Due to my recent experience where I got a trojan that effectively blocked me from using my computer and threatening me with heavy fines or jailtime (unless I paid a smaller fine, of course ), I thought I'd start a thread where we could discuss the various computer problems we've had. Perhaps we could give each other some hints and tips on how to solve them

I solved my problem thanks to the wonderful feature built into Windows where you reset your computer to an earlier save point. To get to that program even though my computer was locked I had to fire up my computer in failsafe mode (pressing F8 during startup), choose Failsafe Mode with Command prompt, exit from that and do the Ctrl-Alt-Delete thing to bring up the activity menu from where I could search for the C:/ directory and from there find the program where you make a save point/reset to a save point.

(Apologies if my explanation is a bit clunky )

This post has been edited by mirocu: Nov 25 2017, 10:15 PM

New internet/phone service installed. Downloads increased from 6.xxxMbps to 300+Mbps. Uploads increased from 0.68xMbps to 300+Mbps. Overall rating at a test-site I use went from D- (D download, F upload) to A+. Seems like a bit of an improvement, though I won't notice it in practice except when DLing big files and uploading (anything). Well, I can now watch YouTube at 1440p, maybe 4k. As my monitor is 1080p there's little incentive to do so. I now have 'unlimited' data. Whether it's truly unlimited, or 'unlimited with restrictions', as many plans are, remains to be seen. Pricing remains to be seen too. If it's what was promised I'll pay very little more than I did before the switch. <crosses fingers>

We actually are paying less than we did for our DSL...

300 down, 100 up I think.

The email I got from AT&T is a big confusing. Here are its two important paragraphs:

"We are retiring the network equipment that currently provides your AT&T Internet service on January 5, 2021, and need to upgrade your service to our 100% fiber network. Fiber allows us to provide you more services, faster internet speed, and greater reliability.

Since you subscribe to AT&T Phone service, you will also need to transfer to fiber to continue to make 911 emergency calls after we retire our equipment."

This seems to indicate that basic phone service will continue, but with limited functionality. After fiber installation, I'm more confused than ever. My phones still connect to the old wall jacks, which are wired to AT&T's conventional junction box behind the house. Even the phone in my computer room, which at least plugs into my AT&T gateway before reaching a conventional wall phone jack. The Gateway itself now connects to the new AT&T fiber junction box on the side of the house abutting my 'computer room'.

I wasn't paying close attention to the installer while he worked, so didn't notice all this until he'd left. I called AT&T and asked about it. They assure me all's well now. I'll take their word for it and hope for the best, as that's all I can do.

I hope AT&T doesn't upload my first call attempt to YouTube. I got an A.I. rep and couldn't figure out how to get it to transfer me to 'real' person. Fool that I am, not only didn't I hang up immediately and try again, but let my emotions get the better of me and ended up spewing out profanities before eventually snapping out of it and hanging up. Not a pretty sight. My second call didn't go well either, due to technical issues on AT&T's end, followed a bit later by disconnect. Third time was the charm. The female rep was pleasant and helpful. We ended up having a nice casual chat after business was taken care of. I don't fully understand her explanation of why all's well (I hope) with my phone connections, but then there are a great many things nowadays that overpower my poor decrepit brain.

No, that letter sounds to me like they're discontinuing phone service. Can't use 911? The crap kinda garbo is that? I can pick up any American cell phone and hit 911 and have it work, but unless you upgrade you can't? Without service, I might add. They hand out used cell phones at the old women's shelter near my old place in CA. Don't need working service to ring emergency.

This post has been edited by Sakiri: Oct 8 2020, 07:29 PM

Currently have my backup puter at a tuneup. More RAM is done and he's now looking at a graphics card.

I'm honestly surprised they can find parts for older computers. Most of them get thrown out now.

It's Windows 7, not Windows 3.1

It's still not a new computer. Anything more than a few years old can be hard to find parts for. Computer tech ages quickly and not very well.

True, true.

Disapointing, really. The old stuff's still useful imo. For some people. I know people that use XP machines because they have software that won't run on anything newer.

I'm trying really hard not to use uncensored language here. I'm [censored] livid with my computer right now. Ever since yesterday, I have been blue-screening like crazy, and so far it has only happened with Elder Scrolls Online. This has coincided with me traveling to Virginia to visit extended family. Just this morning? I blue-screened 8 f---ing times! I don't know what the hell is going on but I'm really f---ing pissed off.

I don't know if this is a continuation of previous blue-screen troubles, which have happened very occasionally since I was really having an issue with them. It seemed next to impossible to pinpoint the problem. What it is now is beyond me. Memory issue? But if that was the case, why is it only being this [censored] now? I don't see how my uncle's Internet connection could do this, but that was another thought of mine.

And I just did work earlier morning. No problems. So, *throws hands in the air exasperatedly*.

Is it a laptop or a desktop?

Whatever the case, here is an article on Blue Screens, their causes, and trouble shooting.

Well that sucks.

Without knowing what error one gets though I can't even remotely fathom a "why".

Windows hasn't really blue screened since XP either so there's def something up.

I used to have a t-shirt with a blue screen error on it. Blue shirt. Was great. Side note.

XP did that? Millennium is notorious for it but I didn't know XP did it, and I've had that OS.

XP was the last OS I've ever gotten a true blue screen stop error on.

Everything since hasn't been too bad.

Then again, I also skipped Me and 8.

So once again the Firefox entensions available to get the old youtube layout has stopped working. God I hate that this keeps happening!!

Maybe firefox is updating but the extension isn't?

Automatic Firefox update is turned off. Now I have to wait a few weeks before the old layout extensions (one of them anyway) works again. I never figure out why it stopped working and I never figure out why it starts working again. Fun.

Decided to 'update' my secondary PC to Win10 2004. The process took ages. Having given myself what I thought to be ample time, the PC didn't reach 'reboot to install' stage until 30min past my normal supper time. The reboot-install took another forever...eventually saying it ran into an issue. The PC rebooted on its own. More time passed. Windows desktop was at last reached. I checked update status. Windows had completely backed out of the 2004 update. I might as well not have bothered.

UPDATE: Got a new laptop on the way. Mine is coming up close to 4 years old anyway, so I suppose it is time to get a new one. Not that it is all that uncommon to have ones that get older, but it's best to get a new one anyway. Besides, there are a couple of games I have that don't or likely won't run that well on my current one. Plus I don't have to screw around anymore trying to figure out what is wrong with this one and possibly get my files wiped because of incompetence even though I made it clear I wanted my stuff backed up (THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR, GEEK SQUAD). I think I have most or all of it backed up on my own external hard drive, but I can't figure out how to get the info off of it.

This post has been edited by RaderOfTheLostArk: Oct 20 2020, 10:57 PM