Lap top blues
Johnmor - 14/10/06 at 09:12 AM
I just got a laptop from a freind and she removed all her stuff before she gave it to me, unfortunatly she did not uninstall but just deleted files on
the hard drive.
The pc uses windows xp but when it starts up it continually tries to open programmes and install item but continually finds errors.
when i eventually get through this i try to uninstall these programmes but it wont complete this as parts of the programme are missing.
1) how do I stop it trying to open programmes just after the desktop opens?
2)Can i reset the pc to ots original XP setting, ang get rid of all the crap?
I tried the "restore seting" option but it only goes back a month and it still falis to operate properly.
I dont have an xp disk although the license number is on the sticker on the back
It seems a good laptop but just a real pain at the moment.
.
MattCraneCustoms - 14/10/06 at 09:23 AM
Did it come with an product recovery disks? Laptops often have OEM discs that install XP along with other manufacturers programs. The best way to sort
your problems is to completely wipe it and reinstall windows, itll be a lot faster and will sort all your errors.
Hope this helps
Matt
ecosse - 14/10/06 at 09:29 AM
As Matt says, the best way is to reinstall, saves a lot of hassle
As an alternative you could try running "msconfig" (start, run) go to the startup tab, and deselect anything that you do not want to run at
windows startup.
It wont remove the offending programs but may help get it up and running until you can either hack the registry to death or reinstall
Have fun
Cheers
Alex
mookaloid - 14/10/06 at 10:25 AM
This helped mine quite a bit
http://www.tune-up.com/
Free fully functional download - 30 day limit
Scotty - 14/10/06 at 12:51 PM
as said, the best option is to just to format and install windows, with the serial number on the back any xp home OR xp pro disk should work
if you need a copy of a xp disk let me know and i'l put one in the post for you
David Jenkins - 14/10/06 at 02:09 PM
You could always poke 2 fingers at Microsnot's dodgy distribution policies and install Ubuntu linux for zero cost! Comes with full office
software, graphics editor, etc.
Not as easy as Windoze, but if you have some computer knowledge it's a great way to go. If you download the latest version you can run it as a
'Live CD' that doesn't install on the hard disk, just to try it out before you commit yourself. It's incredibly slow working that
way, but it does give you a chance to try out the operating system.
David
[Edited on 14/10/06 by David Jenkins]
JackNco - 14/10/06 at 05:47 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Johnmor
1) how do I stop it trying to open programmes just after the desktop opens?
Click *Start* then *run*
Type *msconfig* without quotes, then click on the *start* or *start up* tab (can remember how its labeld)
Now go down the list unchecking everything! this is your list of things that start up in windows. this will aos stop any firewalls or virus scanners
starting up if u uncheck them so start them again on your first boot before you go online.
This will also get rid of most of the spyware and other gubbins slowing the PC down. i recomend doing it quite often as it keeps ur PC running nice n
fast.
quote:
2)Can i reset the pc to ots original XP setting, ang get rid of all the crap?
Sure if i was doing it ide make a note of the grphics, sound and network devices installed. then doa format and reinstall windows.
Have a look on the back there shoudl be a serial number on it s/n 00000000000000 for example. go to the laptop manufactuers site and most companies
can trace the exact laptop from that and tell u whats installed. you can also trace it by model and find these specs out. ide say about 99% of the
time u can also download the drivers from the site and install them that way.
quote:
I dont have an xp disk although the license number is on the sticker on the back
It seems a good laptop but just a real pain at the moment.
OK well im not sure but i think if u have the holographic serial on the back u legal own that copy of windows so u might legaly be able to dowload a
*backup* of it online but check this if you want to stay legal.
If not some very naughty people might advise you that you can download an entire copy of any version of windows in under 2 hours from www.the
piratebay.com but of course ide recomed u didnt do this and stayed legal.
personaly im a student so im can get a free copy from uni as its a shared licences agreement so if u have anyone in your household that is in
education they could get you a copy.
all the best
John
joneh - 14/10/06 at 07:02 PM
Download ccleaner (free) click tools, then startup, remove everything you dont want to start / run.
Jobs done, 5 mins work.
MikeRJ - 17/10/06 at 08:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
You could always poke 2 fingers at Microsnot's dodgy distribution policies and install Ubuntu linux for zero cost! Comes with full office
software, graphics editor, etc.
Not as easy as Windoze, but if you have some computer knowledge it's a great way to go.
How much better has Linux got in the last couple of years? I have installed numerous different distributions over the years, and after hours of
messing around trying to get it to work with my hardware, I invariably find that if I want to do anything slightly out of the ordinary that problems
start cropping up that requires huge time investment. Basicly I found extremely unproductive as I was always messing around getting it working rather
than doing any work.
JackNco - 18/10/06 at 01:19 AM
im setting up a whole system after i saw the videos of the XGL add on, do a search for XGL on www.video.google.com
Suse 10.1 is meant to be the way to go these days.
Y not get hold of a copy of VMware and run a virtual linux setup thats what i did till i hithardware problems with it
John