptop but I was poor and desperate.

I used to leave it on the living room table plugged in and with the lid closed. Due to this it badly overheated the first time it turned itself on. I can't be bothered to remove the battery and AC adapter every night so I just leave it open to prevent overheating and then I turn it off when I wake up in the morning.

There's no option in the BIOS to turn it on at a certain time so that's out of the question. I've been logging the time it starts up every night and it seems to happen between 3:00 and 4:00 AM. (I just run systeminfo in the morning to check the machine's uptime and substract it from the current time, nothing fancy).

Can anyone recommend a good computer exorcist?  ::) :P

There was an episode of Fact or Fiction where a guy had the same problem but only it would do straight to an aim program and the problem was that the guy who owned the computer had a friend trapped in an Egyptian tomb and he was trying to contact him.

The least he could've done was contact him. :o

maybe put a shortcut to shutdown.exe in startup, with like 5 minutes to go, then when you actually want to use it, just run shutdown -a

Inconvenient, but it would work.

He did but he still kept getting messages for the guy's rescue, even after the computer guy came.

Hey guys, had a question about Windows Media Player.

This applies to every single thing I watch in it.  Whether it's a movie I made, a movie I downloaded, etc, etc, it ALWAYS appears slightly unfocused and pixelly around where a single color is (this is most noticeable in opening credits where most of the screen is black).  Anyone else have this problem?  Know how I can fix it?

(http://i50.tinypic.com/2chmlo4.jpg)

Looks like one of two things:

• The video is overly-compressed and/or they used a really bad encoder.  Nothing you can do.


• Your video codec (for whatever type of video that is) is crap.  Install a different one (or use VLC instead of WMP).

I think it may be the video codec.  I haven't tried it with this exact video file, but if I play the same file in Windows Movie Maker, and WMP, it looks great on the screen in WMM, but looks like..well..this in WMP.  I'll try VLC and see what happens though.

Edit*  VLC looks soooo much better.  Thanks for the suggestion.  The contrast is still a little high, but it's a huge improvement over WMP.  Good to know that it isn't the file.

Media Player Classic. Best thing ever made.

Seconded. Instant startup, no fuss, no muss. But its awesomeness greatly depends on the codec pack(s) you have installed. Keep your codecs updated and you'll be able to play anything on it.

Yeah, I only recommended VLC because it uses its own codecs instead of the system's.  Install the Combined Community Codec Pack (http://www.cccp-project.net/ (http://www.cccp-project.net/)) and then you can use pretty much any player you want.

Another problem.  Probably just something simple that I'm overlooking.  I've tried like 5 DVDs, and my DVD drive isn't detecting any of them.  Solutions?

Listen for any kind of strange or unusual noises coming from the optical drive. The pickup assembly could be stuck or its path could be blocked by a piece of debris.

I hear the usual noises of the disc spinning and the drive buzzing (like it always has). :S

/\ Restarting fixed that problem. :-[

My computer's been having lots of problems lately.  Right now, I'm running it in safe mode, because whenever I boot it normally, everything except the mouse completely freezes after logging on for just a few minutes (if that).  I tried a system restore, and that didn't fix the problem.  Anyone know what's up?

Any of 4 things, bad ram sticks, bad processor, bad hard drive or overheating.

Bad RAM can and does cause weird problems, but bad processor? I've never seen a processor failure mode other than being completely dead or freezing/crashing due to overheating and/or overclocking. Bad HDD and overheating are likely causes too but those should be pretty easy to rule out.

Since dork's laptop seems to work fine in Safe Mode, I'm inclined to think that it's a software problem and not a hardware one (save for a corrupt hard drive). Try running a CHKDSK and disable every startup item using msconfig. Something faulty is getting loaded on normal mode that's freezing the whole thing, and you need to find out what it is.

Overheating would be the main cause.  This computer gets hot fairly fast.  It freezes up before it even really has a chance to get warm though.

But then your mouse would freeze too, and it wouldn't work in Safe Mode either.

Download & run this: Stress Prime 2004 BETA (http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm)
It'll stress your CPU and RAM to the max, allowing you to rule out failure under heavy CPU load.

Quote from: 133MHz on February 13, 2010, 01:51:33 pm
But then your mouse would freeze too, and it wouldn't work in Safe Mode either.

Download & run this: Stress Prime 2004 BETA (http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm)
It'll stress your CPU and RAM to the max, allowing you to rule out failure under heavy CPU load.

