my computer has gone insane

[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.

Not true!

If you have "system restore" on, you can usually roll back from a rogue app or driver.

However, if you get zapped with a virus, then the best thing is to re-install.

That is why I have Norton Ghost running. Just in case

[Amby 490]

I'm happy to report that my couch computer has returned from the dead

[LoriLawless 0]

I'm happy to report that my couch computer has returned from the dead

Yay Amby!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I'm happy to report that my couch computer has returned from the dead

What disease did it end up having? I am curious as I saw reports of your problem elswhere on the net.

[Amby 490]

I'm happy to report that my couch computer has returned from the dead

What disease did it end up having? I am curious as I saw reports of your problem elswhere on the net.

Ugh...I didn't ask cos I was in a hurry and they were super busy. I just paid the man and left

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I'm happy to report that my couch computer has returned from the dead

What disease did it end up having? I am curious as I saw reports of your problem elswhere on the net.

Ugh...I didn't ask cos I was in a hurry and they were super busy. I just paid the man and left

You're the customer business owners dream about. I'm currently download the beta of Windows 7 and still haven't decided if I will be brave enough to try it. Maybe I'll install it on the wife's laptop.

[Amby 490]

As long as it works I really don't need details. That just takes up more of my time

[Niels Bohr 72]

Install a Virtual Machine software like Virtual Box from Sun Microsystem. It works almost like an emulator. Technically, it's not an emulator although it's the best way to describe it. I run UBUNTU and WINDOWS 7 on it. WINDOWS 7 is not a resource hog compared to VISTA. MICROSOFT actually listened to the consumers for once.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Install a Virtual Machine software like Virtual Box from Sun Microsystem. It works almost like an emulator. Technically, it's not an emulator although it's the best way to describe it. I run UBUNTU and WINDOWS 7 on it. WINDOWS 7 is not a resource hog compared to VISTA. MICROSOFT actually listened to the consumers for once.

If you don't mind, I'd like to ask a few (dozen) questions about that in the near future. I am using an old desktop with XP, my wife has a new laptop with Vista SP1. I don't know a thing about virtual machines. I was toying with the idea of doing a dual boot system on the XP machine, but I know nothing about it. I am still trying to research the possibilities. How long have you had Windows 7?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Damn the download is taking forever. I guess the servers are buried with the number of people accessing this.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Yeah. Because of the CES Trade Show, it has bogged down the server.

Virtual Machine allows you install OS guest onto the host operating systems. It doesn't interfere with any system files on your host OS. And, your host OS doesn't even know it's on it. You can easily remove the guest OS without harming your system. That's 100% garunteed. However, if you run the virtual machine on a computer, the guest OS may run slower depending on your machine. If it's on a laptop, it probably run slow due to limited resources. But, you still can use all of the features of the operating system.

[NickD 203]

Well, after looking over my step son's computer with another like it, determined his was broke, called HP, they had an extended warranty on this notebook, and will put a newly designed main board in it for free. That is something I cannot do at home, well if they gave me the new board, could. Fedexed out an empty prepaid box, so won't cost me a cent, see what happens.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Yeah. Because of the CES Trade Show, it has bogged down the server.

Virtual Machine allows you install OS guest onto the host operating systems. It doesn't interfere with any system files on your host OS. And, your host OS doesn't even know it's on it. You can easily remove the guest OS without harming your system. That's 100% garunteed. However, if you run the virtual machine on a computer, the guest OS may run slower depending on your machine. If it's on a laptop, it probably run slow due to limited resources. But, you still can use all of the features of the operating system.

What is the best way to do this? I'm not too swift, so steo by step would be great.