A Gardeners Forum
Posted By: Anonymous Mel's computer. - March 16th, 2007 at 05:38 PM
Well she just called me and her computer took a dump. Her monitor isn't working and she hooked up another one and it isn't working either so it's probably the hard drive. She has someone coming to look at it and she's hoping it will be fixed within the next few days.

She just wanted me to let you all know so you didn't think she just disappeared!

Crossing my fingers for you Mel that it isn't expensive and it can be fixed! kissies

She's gonna go nutz without her computer, like we all probably would. laugh
Posted By: penny in ontario Re: Mel's computer. - March 16th, 2007 at 05:40 PM
Thanks Loz for the update!!!
Posted By: ksgardnr Re: Mel's computer. - March 16th, 2007 at 05:41 PM
oh poo, poor Mel. Hope it is cheap to fix it too. Glad she called ya' though, we would worry!
Posted By: Shirley4 Re: Mel's computer. - March 16th, 2007 at 05:46 PM
Glad she let you know, cause I would have been missing her!!! Hope it's fixed soon!
Posted By: plantqueen Re: Mel's computer. - March 16th, 2007 at 06:01 PM
Thanks for letting us know loz! I sure hope she gets it fixed soon!
Posted By: Tonya Re: Mel's computer. - March 16th, 2007 at 07:55 PM
kissies to Mel- I wouldn't last a day without mine! shocked

Hope you are back to posting soon! thumbup
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 16th, 2007 at 10:34 PM
Hope she's back on line SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!

Not havin' a computer would s#ck big time here!!
Posted By: sibyl Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 12:33 AM
thanks for letting us know loz kissies
i hope she gets it fixed! and soon!
Posted By: Triss Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 01:58 AM
Oh that is not good. Hopefully it will get fixed fast!!! Thanks for letting us know Loz.
Posted By: afgreyparrot Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 01:59 AM
I would go absolutely crazy...


Mel...please don't go crazy! sca
Posted By: Wrennie Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 01:34 PM
quick! Run to the library & use theirs!
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 02:55 PM
I suggested that to her on the phone! laugh
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 03:18 PM
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="COMIC SANS MS, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="3" face="COMIC SANS MS, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by afgreyparrot:
<strong> I would go absolutely crazy...


Mel...please don't go crazy! Duh So , I'm looking.......

The good news is that all my info is still in the hardrive and he suggested getting a USB kit which I can hook up to the new computer and it will be like having an external hardrive with all my info on it and I can go back and forth between the two hardrives and have extra storage space. Does that make sense? I think I get it.....

Bottom line, I need to start looking for a new computer, but I still have my own monitor so either just the tower or the whole package????? Not sure, I gotta look around.....

Thanks for thinking of me and feeling my pain! kissies
Posted By: sibyl Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 06:18 PM
wow mel, hope ya get another puter soon, at least you can use your daughters to check in now and then till you get a new one,
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 06:22 PM
At least your webkinz can't die while you're gone! laugh p laugh

I was hoping it would be a little fix....not a whole new computer, that's bad. eek
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 06:33 PM
oh man. that stinks. mother board , when momma ain't happy... we all go crazy! kissies hurry home!
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 07:31 PM
Mel,
Question?

Who are you sending the motherboard to,
to get fixed?
Out of curiousity?

And also, why ? to this question?
Quote
I would also have to repurchase windows
Just curious???? Duh
Posted By: Amigatec Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 08:59 PM
It's normally cheaper to just replace the motherboard. It sounds to me like the person fixing your computer just wants to charge you a bunch of money. The only time I have ever seen capacitors leaking is when you have had a voltage surge. This whole story sounds strange to me. (Just because you have a surge protector doesn't mean you safe from surges,)

Also you might not have to buy Windows again, if you are using Win 2000 it is not a problem to reinstall, if you are using Win XP, Microsoft will allow you to reinstall it again, you just have to call them and they tell you what to do.
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 17th, 2007 at 09:03 PM
That's exactly what I was kinda thinkin'...

Hubby says to fix a mother board, you have to
send it to the head company that made it,
it's not just an item you can fix at home, even if you know how to fix them...

And also, like Pat said, it's cheaper to buy them new...

He get's all of his stuff from Newegg

And same for what Pat said also, for the window's, you should be able to do it without
rebuying it...
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 04:04 PM
Weezie and Pat, I'm sure if my story sounds a little strange then it's the way I described it. I don't know a whole lot about how my computer runs, but the guy I brought it to is a trusted friend and he repairs computers for a living. He is going to show me the bulging capacitors when I pick up the hardrive.

