Bloody computers

[Byff]

Still having bother with this bloody PC.

Have now tried windows 98SE that many times, I gave up and aquired a copy of windows 2000.

After running well with all my applications on it for a week, decided to swap them over and make it the main PC and got it hooked up to the net.

It'll now run ok for a while, the internet is nice and speedy then phhhhzzz, it all grinds to a halt and crashes.

I just want a PC that works - I'm sick.


Does anyone fancy any beer money?

[docevi1]

I'd offer, but I'm uber busy with work at the moment.

Are you running modem?

[Byff]

docevi1 said:

Are you running modem?

ADSL, one of those fishy looking BT ones.

[docevi1]

USB then?

I'm guessing this is all done anyway, but make sure you have:

*latest mobo drivers
*latest USB drivers
*latest BIOS revision
*check if there are any firmware updates for the modem

Have you got a software firewall on? What is in your event list when the PC crashes (Start->Settings->Control Panel->Event List I think in 2000)?

When you say pzzzt is that PC crashing or internet crashing?

[malman]

Start -> settings -> control panel -> Administrative tools -> Event viewer.

check every thing the good doc said + any Anti virus on it? Probably an idea to use firefox instead of Internet Explorer for most browsing (Internet Explorer only when you must)

www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Have you been to the windows update stie with it yet? (you gotta use IE for this) Fire up IE goto tools -> windows update. Patch it to the hilt.



I'd have a look for you but I have a stinking head cold at the moment so I'm only passing this onto customers

[docevi1]

"Aquired" and updating aren't necessarily a good idea

[WildfireS3]

If you're still having a lot of problems I can give you a hand early next week. I'll see if I can get hold of the latest service pack.

>> Edited by WildfireS3 on Thursday 11th November 19:23

[Byff]

Only aquired in the sense of a friend has 2000 running on his machine with a legitimate disk.

I'll have a look at whats going on in the event thingy and report back. Trouble I have now is that I can only run one PC at a time so this one (the one that works) has to be disconnected and the other one reconnected, then vica versa if it still doesn't work.

I have until Christmas to sort it out, so not panicing yet

[WildfireS3]

I'm away/busy this weekend, then off South building/servicing computers next, but I'm around Monday and Tuesday next week, or after 9 (I have to go to college) on Wednesday. No problem to help out.

[Byff]

Monday will be great.

I still have your mobile number, so I'll give you a ring Monday morning, sort something out.

[wedg1e]

docevi1 said:

"Aquired" and updating aren't necessarily a good idea

My W2000 is a little less than kosher; I have every update known to mankind and nobody's knocked on the door (yet)...

Ian

[Byff]

I got dragged screeming and kicking into XP land yesterday by Chris.

Has it worked - has it bollocks!

Still sitting on me old pc while the new one rusts in the corner.

[docevi1]

Well that is a puzzler then.

What happens? Are you getting any errors in the event log?
Have you done all the updates to the BIOS/drivers?
What sort of error are you getting, just the t'internet?

[WildfireS3]

All drivers were up to date, but bu77ered if I know why it's not working. It was an upgrade from 2K which I suspect caused a lot of problems. Nothing that can't be fixed by a full format and reinstall me thinks.

[Byff]

I put xp on with a fresh install. Everything loaded as it should but guess what.....



the internet comes on for a couple of minutes and then nothing, DNS errors - just like win2000 did.

I tried d/ling the latest modem driver, but looks like alcatel has decided not to list my modem, but tried another USB driver. It didn't like that one bit and wouldn't even acknowledge the modem was even there.

I put the original driver back in for a repair job and some bits of the updated driver is still active. I've managed ten minutes of internet time so far, with no crashes as yet. Fingers crossed I might be able to pack up the old PC now

[MickC]

If it happens again, tell us exactly what DNS errors you get.

Where are you? Hopefully your problems are over, but if not I have a couple of spare ADSL USB modems (demon sent me one even though I said I didn't need it) if you want to try that.

[Byff]

I don't know much about this on-line-shite but presently, I have a ADSL USB modem plugged into my downstairs computer and a network hub plugged into the downstairs computer and the bairns computer upstairs.

If the bairn wants to be on-line, I have to have the downstairs computer running.

Now, if I use this problem as an excuse to get a router, will that sit plugged into the phone ADSL socket, with two links out to the downstairs computer and the bairns computer? Will either computer be able to go on-line without the other one being connected? When both are on, will it be like the network hub where I can share printers and files?

As much as I'm tempted by your offer Mick, I would really want a router if it will do the above. Do you have one going cheap?

[MickC]

Byff said:

As much as I'm tempted by your offer Mick, I would really want a router if it will do the above. Do you have one going cheap?

That's exactly what a router would let you do.

something like:
www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=52754
would do the job. If you are considering using wireless at any point, it's worth paying the extra and getting one with a wireless access point built in too. If content filters are something you are interested in, some of the offerings include these too (you have to subscribe to netnanny or similar to get the list updates). Obviously the more features, the higher the price.

I'm using a seperate BP officeconnect ADSL router plugged into a Belkin wireless router/switch/firewall, but presumably your existing USB modem does not have an ethernet port, so you'd need an all in-one-unit. They are typically easier to set up and administer, too.

If you want any more help, mail me.