Don't assume anything. Make sure the cables are plugged in fully, everything is properly setup (ie jumpers etc). Download the software from the HD manufacturer and scan the drive.

It's highly unlikely that you could have bad sectors or any errors on the drive only a month into usage, unless it was a bum drive to begin with. (I know Seagate has a knack for absolutely horrid QC on their drives.)

The drive is properly set up, it has been since I bought it as it was already connected up and worked fine. It is almost guaranteed a bum drive. Scanning it I really cannot see the point in, as the only way I can remedy my situation is with a new one. The fact my drive keeps making noise when it shouldn't be also may prove my point a little more.

So my firewall keeps turning itself on and off and I was wondering what could be the cause of it.
I just paid $130 to have some European virus removed off of it as well and I thought that maybe it could still be on there, in which I have no idea to remove it.

I have XP.

Also it seems rather convenient that my HDD is in fact a Seagate Barracuda. What do you mean by QC?

Also, I get slight skips now when playing a CD direct from the CD.

I assume this is also HDD related, as the Blu-Ray drive is functioning perfectly.

I've decided to go with a two HDD set up. One small one (Westgate Digital Raptor) for system files, and a Samsung Raid II 1TB for storage.

Anyone know any better companies for large storage devices? Only reason I trust Samsung is my TV and PC monitor are both Samsung, as is my mobile phone, and all are absolutely fantastic.

Never mind, downloaded Seatools and my HDD failed 2 of the tests, so it is done.

Western Digital Raptor and Samsung HDD's are on way to being purchased.

Seagate and Western Digital both make excellent HDD. To me, I will pretty much only buy from these two, but I will buy either depending on the price.

I wouldn't be so trustworthy og Seagate considering mine is broken after less than a month in use...

Samsung make better ones.

Hello again. I know this is probably fairly obvious at this point, but my computer finds it almost impossible to boot up now, and will only do so via turning it on and off at the plug because the HDD is in such bad shape.

Is there any way this could cause PSU problems (as I usually relate not turning on to faulty PSU)

QC meaning quality control. I got a Seagate SATA drive back in mid-September, and by the beginning of November it was fried. They have absolutely horrid quality control all-around.

Western Digital has never failed me. Although the highest capacity drives I have are 2x320GB PATA drives...I still have a 160gb drive in here that's 4 or 5 years old, with a couple bad sectors scattered around it that were marked with the WD tools - and it still works like a charm.

Is the computer not turning on period, or is it just not booting into Windows and/or crashing a lot as it's loading Windows? The first option could possibly be from damage to the PSU, however try disconnecting the HD and seeing if it happens anymore. If it doesn't, the zapped HD is the culprit. If it still happens, then there's definitely another problem, more than likely the PSU.

If it was the latter option, that's synonymous with the bad HD, and as such you should probably leave the computer alone until you can replace the drive - no point to trying to use a system that barely functions.

I've had a few WDs failing me early and Seagates lasting long. It's hard to say anything statistically worthwhile based on private and small business experiences, seeing how many drives are actually manufactured.



You could be more specific. The name of the firewall would certainly help. I take it you don't find the virus in scans anymore?

Anyone have any experience replacing laptop LCDs? I'm about to dive into that exciting world after dropping my laptop like a retard and putting a big crack through the LCD, and in lieu of sending it to Dell and getting it replaced for an insane amount of money, I bought a new one for a little over $100 and I'm gonna replace it myself. We'll see what happens.

It's the Windows Firewall.
My anti-viruses never picked up on it when it first started happening.

Not necessarily computer related, but whenever I try to log into my yahoo account it doesn't accept the password. I can change it, but I can't log in again with the new one. Any one have any idea what's wrong?

Thanks

You could try clearing your cookies

Thank you, that worked.

So, my laptop stays in the same position for many months and so does my wireless router and it is never out of range. today it just randomly decided that my laptop was out of range. Is there any non lethal way to fix this problem?

Go through the standard troubleshooting from the computers end (update drivers, etc.).

Routers tend to die after a while, so it could be that it's malfunctioning, too.

Well, the other 2 computers in the house seem to be working fine.

And ermm, how do I update drivers? (never updated anything before in my life)

Google search the model of the router's drivers, should come up with something, then download and install 'em.

