Help me please

[timesjoke]

 

 

One thing for sure, you DO NOT need to wipe the drive and start fresh... that's for wimps. Where there is a will, there is a way.

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It is not for wimps, it is actually a great way to be sure there is nothing unwanted on the computer. When someone brings me a used computer reformatting is always my first step.

 

Sure, all of the things you mention is good, but not for a beginer who does not know what to do once they get access to the drive(s) on the system. Other new errors and problems can show up especially if you mess around with the wrong files.

 

 

 

She is letting her little girl use this, making sure it is clean is actually a good idea, there is no telling what might be on the thing.

 

 

 

 

 

Ren, if you can find the local teenager geek I spoke about before he will also have the stuff on a jumpdrive as Bender (phreak) is talking about and can also be sure there is nothing harmful on the system, if you must do this on your own, I would still say wiping the system clean is the only way a novice can be sure everything harmful has been removed from the system.

[eddo]

I'd wipe it clean anyway. Bender is better at this than I am, but there is no sense in keeping a bunch of stuff you don't need on the computer on there.

[phreakwars]

Wiping it clean is OK I suppose, but that's only if your paranoid about viruses and spyware being on it. Too much work IMO. Myself, I'd prefer just getting in, uninstalling EVERYTHING that there is to uninstall from the control panel, then go back in to your explorer and delete any empty folders and such, then run a registry cleaner on it, defrag, clear browser cache. After all that, install AVG and run a full scan. Then proceed setting it up with the apps you like.

 

The reason I am saying this, is because of the situation you are in... no discs for recovery. But then, didn't you say it was a Dell? Depending on the model, alot of Dell PC's have a recovery partition on them that contain all the drivers you need, AND also have the OS install files in them. So you might actually have the install disc for it on a hidden partition and might not even know it.

 

It's a good idea, but I think that's the wrong way to do it.

 

On my (home built) PC, I have the recovery OS files on a secondary (external eSATA ) drive. This is the smarter way to do it because in case of hard drive failure, having the recovery disc on the main drive will do you no good. In my situation, if I need to change a bad hard drive(s I run mine in RAID 0 ), all I would need to do, is boot to the secondary drive by switching it in the BIOS, and install from there. Doing it from a hard drive is WAY faster then from a CD too.

 

Another thing I do (because I am a nerd), is I slipstream drivers, software, user, and product key info into the recovery install files. That way once the process starts, I don't have to wait around to enter additional info. I can start the process and slip out the door and head for the taco truck and a 6 pack of Bud Light Lime, visit some friends, screw my old lady, etc.. and when I'm done, I'll come back to a fully functional machine with all my favorite apps installed. No pissing around installing shiit all over again.

 

I do a FULL REFORMAT AND INSTALL 2x a year whether it needs it or not. But if you don't have the discs to recover, it's best to just clean it up and freshen it up, you'll still be fine.

 

However... if you DO want recovery discs, you could always download them from the internet via torrent and burn it to a disc for your own use. As long as you are using the original product key on the side of the machine and not some hacked version, your not committing any crime.

 

You can get Windows XP Home edition retail from here http://thepiratebay....86%29_%28TPB%29

 

Or the Dell OEM version (which is what you most likely have on that machine) from http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4410910/Windows_XP_Home_Edition_SP2_x86_%28Dell_OEM_Disc%29.

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[timesjoke]

Well Bender, of course what your saying is good, but your speaking as someone who sees all those steps as easy, like walking. I help a lot of friends who know nothing about computers, the funniest thing I have had a call about lately was a friend who was looking at some naked pictures while his wife was gone and accedently set one of the picts as his wallpaper. He was frantic and his wife was on the way home....I just about pissed myself laughing at this guy.

 

 

Unfortunately most regular people don't understand these things and sitting silently while the computer reformats and add a couple drivers at the end is much, much simpler.

 

 

 

As you said, your reformat twice a year anyway, I do that as well, on my kids computers that have a single hard drive I keep a mirror of a zero install (what I call OS and drivers) on a partition of a external drive, I wipe the hard drive on the computer then ghost the partition to their computer, then another partition has all windows updates on it that I run, pop on the antivirus and I am done.

 

 

Wiping it clean and reinstalling the OS would be for her, the same thing me and you are talking about we do, it is just done in a way she can handle it as being less computer savy. I was asking her about the local teen geek because that guy would have all the disks and updates as we do and could have her up and running in just a couple hours.

[phreakwars]

Anybody else see the irony here from the advocate of "personal responsibility" saying "GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT FOR YOU"?

 

How about DO IT YOUR DAMN SELF!!

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[timesjoke]

Anybody else see the irony here from the advocate of "SELF RELIANCE" saying "GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT FOR YOU"?

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If your weak in something there is no shame in getting help.

 

I am assuming your talking about me but as far as I know I don't really push the idea of self reliance. I push personal responsibility with a sledge hammer, but I don't recall ever using the words 'self reliance' recently, maybe not ever.

[phreakwars]

Ah thanks for correcting me, I fixed my post.

