HELP

[aidan80 9]

when you say clean install, you mean, after i get done doing these virus scans, just download from the university website...in safe mode?

(i can't do anything for longer than a minute or so in Normal Mode)

No. don't even both with the virus. Just download the software in safemode and burn it on a dvd. Then perform a clean install, where you basically format your hard drive.

Can you go online with Vista in safe mode?

yep. i'm online right now, but don't know if it is a good idea as McAfee is not working...

If you suspect a virus infection I wouldn't trust the installed scanner anymore, use a web based scanner if you can or use a live boot cd like the kaspersky disc.

[Otto 83]

I'm running Webroot AntiVirus scan now...You know - this is not necessarily a bad thing - the last thing you want is to be always getting alerts from your resident virus protection; Yes you do want to know it's preventing them from doing damage but I'd be more worried about how malicious software was making its way on to your computer in the first place (if indeed this is the case).

but it never seems to find anything... i can't run McAfee in safe mode...

I'd never advise multiple anti-virus programs operating simultaneously - they can conflict with each other and actually cause more problems than they solve.

Also - you would likely not run McAffee actually in safe mode but would schedule it to run at boot and do a deep scan from there (I don't run McAffee currently so can say exactly but it is very likely an option).

Am curious about the freezing up you are referring to - wondering what the nature of it is. Is it a blue-screen (of death)? Does the system simply lock up? Just curious since your problem may not necessarily be virus related (unless you already know it is).

[Niels Bohr 72]

If your computer freezes in Normal Mode boot, the MBR is corrupted. You can repair this by just reinserting the Recovery Disk and when the menu shows "Repair", click it. It rewrites the MBR.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I had a problem with VISTA and getting the Blue Screen of Death - computer crashing several times a day. The problem was finally identified as a bad driver - but we were never able to determine which driver was bad! Finally we just did a clean install of Windows 7 and voila! No more problems and the computer runs great. Get rid of VISTA - it may well be what is causing the problem. (I have a computer savvy husband and he spent hours trying to track down the problems - he got to try out some nifty little software diagnostic tools ). )

[AlHayatZween 2]

Thanks all for the insight...

by some miracle, i'm back online for the moment in normal mode... i ran numerous virus scans but all it really turned up were some spyware & adware... computer locked up again after that, and then i shut it down for the day... i'm not sure it is a virus. For the brief time i had Dell on the phone they suggested that my wireless might be corrupted? i don't know how that happens ?? i never really use the wireless...

Now i see it has installed some updates, of which i'm afraid.

K, i did get the blue screen of death once, but mostly, just the computer freezes and i can't move, open, or close any applications... and CTL ALT DELETE doesn't work.

Tomorrow i'm bringing it to tech support at LSU, so hopefully they can play around with it and maybe install Windows 7... Didn't get much work done today, but hopefully i'll be back up and running by tomorrow!

Thanks again!

hz

Edited November 29, 2009 by AlHayatZween

[aidan80 9]

Thanks all for the insight...

by some miracle, i'm back online for the moment in normal mode... i ran numerous virus scans but all it really turned up were some spyware & adware... computer locked up again after that, and then i shut it down for the day... i'm not sure it is a virus. For the brief time i had Dell on the phone they suggested that my wireless might be corrupted? i don't know how that happens ?? i never really use the wireless...

Now i see it has installed some updates, of which i'm afraid.

K, i did get the blue screen of death once, but mostly, just the computer freezes and i can't move, open, or close any applications... and CTL ALT DELETE doesn't work.

Tomorrow i'm bringing it to tech support at LSU, so hopefully they can play around with it and maybe install Windows 7... Didn't get much work done today, but hopefully i'll be back up and running by tomorrow!

Thanks again!

hz

Thats excellent! I'm sure the tech there should be able to take care of the nasties for you and get you back online again. I'd highly recommend Windows 7! I'm still running the RC and had no major issues, rock solid for me at least.

[Dakine 26]

Morning all,

Need some computer advice...

My laptop is freezing up every time i turn it on in Normal Mode. Called Dell as i just renewed the hardware warranty, and they say it's a software issue (which is not covered by warranty, i guess)...

They said if it's a minor problem it would cost me $70 to fix via remote assistance.

A more advanced problem $130...

But then they tell me that the above adjustments are only guaranteed for 72 hours. Meaning if they fix my computer for $130, and the problem returns (like the pesky wireless card malfunction, which occurs every couple of months), they charge me an additional amount.

Any advice? i'm not a computer wiz... Should i just pay the $$ and hope i have no problems after 72 hours? Should i take the computer to Best Buy and have them fix it?

This computer is exactly 13 months old... sucks....

Many thanks,

hz

I have problems with my new Dell also. They claim it's software also and want $129 to fix it. I'm about ready to send it back. I've only made 1 $15 monthly payment on it.