Any computer teckies out there
Posted by: Mick P on 03 April 2004
Chaps
I seem to be having PC problems lately.
I can use this PC for surfing the net and sending emails etc.
My problem is that I have lots of spread sheets and pics filed away under my C drive and if I click on to retrieve them, one of two things happen.
1) It takes a minute or two for the file or pic to appear.
or
2) Nothing happens and then I get a message saying " there was a problem in sending a command to the programme." Therefore I cannot access the file or pic.Then the screen freezes and I have to reboot.
Any idea what the problem could be.
Regards
Mick
I seem to be having PC problems lately.
I can use this PC for surfing the net and sending emails etc.
My problem is that I have lots of spread sheets and pics filed away under my C drive and if I click on to retrieve them, one of two things happen.
1) It takes a minute or two for the file or pic to appear.
or
2) Nothing happens and then I get a message saying " there was a problem in sending a command to the programme." Therefore I cannot access the file or pic.Then the screen freezes and I have to reboot.
Any idea what the problem could be.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by matthewr
Mick,
"Are you saying I should ininstall every programme and then install them"
Not quite. I was saying that if you re-install Windows and then all your programs and data then your problem might well go away and that this would be preferable to paying some moonlighting PC support guy £20-£30 an hour to aimlessly fiddle with your computer.
I think it is very important -- much more important than virus checkers, firewalls, defragging, running scandisk, etc. -- to be ale to do this. For two main reasons:
Firstly Windows "degrades" over time. After several years running Windows and installing/un-installing all sorts of software, fixing verious problems, fiddling with this and that, etc. your computer will be a real mess. Computer systems and applications in general and Windows systems in particular often benefit from a "following wind" (as it were) and left alone for any period your computer will be significantly slower and more unreliable than it could be. It's not inconcievable that the problems you are experiencing are essentially caused by the Windows equivalent of "old age".
Secondly if your hard disk does fail and you lose all your data then the chances are you will not be able to rebuild your computer and get everything working again unless you've already sorted everything out and have all the CDs, backups, registration keys, installation files, etc. that you need and know what you are doing. This (and your backup procedures) is something you should normally sort out when you buy your computer and have everything to hand but sadly nobody ever does as they are too busy obsessing about avoiding viruses and ending up with Russian schoolboys buying online porn using your credit card.
Having said all that, if you've never done this sort of thing before and have a fairly old computer and then you probably don't want to attempt such a thing without expert help. This is, therefore, the perfect time to invite an IT knowledgable friend over to sample some of your malts and then casually mention you are having a spot of bother with the old computer.
BTW I did ask you some questions about the symptoms you are having. If you want me (or anyone else) to offer much more help you might want to answer them.
Matthew
PS Phil suggested buying a new PC which, if your PC is as old as it seems, is not such a bad idea. Because of ever improving technology, intense competition and so on PC prices have fallen in real terms dramatically in recent years and you can get a very capable computer with up-to-date softare and technology for relatively little money. The new PC I am buying at the moment is twice as powerful as my last one from 3 years ago and costs 20% less.
"Are you saying I should ininstall every programme and then install them"
Not quite. I was saying that if you re-install Windows and then all your programs and data then your problem might well go away and that this would be preferable to paying some moonlighting PC support guy £20-£30 an hour to aimlessly fiddle with your computer.
I think it is very important -- much more important than virus checkers, firewalls, defragging, running scandisk, etc. -- to be ale to do this. For two main reasons:
Firstly Windows "degrades" over time. After several years running Windows and installing/un-installing all sorts of software, fixing verious problems, fiddling with this and that, etc. your computer will be a real mess. Computer systems and applications in general and Windows systems in particular often benefit from a "following wind" (as it were) and left alone for any period your computer will be significantly slower and more unreliable than it could be. It's not inconcievable that the problems you are experiencing are essentially caused by the Windows equivalent of "old age".
Secondly if your hard disk does fail and you lose all your data then the chances are you will not be able to rebuild your computer and get everything working again unless you've already sorted everything out and have all the CDs, backups, registration keys, installation files, etc. that you need and know what you are doing. This (and your backup procedures) is something you should normally sort out when you buy your computer and have everything to hand but sadly nobody ever does as they are too busy obsessing about avoiding viruses and ending up with Russian schoolboys buying online porn using your credit card.
