my computer has gone insane

[Amby 490]

I didn't install anything or download anything or update anything. It just stopped working. It was working and then I went to look something up when I was on the phone and it just stopped working. I was like #######? Oh well...someone is fixing it for me. It would only be a life or death issue if I didn't have two other computers Thanks everyone

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

On a less important note, some games (such as Mass Effect) use DRM that limits the number of installations and activations (in this case you have three) you can have. In other words, if you lose an installation/activation due to a hard drive crash or formatting the drive, then you have one less installation/activation to work with. Uninstalling the game does not free up an installation/activation either, which is really annoying.

[Amby 490]

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

I was thinking that about my version of Office...I already installed it on 3 computers. I think my sister has only installed hers on 2 computers so I might be ok for that.

The only thing I don't have backed up is my photos. Most of them are still on my memory card that's in my camera so that isn't a big deal. I'll have to check my full memory card to see what pics are on it. I think I printed the ones I wanted anyways so it's not that important to save them.

[HAL 9000 96]

Seems like this was something HAL 9000 could have fixed.

[NickD 203]

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

I was thinking that about my version of Office...I already installed it on 3 computers. I think my sister has only installed hers on 2 computers so I might be ok for that.

The only thing I don't have backed up is my photos. Most of them are still on my memory card that's in my camera so that isn't a big deal. I'll have to check my full memory card to see what pics are on it. I think I printed the ones I wanted anyways so it's not that important to save them.

I will be going nuts with Vista tomorrow, stepson shipped his back, was his graduation present in Venezuela, should have gotten him a rubber duck or something. Just got a call from FedEx customs, asking me if I knew that a package was being sent to me, where it was from, and what's in the box. Said, yeah, from my stepson, a broken HP notebook, but had to verify all that stuff via an e-mail plus look up the manufacturers address.

Ha, better not find any shared MP3 files on his computer, then will fix it with that hammer.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

On a less important note, some games (such as Mass Effect) use DRM that limits the number of installations and activations (in this case you have three) you can have. In other words, if you lose an installation/activation due to a hard drive crash or formatting the drive, then you have one less installation/activation to work with. Uninstalling the game does not free up an installation/activation either, which is really annoying.

That's changing I think - EA recently bowed to user pressure about the DRM on SPORE.

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

I was thinking that about my version of Office...I already installed it on 3 computers. I think my sister has only installed hers on 2 computers so I might be ok for that.

The only thing I don't have backed up is my photos. Most of them are still on my memory card that's in my camera so that isn't a big deal. I'll have to check my full memory card to see what pics are on it. I think I printed the ones I wanted anyways so it's not that important to save them.

Probably a bit late now as you've sent the PC to the repair place (though I'd imagine they'd call you before doing a reinstall) but always a good idea to have an external HDD backup. An iPod could probably be used for that too - unless you have a really ridiculous amount of files.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

On a less important note, some games (such as Mass Effect) use DRM that limits the number of installations and activations (in this case you have three) you can have. In other words, if you lose an installation/activation due to a hard drive crash or formatting the drive, then you have one less installation/activation to work with. Uninstalling the game does not free up an installation/activation either, which is really annoying.

That's changing I think - EA recently bowed to user pressure about the DRM on SPORE.

That's good. As far as I know, they haven't changed their mind about Mass Effect. Of course... you could always (legally) pay for and download the game on Steam without having EA's DRM on it. The only drawback to that is you won't have a physical disc and box.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think SPORE was a watershed for the games industry - the sheer volume of complaints, the fact that players who waited for the game for years preferred to download it illegally rather than deal with the DRM pretty much ensures that games manufactuers will be looking at other, more user-friendly methods of ensuring copyright. It won't be retroactive of course, but I doubt you'll see this again.

Sony had to backtrack on that thing they did with their CDs a couple of years ago, for similar reasons.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I think there is supposed to be a new Service Pack for Vista coming out in a month or two.

I believe SP2 is in beta and should be out soon.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Its funny you mention Mojave.