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[timesjoke]

Anybody else see the irony here from the advocate of "personal responsibility" saying "GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT FOR YOU"?

 

How about DO IT YOUR DAMN SELF!!

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Might as well ask why everyone in the world does not do their own engine rebuilds or why they don't just build their homes, bake their own bread or make their own clothing from scratch.

 

Making a pair of jeans is very easy Bender, why not just figure it out and do it yourself?

 

 

 

Besides, do you have any idea how happy the teenager geek will be to do this? Ren is hot, the geek will be very happy to fix this little issue for her

[phreakwars]

I see... computer is broke... have someone help you... Sick and need to see a Dr. but can't afford it... pull yourself up by the bootstraps..

 

Now that's class... your my new hero.

 

Is that YOU in this vid handing that guy money?

 

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[timesjoke]

I see... computer is broke... have someone help you... Sick and need to see a Dr. but can't afford it... pull yourself up by the bootstraps..

 

Now that's class... your my new hero.

 

Is that YOU in this vid handing that guy money?

 

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What does trying to flame me have to do with helping Ren with her problem?

 

You have a serious chip on your shoulder Bender, make a new thread if you want to play this game and I will gladly follow you there, no point in derailing this thread, she was asking for help, not trying to give you an excuse to take shots at me. Your an admin, break this mess your trying to create into a new thread and we will go there.

[phreakwars]

Gotta wonder who the admin is here. I'll derail the topic if I like. Feel free to report me to myself if you like.

 

And lighten up, I'm just flipping ya shiit.

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[ren]

How bout I don't want to completely screw up my computer? Isn't that personal responsibility. I agree with the local geek to walk me through it or show me the first time. Lets put it this way. I was a nurse. Suppose I tell you to go do a procedure and tell you how to do it and how simple it is but you protest and say , I'm not comfortable with this and I don't want to hurt my patient. Well nothing wrong with me showing you so everyone benefits.

[timesjoke]

How bout I don't want to completely screw up my computer? Isn't that personal responsibility. I agree with the local geek to walk me through it or show me the first time. Lets put it this way. I was a nurse. Suppose I tell you to go do a procedure and tell you how to do it and how simple it is but you protest and say , I'm not comfortable with this and I don't want to hurt my patient. Well nothing wrong with me showing you so everyone benefits.

 

 

Well said, I agree completely.

[phreakwars]

Actually, I agree too, but like I said, I was giving TJ some shiit. I'd have that person make you a copy though of whatever disc he uses, and make sure he uses a legitimate product key, preferably your old one on the machine.

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[timesjoke]

Actually, I agree too, but like I said, I was giving TJ some shiit. I'd have that person make you a copy though of whatever disc he uses, and make sure he uses a legitimate product key, preferably your old one on the machine.

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Why give me sh t? I was just trying to be helpful to someone asking for help and you think you need to give me sh t for that?

[phreakwars]

Yeah, I'm a dick like that.. but that's me.. BTW, you can call me Phreak, not Bender.

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[timesjoke]

Yeah, I'm a dick like that.. but that's me.. BTW, you can call me Phreak, not Bender.

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Okay Bender

[phreakwars]

BTW, While I'm derailing topics, say hi to the new MOD for me, I gotta head off to work soon..

 

L8R people.

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[ren]

Ah sh t. Well I did it . I formatted with the windows xp from my disc and now I can't get a wireless connection set up to save my soul.Also I don't have any device drivers or hardware profiles to speak of. I think I'll just go bang my head against the wall. I've been told I could f ck up a wet dream and now I believe it.

[timesjoke]

Ah sh t. Well I did it . I formatted with the windows xp from my disc and now I can't get a wireless connection set up to save my soul.Also I don't have any device drivers or hardware profiles to speak of. I think I'll just go bang my head against the wall. I've been told I could f ck up a wet dream and now I believe it.

 

I thought you were getting a geek?

 

All is not lost, it is a Dell right? Use a second computer and go to Dell and download the drivers you need, get the network drivers and you might need the USB controller drivers too for the wireless adapter.

 

Just take it one at a time and you will be surprised at how easy it is.

 

Put a antivirus on it if you can before you start messing around on the internet.

 

 

Keep calm, it is not as hard as most people think, you can do it.

[eddo]

Ah sh t. Well I did it . I formatted with the windows xp from my disc and now I can't get a wireless connection set up to save my soul.Also I don't have any device drivers or hardware profiles to speak of. I think I'll just go bang my head against the wall. I've been told I could f ck up a wet dream and now I believe it.

 

put the XP disk back in with Windows up & running and when the cd menu pops up, click on "Add more windows features" (or something similar)

 

It will run a little scan to see what is already installed, and then it will pop up a menu of more features you can add. One of them is Networking. Add it (and I recommend going ahead and adding all of the features that aren't already installed) and then reboot and if your LAN connection is connected, it should see it on the reboot.

 

I had to do this on the computer I was working on last week.

[timesjoke]

So Ren, were you able to fix your problems?

[ren]

So Ren, were you able to fix your problems?

NO dammit. Time for the local guru -_-