Valdar and Astralis Posted October 20, 2006 Report Posted October 20, 2006 My USB picked up something nasty from dem skanky computers on campus. I cant open anything except for Internet Explorer, and windows explorer (but cant run any programs). This sucks since my laptop (which is my main computer) has a "My Safe" portion, in which I stored a bunch of important stuff, and I cant retreive it Rolling Eyes I'm hoping whatever trojan/virus/thing that possesed my laptop didnt somehow snag my WoW details (I sure as hell didnt log onto anything once I realized it was acting funny, but it might have been latent for a while) and send it through my firewall. Well, I just managed to totally screw myself over. For the record. . .before deciding to format, find your copy of windows FIRST, especially if it's a notebook with all the bells and jingles. I was so convinced it was in the plastic wrapped thingo that I didnt open when I first got the computer (it came pre-installed I think) that I actually sat right down, dumbfounded when I opened it and found the disc wasnt inside (I really dont know where it went). I was so eager to wipe those damm buggers out before they could get to my precious password and shard my epix that now nobody can get to them So things that are screwed up now... Wireless does not work Video card is not recognized by windows (apparently it's a "special" driver you cant get from ATI's website) And then there's this wierd problem with graphics. In a nutshell? it dosnt work. It recognizes the card, says there is no problem, but then: -When I try to start ANY 3d application (except for windows screensaver, which inexplainably works) it just shows a blank screen. -ATI Catalyst control centre has a blank box where the 3d preview is supposed to go. -It becomes super jerky when I try to scroll anywhere (IE, MSWord, whatever). The only word I can describe it as is "tearing" though I'm not sure if thats the exact term. The jerkyness during scrolling inexplainably vanishes when I turn graphics acceleration off (of course, the 3d stuff dosnt work at all then) My noob opinion #1: it's something software. The same problem happened on my desktop, which is why I semi abandoned it until now (Thought I'd puzzle it out after my semester ends) My noob opinion #2: My copy of windows XP is an upgrade. Previously I had windows 98. I totally forgot to install windows 98 on my desktop when I formatted it, but Windows XP _inexplainably_ let me install. It really boggled my mind when I realized that later. Of course, thats when the trouble started. On my notebook, I installed windows 98 first, but it didnt boot up properly the first time and I rammed windows XP right over it immedetly. So uh. . .help? please? Getting the shakes here Embarassed
Cerulean Posted October 20, 2006 Report Posted October 20, 2006 Don't know much about computers, have no clue to what's gone wrong but can offer hugs and sympathy til someone helpful comes along! Sorry to hear about your trauma - am crossing everything for you. C.
Rune Posted October 20, 2006 Report Posted October 20, 2006 Have you upgraded to the latest version of directx? Alot of times graphic issues with 3D programs can be fixed by doing that. Especially if you are installing an older copy of windows (such as an earlier edition of xp) http://www.microsoft.com/directx/
Valdar and Astralis Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Posted October 20, 2006 I got it in the end, thanks Rune (and for the best wishes, everyone \^_^/) Ended up with me being up at 1.30 am hitting things with a spanner, but it worked. Or maybe that was a dream?
Rune Posted October 20, 2006 Report Posted October 20, 2006 wooo - fixted computay. *dances around* Welcome back to the intranets!
Ayshela Posted October 21, 2006 Report Posted October 21, 2006 ahhhhh, percussion mechanics! if it doesn't kill it, it fixes it, eh? congrats on the fix! glad to see you back about! *tacklehugs*
Gryphon Posted October 23, 2006 Report Posted October 23, 2006 Glad to hear you got your computer sorted out. I know over the last few years there's been a tendancy to release machines with the OS and everything all stored in a hidden partition on the hard drive. Usually you're 'supposed' to write your own restore CD's so that you've got them if you ever need to format your hard drive... stupid idea really since half the machines I've seen set up like that don't have cd writers and the other half need the restore cds because they've had a hard drive failure and thus the restore information is inaccessable. For the record, windows upgrade CD's can be installed without installing the prior version first, usually that's actually better, you just often need to put the previous version in the drive at some point to verify that you've got a legitimate copy. Also any non-standard drivers (like video card or whatever) that are required should be available from the hardware manufacturers website if the standard ones don't work... Too little too late perhaps. I'll cross my fingers for you and hope there's not a next time. I've just had four next times in the last week on my laptop, so I know how it feels. Guess that's what I get for messing around with my settings just for fun.
The Portrait of Zool Posted November 1, 2006 Report Posted November 1, 2006 Congrats on fixing your computer! Being on a strict budget myself, I have 'acquired' a computer for everyone in the house, and then some, and they all seem to have their quirks, like obscure drivers for proprietary chips, including onboard I/O and bridges that don't come with the OS! And then there are the inevitable little peculiarities that always come with older and well used equipment - like it doesn't work right. Anywho, I feel for ya!
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