Pat, I'm surprised you haven't heard of this problem, I did a simple google search and found a ton of info and all of it backed up what my guy told me. It is a major widespread problem that many computer manufacterers have not admitted to. If my friend wanted to make a bunch of money off of me , we would be going the repair route instead of buying new. I was mistaken that I would have to buy XP, but actually what he said was that I would have to re-install it and I assumed that meant buying it. After your comments I asked him about it and he explained.

The reason we have decided to go with a new computer is that he knows how much I rely on my computer, communicating with my friends and family and sending the MB out to be repaired will take far too long for me. I am excited too about getting the new Windows OS, Vista.

For now, I've borrowed a friends laptop , which I'm finding a pain to use but I'm grateful for it. I'm having trouble getting used to no mouse.
Posted By: afgreyparrot Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 04:22 PM
Mel...just hook your old mouse into the USB port on the laptop.
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 04:24 PM
I was thinking of that , but didn't know if it would work?????? I thought laptops had special mini mouses (mice???) Duh laugh laugh
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 04:26 PM
I can't get it to fit in the hole???? Duh

I don't want to force it, it's not my computer.
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 04:27 PM
The Vista from what I have heard is a very large headache...
You have to like ask their permission to reinstall things, and if you reinstalled it *say like a monitor* to it, you can only do it once..

(and like you, Mel, I may be repeating this in the wrong words, or non~computer words' I should be, but it's like you have to ask permission
to do things to your own computer..
and if a part fails, you can't just replace it any more on that working system..)

Mel, also,
Quote
I don't know a whole lot about how my computer runs, but the guy I brought it to is a trusted friend and he repairs computers for a living.
I know we just wanted to make sure you didn't get taken for,
cause there's alot of un~scrupulous people out there that will take someone *or can cause they have the knowledge and the average "JOE/JANE" doesn't* to the cleaners and back again because they DON"T know a whole lot about computers or how they run or work.. kissies thumbup
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 04:51 PM
Thanks Weezie, I have heard good and bad about Vista. It's like anything else in the computer world, some people will like it and some people won't . I've tried other operating systems and I get the most ease and enjoyment using the Windows systems.

I couldn't stand Firefox for a browser, but I understand that other people swear by it and love using it.

Yeah, my computer language is not always (alright rarely) correct , but I know what I like.

Believe me, I appreciate all your advice and will consider everything and weigh it out with everything else I read and hear. Thank you , it can get pretty confusing kissies
Posted By: Amigatec Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 06:02 PM
Vista has a LOT of DRM stuff (Digital Right Management), if you try to watch DVD's that have been copied, it may nit let you.

Their are also numerous other issues with it, it phones home a lot, and it is a BIG resource hog.

Moat reviews of it are negative.
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 06:05 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Amigatec:
Vista has a LOT of DRM stuff (Digital Right Management), if you try to watch DVD's that have been copied, it may nit let you.
That's right..
Say you buy yourself a cd and you want to make a copy of it,
to play so the original doesn't get scratched..
It won't let you watch it..

Quote
Originally posted by Amigatec:
Their are also numerous other issues with it, it phones home a lot, and it is a BIG resource hog.
As I understand it,
it takes 1 gig of memory to even run the program thingie

Quote
Originally posted by Amigatec:

Moat reviews of it are negative.
It's like Big Daddy watching over you sorta...
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 06:38 PM
I don't watch movies, so that's not a problem. Duh
Posted By: webwise Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 06:39 PM
Thanks for recent postings. I didn't want to intervene in case you thought that it was none of my darn business as a limey. But I consider you people my friends now and I don't like to see my friends being taken for a long ride with no ticket. (Even friends I have never met - lol).

I spent 30 years of my life, not only working with web sites for industry but also, developing software, building desktops and repairing laptops. And quite honestly Mel, you are being fed a rather large male cow. Exploding capacitors my eye, because the wrong bloke stole the recipe laugh . nutz That is a complete nonsense. Next point. You don't ever repair motherboards. With a computer, you don't repair any board - you replace it. Repair of a board is sooo expensive in labor, just throw it away and put in a new one. Mel, get a second opinion as soon as you can.

