The Technology Troubleshooting Thread

[Slyfox696]

This isn't so much a trouble shooting question as it is a general question about something I'm not sure about. Can I use a system repair disk made from a laptop to reformat a desktop PC? I know it's unlikely but I lost the one I made for my desktop and didn't feel like buying a new Windows disk.

I'm not sure, you can try it, but there's some things you need to be aware of if it does work. First of all, the desktop PC will have to have a larger sized hard drive (HDD) than the laptop. Second of all, if the desktop has a larger HDD, then you'll lose the difference in space. For example, if your HDD is 500 GB and your laptop 320, you'll lose 180 GB (the difference) unless you edit your partition. Third of all, many of your drivers will not work since they will be for the wrong machine, so you'll need to back up your current drivers first. I use Hiren's Boot CD and the programs on there to back up drivers.


If you're just wanting to reinstall Windows, see if your high school IT administrator has a Windows installation disc which is compatible with your machine's license. On the side of every machine, there should be a sticker with your Windows license. See if he has an installation disc, and you can re-install from the beginning, and use your own license. To the best of my knowledge, this is legal and you'll have most of the correct drivers.

Or you can be bold and try a Linux distribution. If you're just doing word processing and Internet surfing, it might be worth a shot.

 

[Muffin Top Merkley]

In early March I will be moving into a new two-floor apartment. I am trying to find a wireless router that will be strong enough to connect devices on both floors.

If anyone has any recommendations it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Slyfox696]

In early March I will be moving into a new two-floor apartment. I am trying to find a wireless router that will be strong enough to connect devices on both floors.

If anyone has any recommendations it would be greatly appreciated.

As long as you place it in the correct spot (meaning not behind boxes on one end of the building), a Wireless-N router should be able to handle it. I'm always a fan of Linksys/Cisco routers.

 

[Stormtrooper]

OK, so I just downloaded Avast Antivirus today. I used to have Kaspersky, but the subscription ended and no way in hell am I paying for it, so I'm using Avast since it's free.

Anyway, I have noticed that ever since I installed it, My FireFox browser will freeze up on me a lot. Ironically 90% of the time it happens, it's on the Wrestlezone main page or one of the poorly written/usually incorrect "news" stories they post. I noticed that Avast now has a web browser add-on that does something or other. It happened often when I had that enabled, then I disabled it and it's still happening, albeit not as often.

Is it Avast that's screwing up? FireFox? Both?


Oh, and if it's FireFox, should I switch to a different browser, like Chrome or something (lord knows it won't be IE)

 

[Sparky]

Oh, and if it's FireFox, should I switch to a different browser, like Chrome or something (lord knows it won't be IE)

My partner uses Avast and she hasn't had a problem with Chrome.

Anybody know anything about portable hard drives? Something happened to my brothers and now it can't be recognized on mine or his laptop. It has a whole heap of photo's on, is there away to at least give it a temporary fix so we can get those off of it?

 

[Slyfox696]

OK, so I just downloaded Avast Antivirus today. I used to have Kaspersky, but the subscription ended and no way in hell am I paying for it, so I'm using Avast since it's free.

First of all, have you completely uninstalled Kaspersky? You never want two anti-virus programs on the machine at the same time.

Anyway, I have noticed that ever since I installed it, My FireFox browser will freeze up on me a lot. Ironically 90% of the time it happens, it's on the Wrestlezone main page or one of the poorly written/usually incorrect "news" stories they post. I noticed that Avast now has a web browser add-on that does something or other. It happened often when I had that enabled, then I disabled it and it's still happening, albeit not as often.

Is it Avast that's screwing up? FireFox? Both?

Try disabling the anti-virus, load a new browser and visit the pages and see if they screw up. And if you're not already, install Adblock Plus into your Firefox before you load WZ.

Oh, and if it's FireFox, should I switch to a different browser, like Chrome or something (lord knows it won't be IE)

Actually, the latest version of Internet Explorer is pretty good. If they would only allow for extensions like Firefox and Chrome do, I would use Internet Explorer. But without Adblock Plus and Firebug, there's no way I could handle the Internet. Can't stand ads.

Anybody know anything about portable hard drives? Something happened to my brothers and now it can't be recognized on mine or his laptop. It has a whole heap of photo's on, is there away to at least give it a temporary fix so we can get those off of it?

Is the hard drive powering up? What was the "something" that happened to it?

 

[Stormtrooper]

First of all, have you completely uninstalled Kaspersky? You never want two anti-virus programs on the machine at the same time.

Yeah, I kinda forgot to do that. I disabled it, but it's still on my machine.

Try disabling the anti-virus, load a new browser and visit the pages and see if they screw up. And if you're not already, install Adblock Plus into your Firefox before you load WZ.

Adblock Plus was the first thing I did with my computer, before facebook, the forums, playing games that involve the touchscreen, whatever.

And in order to try disabling it, I need to find a way to disable it. I'm looking for that now, but it's not playing nice.


Also: When I was installing Avast yesterday, they made me aware that they have an Avast Android app. Is it a good idea to have antivirus on my Android phone?

 

[Sparky]

Is the hard drive powering up? What was the "something" that happened to it?

No idea. He won't spill. and the light turns on, but that's it. it keeps on saying the laptop can't be recognized. It could be that he just left it plugged into the laptop for so long that it over heats.

 

[Slyfox696]

Yeah, I kinda forgot to do that. I disabled it, but it's still on my machine.

Remove it completely. Always remove it completely. You might even consider removing Avast and re-installing it.

I don't use Avast, so I'm not real aware of what all it does to a machine. I love MSE.

