D Has Computer Problems

[emeraldkity4]

from what I have heard, windows will allow installation of worms and viruses without your knowledge.
I would get a backup drive- ( they are pretty cheap now) and reinstall everything- but also use some utility to protect the drive like
AntiVirus, Anti-Spyware, Endpoint Security, Backup, Storage Solutions | Symantec Corp.
Norton Ghost 14.0 review - PC Advisor ?
I had a fan problem with my laptop, but it was fixed by software update.
a background application may be running which is putting more stress on the chips-
another suggestion if she can't back up right away is to email her info to herself & it will be stored on the server.
good luck.

[LIMOMOF2]

Well, D has gotten her computer to work again - we'll see how long it lasts this time. Something tells me we are not in the clear yet.

ec1234 - I'll have to look into that - I'm not exactly sure what you mean, but I can ask at the computer store. I'm familiar with flash drives, but I don't think that's what you are talking about.

emeraldkity4 - I believe D's computer has McAfee to protect it against viruses, spyware, etc. Your suggestion that we get a backup drive sounds good - although like I said, I'm really not that good with computers and my brain starts to shut down when it comes to anything involving technology. I guess I can tell D to do the backup and then reinstall everything. I think I already suggested that she email everything to herself both at her regular email account and to her account at school, just in case (hopefully, she listened). I'm also pretty sure she copied the documentary she made onto a CD or a DVD - and that is really the most important thing at this point. I think her other project should be ok, and her homework she can do on any of our computers.

Thanks again for all your help.

[ucsd_ucla_dad]

Limom:

Poltergeists!!

- First, backup your data. You don't necessarily need to backup the whole drive since the applications should be reinstallable from the riginal CD/DVD media but backup things like documents, pictures, spreadsheets, powerpoints presentations, music, etc. You can backup pretty quickly (depending) to a flash drive and large flash drives aren't so expensive now. She can also backup to CD or DVD if the computer has that capability. Another option is to purchase an external hard drive and backup to it. This isn't a bad thing to do anyway since then she'll have a place to do regular backups to. You can get a pretty large capacity external drive for < $150.

- What's unusual is that you say the printer is also having strange power down problems. If the computer and printer are both plugged into a 'power strip', replace the power strip. If this doesn't work, see if plugging the computer and printer into the wall in a different room help solve the problem. If this is at her dorm, then try having her plug into a different outlet (with a different power strip) there if she can.

- Check the power supply fan to make sure it's working. This is easy to do on a desktop since the fan is right there at the back of the computer. You can check by holding a piece of paper to it. There could be two fans, one for the power supply and the other for the chassis - check both.

- If you can, take the cover off of the desktop (usually this is very easy on Dell desktops and often doesn't require even a screwdriver - check the documentation if you don't know how). After the cover's off, power on the computer and make sure the fan cooling the microprocessor is really working. The fan might be right on top of the microprocessor or there might be a fan with a shroud to the microprocessor. The Microprocessor is the biggest 'chip' plugged into the motherboard.

Note 1 - The microprocessor can get 'very' hot within just a minute or two so even if it's shutting down after only 5 minutes it could be due to a heat problem. Make sure you don't touch the microprocessor even if the fans are working since it can easily burn you.

Note 2 - if Dell actually physically looked at the PC (as opposed to just being on the phone) they would have checked these out.

- Unusual things like a power supply failing intermittently or a motherboard issue (like a stress crack or cold solder joint) can cause the problem she's seeing.

- If you haven't already done so, check the 'event log' of the computer to see if it gives any clue at all as to why it might have shut down although from your description there may not be anything there. Generally, you can find the event log by going to Start->Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Event Viewer.

I wouldn't expect a virus to cause the types of shutdowns you're seeing.

Good luck!

[LIMOMOF2]

Thanks for all that advice ucsd_ucla_dad. I'm going to print out your advice and give it to D and see if she can follow your instructions. Remember, I said my brain starts to shut down with this much detail. I do appreciate your help - and I'm thinking you might be right. By the way, D is not in a dorm, she is still in HS. Also, the printer is plugged into a wall outlet and the computer is plugged into a powerstrip which is also plugged into that outlet - maybe that is the problem. I hope not! I hate electrical problems!

[karp4170]

Check out purchasing an iBook. It basically is an external hard drive. S purchased one after his Dell laptop's hard drive crashed and he lost alot of his work. Luckily, most of his important stuff was on the server at school.