Having said all that, if you've never done this sort of thing before and have a fairly old computer and then you probably don't want to attempt such a thing without expert help. This is, therefore, the perfect time to invite an IT knowledgable friend over to sample some of your malts and then casually mention you are having a spot of bother with the old computer.
BTW I did ask you some questions about the symptoms you are having. If you want me (or anyone else) to offer much more help you might want to answer them.
Matthew
PS Phil suggested buying a new PC which, if your PC is as old as it seems, is not such a bad idea. Because of ever improving technology, intense competition and so on PC prices have fallen in real terms dramatically in recent years and you can get a very capable computer with up-to-date softare and technology for relatively little money. The new PC I am buying at the moment is twice as powerful as my last one from 3 years ago and costs 20% less.
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by Mick P
I bought the PC in Nov 2000. It is still operating fast and I can surf the net and send emails dead easy.
The problem I have is that I have a couple of files (all under C drive) with dozens of various pics and spreadsheets. If I click on any of theses pics/files then it freezes the PC for a minute or two until the pic/ file comes up.
I have scanned the disc, defragged and uninstalled the stuff you told me to (real player) and the problem still persists.
I may well take Paul up on his kind offer if it is still open.
Regards
Mick
The problem I have is that I have a couple of files (all under C drive) with dozens of various pics and spreadsheets. If I click on any of theses pics/files then it freezes the PC for a minute or two until the pic/ file comes up.
I have scanned the disc, defragged and uninstalled the stuff you told me to (real player) and the problem still persists.
I may well take Paul up on his kind offer if it is still open.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by Paul Ranson
Sure.
Paul
Paul
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by Mike Hughes
Can I just go back a bit here Mick?
Are you saving these files as C:\... or are they several folders away from C:\.
If the former then I still say that the location could be the problem in as much as saving things as C:\Myfile is a very bad idea and will indeed cause exactly the problems you describe. If these are downloads then some do indeed default to the C:\, which is poor practice and you need to move them asap. I wasn't sure you understood my original question on this.
Mike
Are you saving these files as C:\... or are they several folders away from C:\.
If the former then I still say that the location could be the problem in as much as saving things as C:\Myfile is a very bad idea and will indeed cause exactly the problems you describe. If these are downloads then some do indeed default to the C:\, which is poor practice and you need to move them asap. I wasn't sure you understood my original question on this.
Mike
Posted on: 06 April 2004 by Former member
I remember now. When I had this problem last it turned out to be a network glitch. For some reason the PC was looking for a network connection before moving onto the next programme. Can't remember how I fixed it though. You haven't accidentally installed /altered your network settings? It might be that the PC thinks there is another computer attached to it.
Tom
Actively enjoying it all
Tom
Actively enjoying it all
Posted on: 07 April 2004 by Mick P
Chaps
I had a "teckie" around earlier in the day and after 3 hours he sorted me out. It looks like plaxo, which is an email enhancement, allowed a quiet little programe in which was running away in the background.
He disabled it and the PC is back to firing on all fours. The cost for the 3 hours was £20.00. The guy is just keen on other peoples PC's.
Foetunately it was not a hard disk problem which is a relief.
Regards
Mick
I had a "teckie" around earlier in the day and after 3 hours he sorted me out. It looks like plaxo, which is an email enhancement, allowed a quiet little programe in which was running away in the background.
He disabled it and the PC is back to firing on all fours. The cost for the 3 hours was £20.00. The guy is just keen on other peoples PC's.
Foetunately it was not a hard disk problem which is a relief.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 07 April 2004 by Jez Quigley
That's good news Mick. Now could you get him to have a look at my problem!
http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=58019385&m=48110807
http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=58019385&m=48110807
Posted on: 07 April 2004 by ken c
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Chaps
I had a "teckie" around earlier in the day and after 3 hours he sorted me out. It looks like plaxo, which is an email enhancement, allowed a quiet little programe in which was running away in the background.
He disabled it and the PC is back to firing on all fours. The cost for the 3 hours was £20.00. The guy is just keen on other peoples PC's.
....
Mick
i did ask you to check "task manager", but in your desperation, i dont think you were taking much in...
glad its sorted.
enjoy
ken