OK so i blew up my computer today

[Kajira Callista]

Ack! Which of us is going to explain to her how to remove the HD, and send her an anti-static wrist strap and anti-static bag? Are you sentencing her, or me? (I mean, the Prosecution?)

seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee BRATS!

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Ack! Which of us is going to explain to her how to remove the HD, and send her an anti-static wrist strap and anti-static bag? Are you sentencing her, or me? (I mean, the Prosecution?)

Surely you can talk her through the procedure, to include purchasing the strap and second hard drive she'll need to save the data she lost at the start of this debacle.

BTW, remember this? Click me.*

Never ask a General to solve a problem for you. The General will solve it for you, regardless of the pain you endure.

*Note: i thoroughly laughed my ass off at Souter's "predicament" and whole-heartedly agree with the comeuppance.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Btw

Click me.

Start here to solve a boat load of issues from the start, and whatever drive you purchase will come with an anti-static bag ...

 

[snowy ciara]

Thank you, thank you, thank you KC for having the guts to ask for help and AA for doing the dirty work, and mariposa for sitting on the phone to me reading me pertinent bits of the thread..

I completely locked up and couldn't get windows to boot when I restarted. However, I went over to mariposa's and read through the thread and thought I printed out the pertinent bits I needed to get in. I was, of course, wrong, and so I called her and she read me what I needed to know. Lucky for me, once I figured out how to get Windows to come back and into the admin account; I tried a system restore first which worked. The thing is, I ran spybot and Ad-aware, and McAfee, and Kerio and Norton (I'm a bit AR about this stuff after my last system died last winter.) and it didn't find anything wrong. I update and run the last three once a week. So I don't think it was a virus that locked me up. I asked for the latest updates before I re-ran them when I was back up again.

So here's what happened. I'm hoping you people can help me figure out what went wrong and if it's still wrong, just waiting to 'splode at me.

I locked up trying to toggle between browser windows using the "alt-tab" combination. (I usually use keystrokes when I can instead of the mouse. I'm just funny that way.) When I locked up, I did the three finger salute to bring up the Task Manager thing that has processes and cpu usage and stuff. It showed three apps running, (none of them said "not responding"), CPU usage was flat-lined, and it said I was using about 7 percent in the other box on the processes tab. When I closed the Manager, I was again locked into the browser window. I couldn't close it, nor could I toggle over to the second window or to Media Monkey. The CD I was listening to was still playing, too. But I couldn't go anywhere. I tried to close the window (both off the file menu and by x-ing them.) and got no response. I decided to reboot and did the three finger salute again to close down. No response. Tried again, and it still didn't work. So I took a deep breath and pushed the power button on the tower to do a cold reboot thingie. It was so locked up that it wouldn't turn off. I finally flipped the switch on the power strip, waited ten minutes and turned everything back on.

When it came back up, I got a blue screen that said that windows could not run because of an improperly installed driver, which I found odd because I haven't installed anything that requires a driver (as far as I know) since like February-ish, and I've had the system on and off since then. It said if I hadn't installed anything, reboot again. Next time it came back, I requested to reboot in safe mode with partitions. It took me to KC's scary black and white and mouse-less place, instead of windows. This is when I ran over to mariposa's, then came back and read the screen, and between it and the phone and the printout I managed to get into the Admin account and I used a system restore point way back in January.

So here's my questions.....

If a driver was improperly installed, shouldn't I have had problems a LONG time ago?

If it wasn't really a driver and Windows was taking a guess about what was wrong here (which I sort of suspect because their restart directions didn't work.), any ideas what it was? Was it malware? Doesn't malware have to be installed, like you downloaded a program with a nasty hidden in it?

Is there like a malware scanner or something I can run? If not, will one of you guys make one, please? The only program I've downloaded lately was Irfanview from what I thought was a safe site. I've used them previously for shareware and never had an issue before. I did scan it for viruses during the download thing, and it said it was clean. It worked fine, but I haven't downloaded it again. I'm not downloading anything til I figure out what went wrong.

If it was malware or a virus or a whatever it was (if you have clue, please share) will a system restore fix it? Or is it still hiding somewhere like a mugger in a dark alley waiting to molest me?

If system restore won't fix it for good and it IS hiding, how do I find it and get rid of it?

Thanks in advance for any insights y'all have. I appear to be working just fine now, but I'm holding my breath a bit here. Obviously, I know just enough about computers to be intimidated by what I don't know. Hope this post made sense, cause I'm still sort of frazzled here.