[LIMOMOF2]

Ok, I just wanted to give an update since everybody was so helpful. I think the problem may have been with the fan as some of you suggested - but all we did was dust off D's tower and ever since then, the computer has been working fine! I really didn't want to spend any more time talking to Dell, and it was the worst possible time for us to have to send her computer away, so we got very lucky.

So, thank you all again. Your advice was much appreciated!

[sunnyflorida]

Next time you have to call Dell, ask to speak with a supervisor and then ask to speak with his supervisor if that person is not listening are seems to be reading off a script. Do not take no for an answer. Keep going up the chain. It is easier than you think once you insist. And if you are speaking with someone you cannot understand well, ask immediately to speak with someone else. It works.

[jmmom]

Reading this, I am

1) Glad the problem seems to have been solved.

2) Concerned that back-up might not be a routine procedure for her/you. It's really critical that she back-up continuously, especially when she has big projects in the works on time deadlines. Emailing a copy to you each time she adds to/edits a paper/project is a quick method. Or, of course, using whatever back-up drive she has. More often than daily while she is working on such projects, imo. At least daily otherwise. Weekly if she is a light user.

Some of us learned the hard way years ago about not being nicely backed up and losing a lot.

[sueinphilly]

just want to add that when you back up make sure you save your bookmarks and cookie files. And if you use Outlook or other non-web based email, back that up too.

I back up all my data files religiously every month. You can burn a cd, use a flash drive or some other online storage place. But just do it. Emailing important documents to yourself is also a good habit.

[LIMOMOF2]

jmmom and sueinphilly - thanks for the reminder about backing up - D does put everything on her flash drive (hopefully that's good enough for daily use). She also copies it to her email and sends it to her email at school as well. She is very nervous about losing her work. Our problem that week was that the computer often wouldn't work long enough for her to save the information. Somehow, she only lost a little bit of her work in the end - especially considering how often it happened.

sunnyflorida - I think your suggestion is good, and if I have that problem again, I will do as you recommended. Luckily, I haven't had much of a problem understanding the people I spoke to - they just weren't really very helpful in the end.

[tomatoking]

delete system32

[ellemenope]

>>you can buy a case for the hard drive that turns the hard drive into an external harddrive temporarily. You can then plug it in to another computer via USB and move all the data that way.<<

My thoughts, too, ec1234. Our Dell desktop gave the BSOD--Windows refused to load. I went to the store and bought a laptop to replace it. The nice computer guy told me to transfer files from the old hard drive to the new laptop using something called "EZ-Connect"--a USB 2.0 to SATA & IDE Adapter for 2.5" and 3.5" Hard drives (I typed it right from the box).

I removed the hard drive from the desktop (had to ask a neighbor which one was the hard drive). The kit comes with a power plug and a plug that attaches to the hard drive of the desktop. You attach the other end (which is a USB thingy) to your laptop (or other computer), and the new computer will read the old hard drive as an external hard drive. You can then transfer over any files to the new computer.

But the weirdest thing is that when I plugged the old hard drive into the new computer using the EZ Connect, the new computer asked: "Do you want me to clean up the hard drive you just attached?" Sure, why not...I clicked yes.

And I'll be hornswaggled if the new computer didn't fix the old hard drive! I put the hard drive back into the desktop and now it works just fine. (I also insisted that the kids offload all of their music files...one third of the disk space was their music!)

Computers are weird...I wouldn't have messed with the inside of my desktop except that I thought that it was basically trash. But now that I've done it, I don't feel as scared of computers as I once was.

[hikids]

Heat can cause shutdowns as others have said, can be the fan, or ciruit boards with cracks that are expanding. Unfortunately, viruses can do the same.

The Dell techs you are reaching are probably the lower level techs. And they just go through a script like "is the computer turned on". You should demand a higher level tech (by going for a supervisor to get you to a highlevel tech). Simplistic problems can be gotten out by simple scripts, but anything tricky needs a good tech. Good luck. I would also move the data to a usb drive (relatively cheap -- possible could use your other comuputers as a temp solution).

[ParentOfIvyHope]

OP: These are classic symptoms of the power supply problem. You may need a new power supply. Many parts of the computer actually works on different voltage levels, in order to save power. Many time the voltage regulation problems with in the power supply causes spike in some part causing the defense mechanism to shut or reboots.
Changing power supply should resolve the problem in > 95% of the cases.

[JaneyPT]

good luck with that