How do I get rid of the annoying HP printer registration notice that keeps popping up? I already tried to register the product from it but it just keeps coming up. It's been going on for a year.

Windows, right?
in case the process appears at the start-up of your OS, then you can kill it with Autoruns for instance; or HiJackThis.
http://technet.microsoft.com/de-de/sysi ... 63902.aspx
http://www.hijackthis.de/en

How much does an extra Gig of memory usually cost? I need to buy some more for my PC.

Depends on where you get it. Online (e.g. www.newegg.com ) it should not be any more than $50, and in all likelihood will be between $30 and $40. In-store....well, just don't buy it in a store.

Do all computers have internal mics? I remember being able to record sounds my computer made without the outside noise, but with my new HP computer I dont seem to be able to do that.

Why would you update drivers?
Do they require updating?
If not, just leavethem they way they're. Usually when using Windows and updating something that doesn't required updating... Well I can't explain but it fucks everything up.

It's not an internal mic, recording controls allow you to record sound output to speakers, but only sounds generated by the computer. A real mic is needed to record external sounds.

With my computer (WinXP), I can record from the Mono Out or Wave Out Mix channels. You should be able to adjust or select these channels through the Control Panel or Volume Control settings. There should be similar options for Vista as well. A google search on how to enable Wave Out Mix should find any relevant details.

Those who have problems with Conficker or know folks whose pc are affected by it, should read this site:
http://iv.cs.uni-bonn.de/wg/cs/applicat ... conficker/

A German team was able to analyze this thing and they provide several experimental (!) tools to deal with an infection. Remember this:

Ok, I've been having this problem with my computer since the day i got it. Here it goes:

My laptop gets these 'white-screens' constantly where the screen would just go white and you can't see through it. The only way to fix it is to do ctrl-alt-del, but it hasn't been working at all after around the 3rd week of having the computer. It's driving me mad and I'm just wondering if someone has the technical knowledge to fix it.

Please someone advise me on how to rid of this malicious spyware. After weeks of having an expired Norton Anti-Virus account, I went and bought a new Norton Internet Security package only to have gotten infected by an annoying faux firewall protection spyware(yeah, alot of good that did).
I encounted it when browsing MySpace. It was made to look like my Windows menu showing the usual icons but showing how they were infected. Apparently it scanned my files and all that and now every 2 minutes or so, its window pops up warning me about all these infections it encounters. It's sticky desktop icon labels it as System Security 2009. It's obviously malicious because there is no other company or corporate information and it asks for credit card if I were to continue with it.
If you have any simple instructions or know of any free downloads to remove this annoying thing, I'd appreciate it.

This reminds me. Every time I open up my (pirated ) Microsoft Office, this message comes up saying that I don't have a 'genuine product' and will shut Office down in a certain amount of days. Today it rests at 4 days so someone please be quick and tell me how to remove this annoying software from my computer.

do a scan with HiJackThis and post the results here or send me a pm.

Ever considered a Linux-distribution?
http://distrowatch.com/

The WGA thing will get pretty nasty, because MS has just released the 'final' version... further updates will happen without the user is able to notice it. You should get either a legel copy or use a Linux system. The issue with conficker is prove enought that it is important to have a up-to-date system.

contact the manufacturor or the place where you have bought it...

Actually, your AutoRuns link from before on my last problem took care of the problem quite well and killed it. So, thanks for that. It didn't kill the HP Printer registration reminder but that's ok because that only pops up sporadically.

Do a HiJackThis scan ... maybe you can fix it with this...

I recommend Spybot
http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

and Malware Bytes:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/

When I was working IT and dealing with occasional badly infected computers, these two programs almost always took care of the nasties.

Hi guys. I'm afraid I probably already know the answer to this question, but... My harddrive is making a crackling kind of noise, then playing a little PC-Speaker melody. I assume that means I have a headcrash and will have to pay like 600 bucks to restore my data?

try to get the SMART data...
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Monit ... Technology
but it sounds like a hdd-crash might happen soon.
600 bucks ... much more, believe me.

SMART is actually quite terrible and horribly inaccurate. I suggest HDD Tune or some other software.