How long should someone run this program, like the minimum?
I used it and ran it for 12 minutes and nothing happened to the computer.

Downloaded it and ran it.  No problems at all.

Quote from: nintendodork on February 13, 2010, 02:30:03 pm
Downloaded it and ran it.  No problems at all.

Likely your hard-drive is torched, can your PC use Sata HDD's? Because if its not overheating, bad ram or bad processor then its your hard-drive, those are cheap though.

I got a 500 GB Sata standardized HDD for only $56 brand new.


Also how long did you run the stress test for?

I dunno, I sort of lost track of time. >_>

And if my hard drive was torched, then I wouldn't be able to access it, right? ???

Quote from: nintendodork on February 13, 2010, 02:35:10 pm
I dunno, I sort of lost track of time. >_>

And if my hard drive was torched, then I wouldn't be able to access it, right? ::)

Wrong, I have a corrupted hard drive it loads up, speeds really fast and freezes after about 2 hours or less.

Tyler, not sure if you got my IM or not, but run memtest86. just burn it to a cd (or put it on a floppy, but i highly doubt a modern laptop has a floppy drive :P).

Bad RAM can severely F a computer up, as 133 said.

http://www.memtest86.com/

Let it run for a good half hour, if not more.

More computer problems!  I'm having this problem in regular mode.  Sometimes the screen will randomly just go black, but it's not overheating, I believe it's got something to do with RAM.  I took out the RAM and didn't notice any cosmetic problems, but I guess it could still be bad.  Maybe it's because I reinstalled the OS as 32-bit instead of 64-bit?  Either way, my problem is that when I boot the computer in Safe Mode with networking, my computer detects wireless networks just fine, and I can connect to them, but only locally.  In Safe mode with networking, I can't connect to the internet. ::)  Anyone know what's up?

You just took the RAM out? I hope you were electrically grounded! :o

Bye, bye RAM. Grounding straps are a must-have when working on computers. Static electricity doesn't play very nicely.  :-\

i always worked on my consoles, staying still (on a table on newspaper) but above a carpet. and make sure when moving my legs not to touch anything or when getting up.

The area I was messing with it in wasn't carpeted at all.  All wood.  I don't think I did anything to it by taking it out.  Or at least I hope I didn't. :-[

I doubt it. I don't have a grounding strip and my RAM survived me taking it out and replacing it. Unless your PC seems MORE fucked up than before you took out the RAM, i wouldn't worry.

As far as the screen, I had a compaq that would go totally white if you bumped the screen wrong. the plug was loose under the hinge. That may be something to take into consideration

also, go on MSN sometime today

Yeah, I haven't noticed any differences before and after I took the RAM out, but that's not what I'm asking.  I'm asking why Safe Mode with networking isn't doing the "with networking" part. :(

Did you try using a LAN cable instead of wireless? Check your drivers? Maybe try a reinstall or restore point and see if that corrects your problem. You can always undo system restores.

I'll try it on a LAN when I get home.  I could take a look at my drivers, but I don't know what could have changed.  I haven't really messed with my internet connectivity at all, so I wonder what it could possibly be.

Brainblast!

Being that you're having screen problems and safe mode solves them, I think it's somehow graphics card related, as safe mode uses a standard (1998-ish) graphics driver. My guess is that your GPU is crashing when it gets too hot.

I'm actually starting to think it could be that or the video card, because when I went into NVIDIA and looked at the settings, the little slider was set all the way to quality, so I put it all the way on performance, and I played for a little while longer than I usually do in Combart Arms before my screen does it.  So I could replace the video card, but what about the GPU?  How hard are those to replace?

The Graphics Processing Unit is part of the video card. And I've never heard of anyone replacing one in a laptop, but i guess anything can be done

Oh.  I guess I didn't realize it was apart of the video card.  In that, case, I guess I'll look for a new video card.

I need a new graphics card myself. I've been using my brother's for about a year now. I'm sure he wants it back.

Quote from: nensondubois on June 11, 2010, 09:18:11 pm
I need a new graphics card myself. I've been using my brother's for about a year now. I'm sure he wants it back.

What kind of card?

I'm still looking for one that suits my needs. Gaming is in mind. I pretty much know what I want. I'll tell everyone when I get it.

i'd like to know what kind too. I'm getting a new one so i can actually play a game I recently downloaded for more than 10 minutes.

Are you sure your laptop is one of those select few that actually have a removable video card? ???

Yikes. I'm not sure about that.  looks like it's time to do some exploring! :D