Computer Help Needed! (Vanity)

N/A ^ | 10/11/07 | me

[metesky]

My wife just got a Windows automatic update for Windows Vista. The problem is that her machine is running XP.

She tried to reject the update but the machine automatically re-started and now she's getting messages like "No operating system found". We're both just users with not a clue of what to do.

[southlake_hoosier]

I agree with the others that think you downloaded a virus instead of an update.

I think before you try anything to ‘save’ XP. that you remove this drive and install it as second drive in another PC. Even if the boot sector is destoyed, you would be able to get your data off of it before attempting to fix it and accidently erasing it.

[metesky]

Thank you all for your help! Well thanks to everybody but you, martin! ;O)

Despite us running around like headless chickens for a while, the fix was fairly easy: As a last ditch effort before we in our ignorance, called for the Geek Squad, I went into "Setup" and clicked "restore settings" and bingo there she was!

The first thing that came up after the successful reboot was a MS message telling us that "a new security update has been installed." What a bunch of clowns over at MS!

[JRios1968]

[Condor51]

Excellent. Glad you fixed it.

[lesser_satan]

Give it to a charitable organization for the tax write-off and buy a Mac. I’m still running a Dell with XP, but when it comes time for a new machine I’m going Apple. I want nothing to do with Vista.

[metesky]

Well the wife is pretty happy with XP pro and not really interested in Vista and all its baggage anyway.

I'm still chuggin' along with Win98 2E, but FR is about all I need a computer for anyhow.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

...four years of bookkeeping records gone to dust.

Bookkeeping records do not an OS make. That data is separate from all the OS files and is still intact on your hard drive. What you are experiencing is a problem getting the PC started and the OS running.

Use your original CD to do a non-disruptive re-install of XP. You should use another machine to Google for web sites that explain how to do this.

[cva66snipe]

four years of bookkeeping records gone to dust.

Back up cost wise now is cheap.. You can get a 500GB external HD cheap these days.. Simpler than making disk copies and transferable to other XP systems also... The chances of both the system HD and external back up both crashing is pretty remote.. But my real important records I back up to CD-Rom and store at another location away from my own home.

[Joya]

OFF TOPIC (with apologies):

line width test line width test line width test line width test * line width test line width test line width test line width * test line width test line width test line width test line width * test line width test line width test line width test line * width test line width test line width test line width test line * width test line width test line width test line width test * line width test line width test ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... * ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... * ... ...

Anyone? Do you happen to know how I can re-set my line width? I use firefox. Thanks.

[RightOnline]

Now........make SURE that your wife makes a thorough backup of all those bookkeeping records. Today. Now.

[metesky]

RO, the wife is way ahead of me, she already had everything backed up. It was me who hit the panic button.
:O(

[Quix]

OK, FR GEEK HELP . . .

Have had it with my 5 year old custom built ASUS AMD DUAL CPU system. The 2nd 1 gig memory slot has never worked.

too many exasperating frustrations due largely to Microslop software and abuse of customers . . . but upgrading the old hardware would help.

HAVE PONDERED going with Macs and Linux and dual Linux/Microslop

Partly for $$$ reasons . . . have hit upon replacing the mother board.

The tower case is hefty—a good one. The power supply is super hefty. The DVD’s and HD’s and supplemental cards are all fairly recent models.

Have a bit of a bias toward ASUS AND AMD

Am expecting to pay around $750-$1,000 for motherboard replacement/upgrade.

Was stumped a bit on the 32 bit vs 64 bit but just makes no sense to do less than 64 bit.

I ASSUME, SADLY, THAT MEANS I’D HAVE TO REPLACE XP WITH 64 BIT XP? OR THE NEW SYSTEM . . . FORGET WHAT IT’S CALLED—from Microslop?

Would that mean virtually all my other software etc. programs would have to be replaced? UGH.

STAYING with Microslop has the key priority of still being able to interface with the Microslop stuff I need to interface with at the college.

WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS OH GREAT MYSTERIOUS ALL KNOWING GEEKS ON SUCH ISSUES???

THANKS IN ADVANCE.