Its one of their marketing campaigns to sell Windows Vista, by getting people on the street to try it on the premise that its the next version of Windows. So far it seems that they're spending more money marketing Vista than on fixing the problems!

The next MS OS - "Windows 7" won't be out for a year or two.

I have been reading reports that it should be out within the next year, but we all know how that goes. Windows 7 is supposed to be what Vista wasn't.

Wife also liked to use her notebook in bed, said you cannot do that, soft comforter blocks the cooling fan stupidly mounted underneath, that will burn up your computer in short order. Has to be on a hard surface, even added sticky feet to it to raise it another 1/4" for better air flow, and have to vacuum out the fan outlet that gets blocked with dust and debris. Have to do that with all of my computers as PC also stands for Poor Cooling.

very true i've got a pair of 2x2's that i use at work for my work laptop. when nessa got her laptop i gave her a quick class on that too, as most people don't realize laptops get their air from the bottom of the machine instead of the back/front arrangement like desktops.

Should I take off the tape covering the bottom vents?

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

I think there is supposed to be a new Service Pack for Vista coming out in a month or two.

I believe SP2 is in beta and should be out soon.

sp2 - new and improved to crash your vista machine faster!

Wife also liked to use her notebook in bed, said you cannot do that, soft comforter blocks the cooling fan stupidly mounted underneath, that will burn up your computer in short order. Has to be on a hard surface, even added sticky feet to it to raise it another 1/4" for better air flow, and have to vacuum out the fan outlet that gets blocked with dust and debris. Have to do that with all of my computers as PC also stands for Poor Cooling.

very true i've got a pair of 2x2's that i use at work for my work laptop. when nessa got her laptop i gave her a quick class on that too, as most people don't realize laptops get their air from the bottom of the machine instead of the back/front arrangement like desktops.

Should I take off the tape covering the bottom vents?

only during the summertime, during the winter the air is too cold for it

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Seems like this was something HAL 9000 could have fixed.

But you run Vista too.

I think there is supposed to be a new Service Pack for Vista coming out in a month or two.

I believe SP2 is in beta and should be out soon.

sp2 - new and improved to crash your vista machine faster!

Wife also liked to use her notebook in bed, said you cannot do that, soft comforter blocks the cooling fan stupidly mounted underneath, that will burn up your computer in short order. Has to be on a hard surface, even added sticky feet to it to raise it another 1/4" for better air flow, and have to vacuum out the fan outlet that gets blocked with dust and debris. Have to do that with all of my computers as PC also stands for Poor Cooling.

very true i've got a pair of 2x2's that i use at work for my work laptop. when nessa got her laptop i gave her a quick class on that too, as most people don't realize laptops get their air from the bottom of the machine instead of the back/front arrangement like desktops.

Should I take off the tape covering the bottom vents?

only during the summertime, during the winter the air is too cold for it

Especially here in New England.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its a crime how expensive these new iterations of Windows are, especially when they don't work properly.

I was about to spent $50 for Quicken 2009, the other day - until I read horror stories about it having all kinds of problems with data download and compatibility problems with Vista.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I think the fix in most cases with Vista is just a complete reinstall. Which these days is a git to do because you have DRM stuff to contend with on things like office that track installations.

I was thinking that about my version of Office...I already installed it on 3 computers. I think my sister has only installed hers on 2 computers so I might be ok for that.

The only thing I don't have backed up is my photos. Most of them are still on my memory card that's in my camera so that isn't a big deal. I'll have to check my full memory card to see what pics are on it. I think I printed the ones I wanted anyways so it's not that important to save them.

Don't worry about your office installations - if it won't allow you to go, just call the MS number it will give and you just explain it to call center.

I had that number on speed dial when I was going through my XP days, changing hardware almost every other week.

I never had an issue getting "unlocks" for my software.

Now your photo's -- that is a another matter. If you can't get it working using the steps I mentioned, have your friend try to put you hard drive on his system, so he can access it and save what files you have.

That will teach you! Never use your hard drive as a long term storage device, it's not "if" it's going to go bad, it's "when"