The remaining (and unrelated point is Vista. It is well known that every time an operating system (OS) gets properly cleaned up, Mr Gates will launch another one that is going to be bug ridden until at least release 5. Then he can sell you loads of upgrades (OK some are free but the major ones aren't). I've worked in Redmond (yes they do employ foreigners with the right Ph.D.) and even the staff know that that is policy. Vista will be good one day, but my advice (and I know a lot more about this than I do about gardening) is to leave it alone for a couple of years. Stay with XP (preferably professional) for now, and let MS debug Vista before you pay for it.
Posted By: Hadeda Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 06:42 PM
Drat, it's a pity I don't live close to you... I could maybe fix the computer up, I fixed a computer once with a straw (Dust was preventing the graphics card from reaching the computer) wink
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 06:49 PM
Yep... my thoughts exactly...for what Webwise said.. thumbup

Same on the mother board thing webwise said,
my husband said to get a new one...
~~~>to repair those, only the manufacturer can do that..
And it is very costly and a new mother board is
cheaper..
Posted By: Amigatec Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 07:19 PM
And people wonder why I dumped Windows and run Linux.

Linux isn't for everybody, but I don't have to reboot and it is as solid as a rock.
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 07:29 PM
Hmmmmmmmmmm, lots to ponder. Thank you webwise for your input also.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 09:02 PM
ok, i have to weigh in on this one. first, i'm with just buying a new mother board, because it is the fastest, cheapest way to get you going again.

second, i'm with postponing vista until at least release 3, same reasons as mentioned. i like xp, but prefer the protections that firefox offer as standard. at work, firefox is actually preferred.

third, motherboards are repaired all the time for a reasonable price, BUT i wouldn't do it. and capacitors do leak/bulge/fail. i'm only sure of that because dh works in the electronics field and his training was what is called "to component level" meaning he is qualified to repair motherboards. the other kind of electronics training is "board level" which means you learn how to make sure what ever board (video card, etc) is working, but not how to fix them if they aren't. only how to swap them out.

there is a lot more to it than that, and most companies do not go component level anymore unless it is a VERY expensive motherboard (like those found in aircraft). but it can be done.

now, in the meantime, with whatever decision you make, i'm glad you have a computer to hold you! kissies
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 09:25 PM
Thank you , Jiffy, I too am grateful for this laptop to see me through.

Would it make a difference if I had told you all that the computer in question cost me $250 3 0r 4 years ago at Walmart??? I will look into it more about replacing the MB...........
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 10:07 PM
not really to me. when you get a new motherboard, it will be faster and have more options, but the outcome is the same. if i were going to replace a computer, at this point, i'd do just the motherboard.

now, if i had money in the bank, and didn't have a wedding to fund, and a trip to ca, and 2 kids in college... well, you get the drift...
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Go to NewEgg.Com
for parts, sometimes things are like $5.00 for shipping and alllll the way down to FREE S&H!!!

But sometimes you have to be quick getting parts, they go realllllly quick sometimes...

You can get some good deals...
Posted By: Amigatec Re: Mel's computer. - March 18th, 2007 at 11:19 PM
One thing to remember is that not all PC's are upgradable. Some use special Motherboards and are not the same.

I ran into this recently on a Dell I was upgrading, the MB had some special connectors on it and the plug for the power supply was wired differently. I wound up replacing the MB, case, and Power Supply.

Also Weezie noted that with Vista you have to ask permission to install things. This is a good idea, but the way Microsoft wrote this, is not a good way to do it. You should never install things with full Admin rights, with Vista you are running in a user account, but when you install things it gives you full Admin rights, so the whole process is worthless.

Same way with the Windows Firewall. MS just turns everything on, and really doesn't block anything that is going out. So if you have a Trojan on your PC, the Windows Firewall will let it phone home.

MS just can not get things right.
Posted By: Bill Re: Mel's computer. - March 19th, 2007 at 12:35 AM
Well Mel... I'm sorry about the troubles but if it makes you feel any better, BooBoo died recently after only 17 months (actually I worked him to death). I got the new "state of the art" Dell Dimension 9200 with "state of the art" MS Vista and all the bells and whistles last week..... lala ($$$$$)

Thor died today... he experienced severe display tremors, then, after "shutting down" for nearly an hour, he went comatose on me. RIP, poor Thor, you !@#$%^!!

Whatever you do DO NOT get a system with Vista! frown
Posted By: Triss Re: Mel's computer. - March 19th, 2007 at 05:00 AM
Oh man Bill, Dan just got one of those systems for one of his customers. I know he is working with it now but have not really looked at it much myself. I love my XP though and will keep it until it dies a slow and miserable death. I need more memory!
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Mel's computer. - March 19th, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Bill, sorry to hear that happened, what was the cause of Thor's untimely demise?? Do you know yet? Did it have to do with the OS or was it something electrical??

I don't think I will get the Vista at this time.
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Mel's computer. - March 19th, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Quote
Originally posted by melcon6:
I don't think I will get the Vista at this time.
Whewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

What's new with your computer so far Mel????
Posted By: webwise Re: Mel's computer. - March 19th, 2007 at 04:27 PM
As an aside Pat, I like your Mordor spoof signature but didn't get the full joke until you said you were running Linux. I run it on my server (OK I chicken out and use a Windows client) but I agree. For technical excellence it far outstrips Windows. thumbup
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