Also: When I was installing Avast yesterday, they made me aware that they have an Avast Android app. Is it a good idea to have antivirus on my Android phone?

It's not a bad idea. You just have to remember it's more drain on your battery. Most Android malware, from what I understand, comes from bad apps, not from Internet surfing.

No idea. He won't spill. and the light turns on, but that's it. it keeps on saying the laptop can't be recognized. It could be that he just left it plugged into the laptop for so long that it over heats.

What says "the laptop can't be recognized"?

 

[Sparky]

I mean the laptops keep on saying the hard drive can't be recognized.

 

[Slyfox696]

I mean the laptops keep on saying the hard drive can't be recognized.

What's the EXACT message you get?

 

[Sparky]

There was another one, but I can't seem to get it back up for some reason.

Spoiler

Edit: Hold on, photobucket's being ******ed. I'll make it bigger.

And Now the portable hard drive keeps on beeping....?

 

[Stormtrooper]

Remove it completely. Always remove it completely. You might even consider removing Avast and re-installing it.

It seems that uninstalling Kasperky alleviated the issue. Your prompt assistance is greatly appreciated.

I don't use Avast, so I'm not real aware of what all it does to a machine. I love MSE.

MSE? Is that the Microsoft thing you mention in your free computer programs thread?

 

[Slyfox696]

There was another one, but I can't seem to get it back up for some reason.

Spoiler

Edit: Hold on, photobucket's being ******ed. I'll make it bigger.

It appears as if the driver is either not installed, or is corrupted. You might try and see if you can manually download the driver for it from the company's website. Worth a shot.

And Now the portable hard drive keeps on beeping....?

This hard drive will self-destruct in 3...2...1...


If your hard drive is beeping, that's probably not good. Is it beeping on just one computer or multiple machines?

It seems that uninstalling Kasperky alleviated the issue. Your prompt assistance is greatly appreciated.


MSE? Is that the Microsoft thing you mention in your free computer programs thread?

Good to hear the problem is fixed. And yes, MSE is Microsoft Security Essentials.

 

[Sparky]

There seems to be no information at all about the portable harddrive on the company's website. I guess Mum will just have to chalk this up to a loss. Half the photo's are on facebook anyway. she was just worried about the rest. Thanks for the help.

And it's beeping when it's plugged into mine and my fiance's laptop but the noise is coming from the actual hard drive.

four beeps close together and then one after about five seconds... every couple of minutes.

 

[Slyfox696]

There seems to be no information at all about the portable harddrive on the company's website. I guess Mum will just have to chalk this up to a loss. Half the photo's are on facebook anyway. she was just worried about the rest. Thanks for the help.

And it's beeping when it's plugged into mine and my fiance's laptop but the noise is coming from the actual hard drive.

four beeps close together and then one after about five seconds... every couple of minutes.

You might see if that's an error code for the drive. Surely there should be some documentation if you look up the model and manufacturer.

 

[tommyh]

Im not sure if this is where this is sappose to go but if it aint im sure ill find out.

Ok guys as of right now i have a android phone.As of late ive been having a lot of droped calls.Im not sure if its the phone or the company i have.I have an upgrade coming up on my phone this morning.Ive always wanted an i phone.So my question for all of yall is what is the best phone out there,If you have an i phone what do you like an not like about it.Thanks for all your help

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Sly, I need some help.

Youtube doesn't open from any of the browser in my/ or anyone's in my office.

Help?

 

[Slyfox696]

Im not sure if this is where this is sappose to go but if it aint im sure ill find out.

Ok guys as of right now i have a android phone.As of late ive been having a lot of droped calls.Im not sure if its the phone or the company i have.I have an upgrade coming up on my phone this morning.Ive always wanted an i phone.So my question for all of yall is what is the best phone out there,If you have an i phone what do you like an not like about it.Thanks for all your help

If you're going to get an iPhone, wait until the new model comes out, probably this summer.

Sly, I need some help.

Youtube doesn't open from any of the browser in my/ or anyone's in my office.

Help?

Sounds like you have a content filter. What happens when you go to Youtube?

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

If you're going to get an iPhone, wait until the new model comes out, probably this summer.

Sounds like you have a content filter. What happens when you go to Youtube?

This webpage is not available
Google Chrome could not load the webpage because youtube.com took too long to respond. The website may be down, or you may be experiencing issues with your Internet connection.
Here are some suggestions:
Reload this webpage later.
Check your Internet connection. Restart any router, modem, or other network devices you may be using.
Add Google Chrome as a permitted program in your firewall's or antivirus software's settings. If it is already a permitted program, try deleting it from the list of permitted programs and adding it again.
If you use a proxy server, check your proxy settings or contact your network administrator to make sure the proxy server is working. If you don't believe you should be using a proxy server, adjust your proxy settings: Go to the wrench menu > Options > Under the Hood > Change proxy settings... > LAN Settings and deselect the "Use a proxy server for your LAN" checkbox.
Error 7 (net::ERR_TIMED_OUT): The operation timed out.

Says this. Is it possible someone blocked youtube from the server computer?

Could you explain how proxy settings work and could help?

Very new to all this.

 

[Slyfox696]

Says this. Is it possible someone blocked youtube from the server computer?

Could you explain how proxy settings work and could help?

Very new to all this.

It looks like someone has shut you down before your Internet request can go out. So you either have a content filter and/or your firewall is blocking traffic to YouTube. I can explain how a proxy works, but if it is a content filter or firewall, changing proxy settings won't help much, since it is an office wide problem.

Does it do the same in another browser?

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Yes it does.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

 

[Slyfox696]

What does it look like in Firefox? That will be of more help to me.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]