Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

VANITY: URGENTLY (SORT OF...) NEEDED COMPUTER ASSISTANCE...
my "fervently seeking for a solution" mind | today.. | ME

Posted on 02/01/2009 10:21:40 PM PST by Spacetrucker

I jsut yesterday purchased a Dell Studio 17 (S1737) laptop computer with Windows Vista(x64)Home Premium factory installed. Upon starting it for the first time, I went through the usual info entry bits and pieces, and Windows Update wanted to install a bunch of updates... It went through the process quite normally; however, upon restart, Windows BSOD'ed me and the system went through an extensive attempt to do a startup repair... I had to restore Dell factory settings and such and it will now still not allow the updates to work without the BSOD reappearing and having to do the whole process over again... I AM AT A LOSS. Dell Support line is almost quite useless, they just tell me to do what I have already done...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet; Hobbies; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: computers; dell; laptop; vista
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last
To: Spacetrucker
I'll ignore all of the buy a MAC people and tell you this. Try updating the BIOS and Core drivers first. In Windows update look and choose first those critical changes one at a time. Since you are running 64 and I run 32 on a similar laptop, I can't tell you which one may be the problem, but I am willing to bet it is a driver.
21 posted on 02/02/2009 2:42:10 AM PST by Woodman ("One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives." PW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jessduntno

I love XP Pro too. FWIW, I’ve been running Windows 7 beta for about a month now. I like it so much that I have replaced all my Vista and XP installations with it. Everything works like a charm. Even on a 6yr old 1GB P4 box. MS may have gotten something right for once.


22 posted on 02/02/2009 3:11:11 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

23 posted on 02/02/2009 5:35:00 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spacetrucker

This really an issue you need to go one on one with someone who has the Vista experience in order to trouble shoot it.

Really, it would all start with the event viewer, and go from there.

OTOH, if you want to shortcut it, try, as someone else mentioned, allowing only one update at a time, then rebooting till you find the offender, and eliminate that.

Lastly, Microsoft does offer free tech support on new machines. I’m sure they would want to know about this issue.

Forward looking: Putting on my Karnac hat, I see an issue with a non 64 driver for the chipset, a known Dell weakness. If so, you can dl them here: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2753

Good luck.


24 posted on 02/02/2009 5:54:09 AM PST by papasmurf (Impeach the illegal bastard!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spacetrucker

This is not the right place to get serious computer help. The best suggestion here was to attempt to return the product. Maybe that will get Dell’s attention.


25 posted on 02/02/2009 6:02:29 AM PST by McGruff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spacetrucker
I would get the genuine Vista software from Microsoft, and re-install the operating system from scratch, without the crapware.

Just give Microsoft a copy of your product key:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/2057/ordermedia/default.mspx
And they will ship you a DVD without all the crapware on it.

PS: Before starting this process, make sure that you have all the most up-to-date drivers for each piece of hardware on your laptop [ethernet chipset, sound chipset, video chipset, etc etc etc].

The drivers which come on the Microsoft DVD will be older, and, while they might be "adequate", you usually will have the best luck with the very latest drivers.

26 posted on 02/02/2009 6:31:32 AM PST by KayEyeDoubleDee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spacetrucker

Return it.

Get a different brand, model, whatever.

If they start out as a problem, they don’t magically get better.


27 posted on 02/02/2009 7:23:06 AM PST by Malsua
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spacetrucker
Dell should have tech support for a situations such as this. Use it, man.

And your box is still under warranty.

28 posted on 02/02/2009 7:57:06 AM PST by Tribune7 (Obama wants to put the same crowd that ran Fannie Mae in charge of health care)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spacetrucker
I'm sorry, I missed where you did use Dell support.
29 posted on 02/02/2009 7:58:36 AM PST by Tribune7 (Obama wants to put the same crowd that ran Fannie Mae in charge of health care)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joseph20
Download a linux distro like Fedora or Ubuntu. Say goodbye to Windows forever.

Yes, but I would return this machine just on principle.

30 posted on 02/02/2009 8:00:59 AM PST by Tribune7 (Obama wants to put the same crowd that ran Fannie Mae in charge of health care)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Fred
Does the Mac run VMWare??

VMWare sells Fusion for the Mac. http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/. It's supposed to have some pretty cool stuff available.

31 posted on 02/02/2009 12:32:28 PM PST by SeƱor Zorro ("The ability to speak does not make you intelligent"--Qui-Gon Jinn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson