Computer help

[crazybuckfan40]

I know it is hard to understand th problem without actually seeing the computer, but I will try and explain...I actually have 3 problems with 3 different computers...

Problem #1...

I have a work computer that won't let me view the internet on my home router, the computer will log on at holiday inn, panera bread, etc. but not at my house...It says I have excellent connection, but no webpage comes up...The dreaded page cannot be displayed...I know the router and password key work because the neighbor came over and logged on and was able to get the internet to work...

Problem #2...

IT man said the hard drive crashed, said it would cost $300 to fix and some other money to reformat...This is not my computer, and I am going off of what the person told me, but this seems high...Is there anything to do, for cheaper, or is better to just spend 400-700 to buy a new computer?

Problem #3...

My own personal labtop...I have had problems with it over the past year...I think there is some type of virus, trojan horse, etc. in maybe by boot up part of my computer...It happened once so I just use the command to go all the way back to how my computer was when I first bought it...Easy to do, but a pain to reinstall everything...The thing that happened this time is I continued to have a half million pop ups...The only way to run it is thru safe mode, which is slow as hell...So it ran fine for 1 month and then bam same thing...Well now it is starting to act up again after doing what I did again after about another month, but now it is just giving me CPU usage of 100% which allows me to do nothing at al...I looked at some of the processes and the thing that I think it might have to do with is SVChost.exe, but they say not to mess with that...

Any help on any of these...Greenies to anyone with help...

 

[sandgk]

Problem 1 - Pass, doesn't sound right that others can log on yet you cannot. Perhaps there is an address conflict? Again - Pass.

Problem 2 - Hire a new IT guy. If this was happening at home I figure the response would be to extract dead drive and insert new drive - install existing copies of system software / productivity suite etc. Unless this is a laptop the replacement drive shouldn't be anywhere close to that cost. Doesn't make sense. Option if you want to keep IT guy with family of five "gainfully" employed - go for a new computer.

Problem 3 - prOn? I'd get one of the tools that can seek out really nasty stuff down to root level. In Safe Mode see if it is found, see if bad things are found when booted from a CD-ROM or similar. Cleanse, wash repeat. If all else fails see options for handling Problem 2.

 

[Best Buckeye]

#1. have your neighbor get you on the internet.
#2. You can get a good hard drive for 40- 60 bucks. I got a 250 gig for about 90. make a boot up disc and format it and reload. no big deal.
#3 first try deleting your temporary internet files and cookies and defraging the computer, if that doesn't work try to get a program like adaware from lavasoft.com to control popups, if that fails then reformat and get a good antivirus like Norton and install it after you reformat.

 

[utgrad73]

I know it is hard to understand th problem without actually seeing the computer, but I will try and explain...I actually have 3 problems with 3 different computers...

Problem #1...

I have a work computer that won't let me view the internet on my home router, the computer will log on at holiday inn, panera bread, etc. but not at my house...It says I have excellent connection, but no webpage comes up...The dreaded page cannot be displayed...I know the router and password key work because the neighbor came over and logged on and was able to get the internet to work...

Problem #2...

IT man said the hard drive crashed, said it would cost $300 to fix and some other money to reformat...This is not my computer, and I am going off of what the person told me, but this seems high...Is there anything to do, for cheaper, or is better to just spend 400-700 to buy a new computer?

Problem #3...

My own personal labtop...I have had problems with it over the past year...I think there is some type of virus, trojan horse, etc. in maybe by boot up part of my computer...It happened once so I just use the command to go all the way back to how my computer was when I first bought it...Easy to do, but a pain to reinstall everything...The thing that happened this time is I continued to have a half million pop ups...The only way to run it is thru safe mode, which is slow as hell...So it ran fine for 1 month and then bam same thing...Well now it is starting to act up again after doing what I did again after about another month, but now it is just giving me CPU usage of 100% which allows me to do nothing at al...I looked at some of the processes and the thing that I think it might have to do with is SVChost.exe, but they say not to mess with that...

Any help on any of these...Greenies to anyone with help...

problem #1 - try putting the home IP address in manually and see what happens. I had a similar problem getting my laptop to auto detect the IP address. I was picking another network that wasn't encrypted. An IT encrypted mine and fixed it.

problem #2 - you could but a complete basic PC for $400, I think a local shop here had them for maybe $300. #300 seems high for a HD install. They aren't that expensive and not that hard to do yourself. Western Digitals have pretty good instructions. I would give it a try before spending the big bucks.

problem #3 - I assume you are running Windows XP. There's a setting for the pop up blocking in Tools/Internet Options/Privacy. Check the box at the bottom. You can also change the slide setting too, mine's on medium. A also run Spybot and Adaware SE. Free downloads.

I'm not an IT guy, but have been playing with PCs since 1990. I learned a few things from my IT friends and learned to try before just about anything before calling in the experts. Good luck and have fun.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Problem 1 - Pass, doesn't sound right that others can log on yet you cannot. Perhaps there is an address conflict? Again - Pass.

But if I put in a different password like the wrong one it tells me I have limited or no connectivety...

Problem 2 - Hire a new IT guy. If this was happening at home I figure the response would be to extract dead drive and insert new drive - install existing copies of system software / productivity suite etc. Unless this is a laptop the replacement drive shouldn't be anywhere close to that cost. Doesn't make sense. Option if you want to keep IT guy with family of five "gainfully" employed - go for a new computer.