 

[Kajira Callista]

I cant even try to help you with that one. Tis why i started this thread in the first place..i dont have a clue.

 

[snowy ciara]

but you have a lovely backside and you give good hugs.

 

[Kajira Callista]

but you have a lovely backside and you give good hugs.

awww i can huggle you til one of the wonderful domly ones comes by if you want.

 

[snowy ciara]

YAY!!! KC hugs!

I'm thinking everything is sorta fine computer-wise, but I don't know for sure. Could be that I managed to fix it, which is scary because I don't know how I did it.

 

[Kajira Callista]

YAY!!! KC hugs!

I'm thinking everything is sorta fine computer-wise, but I don't know for sure. Could be that I managed to fix it, which is scary because I don't know how I did it.

maybe it just froze because it felt like and nothing was really wrong?
i baked chocolate chip cookies. want some?

 

[DVS]

but you have a lovely backside and you give good hugs.

If you send me all sorts of nasty bondage pics of you tied up and helpless, I might be able to help you.

 

[snowy ciara]

I need to find someone to bond me first and see if I'm fixed so I can email them!

 

[graceanne]

maybe it just froze because it felt like and nothing was really wrong?
i baked chocolate chip cookies. want some?

I smell cookies.

KC? Have I told you I wuuuuuuuuuv you?

 

[snowy ciara]

maybe it just froze because it felt like and nothing was really wrong?
i baked chocolate chip cookies. want some?

Yes please!

The reason I'm not thinking it's that is cause it wouldn't make windows when I came back.

 

[Kajira Callista]

I smell cookies.

KC? Have I told you I wuuuuuuuuuv you?

 

[Kajira Callista]

Yes please!

The reason I'm not thinking it's that is cause it wouldn't make windows when I can back.

yikes, sounds like you need AA

 

[graceanne]

yikes, sounds like you need AA

AA? *scowls* Snowy? Have you been hitting the bottle again? tsk tsk

 

[snowy ciara]

I was sort of afraid of that....

 

[Kajira Callista]

I was sort of afraid of that....

He can talk you through fixing anything.

 

[snowy ciara]

Good thing, too! Gracie, I've not hit the bottle yet, but I'm thinking about it...

 

[DVS]

OK, that wasn't nice, so I'll tell you what I know. Of course, the pictures would still be appreciated, if you have already started taking them.

From what you said, you had a lot going on at one time. Not that your computer woudln't be able to handle it, because most of the newer models probably could. Mine, is not a newer model and I wouldn't attempt such a mass of windows and music going at one time.

But, when Windows has a problem, it will always come up and tell you what it "thinks" is wrong. Not always will that be the correct thing, though. The driver it mentioned was not installed incorrectly but it could have been damaged in the mass of things going on at one time, and the resulting reboot. But, I think you did the right thing, at the time.

Maybe you could have waited and the system might have come back after a while, but that isn't always the case. And, you did the right thing by bringing up the task manager to see if you could close down individual windows, first.

If you are AR about malware, the Adaware and Spybot programs are mostly the best I know of. Keeping them up to date and running frequently is the most you can do. There is always the chance the malware guys will be one step ahead of the good guys, and you could get something on your computer that will mess it up.

If you tend to go to nasty porn sites and download iffy things for lust, you do need to keep abreast of the latest malware software updates. Porn is the most likely way the bad guys have found to transmit their evil things. The average user's need for sexual gratification will usually over ride his/her logical and rational senses, I'm sad to say.

In my limited knowledge of things these days, I'd say you are up and running fine and in the clear. The system restore surely fixed your driver issue by restoing the system before the problem was there. That's what a restore is suppose to do. I'd say it worked, in this case, when sometimes it won't.

If someone else (AA( has something to say on this, feel free to post. I do think you are safe from further problems but maybe watch taking your computer to its limits that much, in the future. Just because it can do what it does, doesn't mean you should temp a melt down by doing it.

Then again, it could all boil down to your choise of music. Maybe the comoputer didn't like it and was attempting to say so? Just kidding, of course.

 

[graceanne]

Good thing, too! Gracie, I've not hit the bottle yet, but I'm thinking about it...

Yeah, yeah, we all know what a lush you are.

 

[snowy ciara]

OK, that wasn't nice, so I'll tell you what I know. Of course, the pictures would still be appreciated, if you have already started taking them.

From what you said, you had a lot going on at one time. Not that your computer woudln't be able to handle it, because most of the newer models probably could. Mine, is not a newer model and I wouldn't attempt such a mass of windows and music going at one time.

