Websites for PC Tech Support

[sorrycharlie]

Does anyone know of a really good site or forum I can go to for help with a PC problem I'm having? It's really urgent and I need a forum/site I can go to for quick and free help.

[michael kirschner]

go to techguylabs.com its run by leo laporte basically the premier tech support guy in the world

[Infinity Reborn]

I don't know specific sites, but I'd advise to just google the problem you're having - you might be surprised at how quickly you find it, the internet is the best resource these days. Another good idea is to contact the company who made your computer/software and ask them for troubleshooting. Or you could ask me - I've taken classes in computers - both hardware and software - for 4 years now. I might be able to help.

[sorrycharlie]

Jun 16, 2008 19:33:15 GMT -5 Infinity Reborn said:

I don't know specific sites, but I'd advise to just google the problem you're having - you might be surprised at how quickly you find it, the internet is the best resource these days. Another good idea is to contact the company who made your computer/software and ask them for troubleshooting. Or you could ask me - I've taken classes in computers - both hardware and software - for 4 years now. I might be able to help.

I tried searching, but to no avail. Oddly, I found some similar problems that happened to people about a year ago. Here's the problem I explained in a couple of other forums:

First of all, my computer info:

• HP Pavillion zv6000 laptop
  
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3
  
• AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3200+ 1.99 GHz 512 MB of RAM
  
• Display Adapter: ATI Mobility Radeon Xpress 200 Series
  

I'm having a problem with my monitor, seemingly as a result of recent "Software Distribution Service 3.0" updates. I bought my computer brand new about two and a half years ago. I've never had any display problems until Last Tuesday night. I put my computer on Stand By, then woke it up an hour later to find that the screen had black and grey bars going across. I then shut down my computer and booted it back up again with no problem. This continued to happen off and on after either putting my computer on Stand By, Hibertating, or Shutting Down, but would always go back to normal after another reboot. That is, until Friday. Friday night, the black and grey bars appeared again and ever since then I haven't been able to see anything but that unless I plug in an external monitor. I noticed that Windows was installing some automatic updates last Monday and Tuesday, before this started happening. When I tried to do a System Restore, I noticed a few "Software Distribution 3.0" installations as restore points. I tried every single restore point that was available, but to no avail. Each time I tried, the system restore failed. I don't know what else to do. The only time I can use my laptop now is if I plug another monitor into it, thus eliminating the portability of my laptop. Everything works like normal except the display. Can any of you help me out? If you need any other information about my PC, I'd be happy to provide it to you. Thanks for checking out my post. :happy:

[Infinity Reborn]

That update/patch definitely sounds like the problem - it's probably corrupted. I doubt the hardware has anything to do with it. If you can find any way to delete that update properly (e.g., in Add/Remove Programs), do so. The Windows Updates should appear in there, if Windows 2K is similar to XP, which it probably is. *Bryan is too cheap for XP ;D *

Once you remove the update, use Windows Update manually from the Control Panel (I believe that is where it is located in XP, or maybe the Start menu) and redownload the updates. Make sure your internet connection is solid and uninterrupted - that can have effects on downloaded content sometimes. Or you simply can decide not to download them again - but knowing about Windows' *cough gag* "robust security", you probably want to redownload.

If this doesn't do it, then you should try to redownload the display/video driver (the ATI video card) for the laptop through Device Manager (Right click My Computer -> Properties -> "Hardware" tab -> Device Manager button).

*Note: to make your life easier, make sure you'll have access to the ATI driver before you do this, either by downloading it or through a disc.*

Uninstall the driver, and reinstall it with the discs your laptop came with, or if you don't have those, download it through ATI's website. A driver update might've been included in that latest patch, and might be the problem.

If EITHER of those don't work, you should try to get in touch with Windows or ATI, in that order. Actually, better yet, try HP first since they put the whole thing together. I suspect that the Windows Update might've caused a compatibility conflict, or more likely, is plain corrupted. Or both, knowing Windows. ._. If it IS a hardware problem, I suspect that it's part of the LCD display instead of the video card. If the card had a physical problem, it most likely would have just went BOOM dark. If it is a hardware problem, I hope you still have a warranty after 2 and a half years.

If they do work, which hopefully they will, make a new restore point with your new working configuration, just in case.