I did not talk to them directly as this is a guy that I do a little work for, it is his company's IT guy...So I don't know why the guy would be trying to screw someone in his company...Also keep in mind this is wha the guy told him, so not even sure for sure if that is all the problem is...I have never had a hard drive crash so I don't know what the symptons so to say are of a crashed hard drive...he is going to get it back to me in a couple days, so I will be able to explain the problem more, and he can't buy a new computer til the first of the year due to taxes...

But with that said it is a labtop...So what would be the cost for a replacement hard drive for a labtop and how hard are they to install...

Problem 3 - prOn? I'd get one of the tools that can seek out really nasty stuff down to root level. In Safe Mode see if it is found, see if bad things are found when booted from a CD-ROM or similar. Cleanse, wash repeat. If all else fails see options for handling Problem 2.

No porn...if that is what pron is supposed to mean...:tongue2: but what is a good suggestion on a tool...

 

[Best Buckeye]

Most corporate IT's have restrictions on all kinds of computer programs and files. It probably is that they are restricting what you are trying to log on with at home. Is your neighbor using a different program or method to log on? what did he do different than you do?

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Most corporate IT's have restrictions on all kinds of computer programs and files. It probably is that they are restricting what you are trying to log on with at home. Is your neighbor using a different program or method to log on? what did he do different than you do?

I have been able to log onto to other home routers...It is just this specific one...

He did nothing different than I did becuase I did it, and all I did was type in the password, and it worked...

 

[sandgk]

But if I put in a different password like the wrong one it tells me I have limited or no connectivety...

Oh - I can see where the misunderstanding arose - by "Pass" I mean I am not sure of what the cause would be - probably utgrad's suggestion is much closer.

I did not talk to them directly as this is a guy that I do a little work for, it is his company's IT guy...So I don't know why the guy would be trying to screw someone in his company...Also keep in mind this is wha the guy told him, so not even sure for sure if that is all the problem is...I have never had a hard drive crash so I don't know what the symptons so to say are of a crashed hard drive...he is going to get it back to me in a couple days, so I will be able to explain the problem more, and he can't buy a new computer til the first of the year due to taxes...
But with that said it is a labtop...So what would be the cost for a replacement hard drive for a labtop and how hard are they to install...

OK - Upgrading a laptop HD is not a simple screwdriver project. It isn't much more difficult, but it is easier to screw up due to the close confines, limited working space and the ease with which other sensitive components may be harmed. The cases are pretty tricky to get apart and you don't want them damaged right? Plus, the form factors for one laptop may be very different from another - you absolutely need to know that the HD ordered will fit into the space within the case. Most will be OK, but, you must check this.
I'd dig around for a user's group forum with specific experience upgrading the internals of your specific model for guidance.

OK - warning label written - you can get HD for installation in typical laptop cases, NewEgg and Best Buy or Circuit City carry these.

Expect to pay 60c to 1.00 per GB.

No porn...if that is what pron is supposed to mean...:tongue2: but what is a good suggestion on a tool...

Well for most stuff the latest McAfee is not that bad - it won't explicitly identify something as a rootkit, but it will get close. If it is something as insiidious as a rootkit then this list of programs will get you going. Be very careful with these though.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

If it is something as insiidious as a rootkit then this list of programs will get you going. Be very careful with these though.

As in don't delete too much?

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Ok guys thanks for all the advice...I am going to tell the IT guy he is full of shit, I am going to try a different IP address, and I found a free version of McAfee so I am going to try and fix the problem with that and if not I will try the Rootkit thing...

If anyone else has a suggestion feel free to offer it up...

 

[sandgk]

As in don't delete too much?

Well, it is more that these programs typically reveal programs, files or processes by virtue of their visibility and load sequence. Many system processes and programs are hidden, load early and may be flagged.

An unwitting user can severely damage their computer's usability by deleting or disabling such required files.

 

[Buckeneye]

Problem #1. Router - clone the MAC address. See what that does.

#2. Agreed, new HDD and a fresh format is much cheaper. Not to mention easy.

#3 Did you ever try running an AV perhaps? if not, check your startup and see what services and/or programs are loading when you hit your desktop.
get rid of anything unnecessary.

 

[kartaron]

1) I really need a lot more info but try dropping the security from the router and logging on an open signal. If that works there is some issue between the security setups.

2) yeah, what sandgk said

3) Boot in safe mode, Click Start>Run>type in msconfig> press enter
Deselect Startup box, reboot (normal boot) That should get the offending programs out long enough to download Grisoft AVG, Spybot S&D and Lavasoft's AdAware. Run those three repeatedly until they stop finding junk. While they are running turn go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services and find Messenger. Stop and Disable messenger, its a common virus exploit and most people dont use the function.

An added method is in task manager to stop suspicious processes (the worst that can happen is you force a reboot)...With some deductive reasoning you should be able to figure out if there is something overly aggressive there. Google to file names too as that can get a quick answer.

I just worked on a computer that had an infection of Norton so I wouldnt trust any software exclusively.

You can go back into msconfig and turn the startup and processes back on when you are satisfied (as the respective programs should be gone)

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

1 - Duct tape
2 - Duct tape
3 - Duct tape

 

[sandgk]

1 - Duct tape
2 - Duct tape
3 - Duct tape

BKB has gone all Red Green on us ...