But, when Windows has a problem, it will always come up and tell you what it "thinks" is wrong. Not always will that be the correct thing, though. The driver it mentioned was not installed incorrectly but it could have been damaged in the mass of things going on at one time, and the resulting reboot. But, I think you did the right thing, at the time.

Maybe you could have waited and the system might have come back after a while, but that isn't always the case. And, you did the right thing by bringing up the task manager to see if you could close down individual windows, first.

If you are AR about malware, the Adaware and Spybot programs are mostly the best I know of. Keeping them up to date and running frequently is the most you can do. There is always the chance the malware guys will be one step ahead of the good guys, and you could get something on your computer that will mess it up.

If you tend to go to nasty porn sites and download iffy things for lust, you do need to keep abreast of the latest malware software updates. Porn is the most likely way the bad guys have found to transmit their evil things. The average user's need for sexual gratification will usually over ride his'her logical and rational senses, I'm sad to say.

In my limited knowledge of things, these days, I'd say you are up and running fine and in the clear. The system restore surely fixed your driver issue by restoing the system before the problem was there. That's what a restore is suppose to do. I'd say it worked, in this case, when sometimes it won't.

If someone else has something to say on this, feel free to post. I do think you are safe from further problems but maybe watch taking your computer to it's limits that much, in the future. Just because it can do what it does, doesn't mean you should temp a melt down by doing it.

Then again, it could all boil down to your choise of music. Maybe the comoputer didn't like it and was attempting to say so?

Thank you DVS... My computer is relatively new, it's a Dell Dimension 3000 with Windows XP home version. (I know, it could just be it's Dell-ness making it evil..) And my music was good, I was listening to the Eagles and dancing about in my pj's... I don't do the nasty porn sites unless someone sends me a link, and the person most likely to do so is pretty computer savvy so I'm thinking it was safe. Which leads me back to the malware or virus thingies. I think it's okay, so I'm thinking to wait a day or so and then go get the programs I like again so I can get off IE. (I'd been using Mozilla, but it's gone now. Maybe because I chose a restore point before I downloaded it?).

 

[DVS]

Thank you DVS... My computer is relatively new, it's a Dell Dimension 3000 with Windows XP home version. (I know, it could just be it's Dell-ness making it evil..) And my music was good, I was listening to the Eagles and dancing about in my pj's... I don't do the nasty porn sites unless someone sends me a link, and the person most likely to do so is pretty computer savvy so I'm thinking it was safe. Which leads me back to the malware or virus thingies. I think it's okay, so I'm thinking to wait a day or so and then go get the programs I like again so I can get off IE. (I'd been using Mozilla, but it's gone now. Maybe because I chose a restore point before I downloaded it?).

Not using I.E. is a good idea. Malware thrives on I.E. Mozilla, Netscape, Firefox, Oprea etc., are good alternatives. I prefer Netscape and Netscape mail, although I do have the latest I.E. installed, too.

I'm not a Microsoft lover. I tend to think viruses and malware actually look for a computer that has total Microsoft OS and email installed and if so, will actually act as a magnet. I've had a few malware events of my own, but have NEVER had one infect Netscape. They always infected Windows and/or I.E.

You might be right in that you selected a restore that was before you had Mozilla installed. And, although I dont think your problem was caused by a virus or malware, it woudlnt' hurt to keep thinking that way. You just never know.

I think it was more a system resourses issue, where you had so much going on, it just said "fuck this shit, I'm taking a break" and you might have been in a hurry with the reboot. And, some of those buttons need to be pushed in for about 8 seconds before they will restart your computer. Some come set by default to just put your computer in sleep mode. You might find out where to check that and change it, if you want it to be a reboot button in the future.

But, it sounds like you did all the right things, for the most part. Even the fastest of computers will glitch sometimes. And, when you are doing a lot at once, they tend to have a mind of their own and pick that time to want to fuck with you.

Now, when you are sending those pictures...a few of you in your PJs would be nice. If you want some help in selecting poses...feel free to ask me. I do have my own ideas in that area, you know.

 

[snowy ciara]

Well, I'm not sure my Eeyore pj's are like, haute couture but I'll think about it...

Thank you for your insight, DVS. Part of the reason I'm not sure it was the resources is that I've worked the poor thing harder than I was today. I did do the 10 second count when I was madly trying to unstick it, but nothing worked.

 

[Miss Diva]

virus and stuff

My PC just got an interesting virus. The virus killed all the Microsoft admin tools. My friend had to re-install all the MS software and re-install Norton's .