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Laptop Freeze

2009-11-06T08:32:58Z

From billy021108 in the PC Support Forum:

Hi all, please can someone help!

I have a laptop with XP and put a CD in to play which I have done endless times before. The laptop just froze and wouldn't do anything, even after pressing Control, Alt & Delete.

It comes up with the� message that it needs to start in one of the following, safe mode, safe mode with command and safe mode with networking or start windows normally. It doesn't matter which one I try it quickly tries to load the windows XP files but just keeps returning to the same message as above.

I just can't get it beyond any of the stages above - I have very limited IT knowledge so sorry if I'm not giving enough info. I just don't know what else to try.

Any troubleshooting thoughts for billy021108? My guess would be a repair install but maybe you have some other suggestions. Click over to the forum post and share your thoughts.

Laptop Freeze originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 08:32:58.

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Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure... Right Now

2009-11-04T15:30:24Z

No time like the present.

The Automatic Restart on System Failure option is very simple to understand - if Windows encounters a serious error (like a Blue Screen of Death) it will reboot your computer automatically since that's the only way out of it anyway.

However, if your computer restarts as soon as the error occurs, it gives you absolutely no time to read and write down the error message for troubleshooting purposes.

The catch 22 here is that you have to make this change from within Windows, so if you lose access to Windows via a serious error, you're out of luck. Disabling this option right now is easy and will save you a lot of time in the future if you ever suffer from one of these issues.

How Do I Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure in Windows?

I should note, in Windows Vista and Windows 7, there is a way to disable this option from the Advanced Boot Menu, but it's still considerably easier to just do it now, from inside a working copy of Windows.

Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure... Right Now originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 15:30:24.

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Freezes Up

2009-11-02T20:13:13Z

From a guest poster in the PC Support Forum:

Hello.. my computer freezes up a lot. I have Windows XP.� Does that Reg Cure really scan and fix all the problems or is there a cheaper/easier method?

Any ideas for our guest? Head on over to the forum post and leave your thoughts.

I say some good, classic troubleshooting is in order and if using a registry cleaner ends up being a troubleshooting step, you might as well use a free one. Something tells me this "Reg Cure" software is hardly the panacea I have a feeling it makes itself out to be.

Freezes Up originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 20:13:13.

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PC Cycles... But Doesn't Boot

2009-10-28T11:52:36Z

From jagxk in the PC Support Forum:

Updated Quicktime and the final step was to restart the PC (running XP Prof). The screen which follows a crash and�offers: normal, safe mode,�etc�appeared. Clicking any of the options produced the same result, a brief flicker of the Windows logo before the screen cycled through a power saving message, the manufacturer logo�and back to the first screen with its start options.

I have tried starting using the original product recovery CD-ROM from F-Siemens but even clicking random keys during the start-up process produces no result other than freezing the 30 second countdown to "start�normally" as does clicking F2.��A 'wiggle' test has not made any difference.�The PC has no previous history of this sort.

How do I begin to analyse and then correct the problem when�I can't get it to turn on?

Any thoughts for jagxk? Head over to the post and see if you can help.

PC Cycles... But Doesn't Boot originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 11:52:36.

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Problems With Windows 7?

2009-10-26T11:13:57Z

Anyone having any major problems with Windows 7? If so, be sure to head over the PC Support Forum and ask for help.

The installation should be a breeze and considering the breadth of beta and RC testing, there should be few bugs with installations on major systems. Nevertheless, stuff happens.

Remember, if run into problems, you can just do a clean install of Windows 7 and start the process over. In the worst of installation disaster scenarios, you could always do a clean install of your previous version of Windows.

Problems With Windows 7? originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 11:13:57.

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Windows 7 Available Starting Today

2009-10-22T14:12:02Z

Windows 7 is finally available to the public beginning today. While there have been several ways for anyone to get their hands on a beta or RC version, the final product is now available at your favorite retailer.

My Microsoft TechNet subscription (a service for IT professionals) has provided me access to the full version of Windows 7 for a while now so I've had time to fall in love with it and prepare a number of helpful guides for those of you just starting with it this week.

Here's some helpful stuff that should make getting going with Windows 7 a bit easier:

How to Perform a Windows 7 Clean Install

There are several ways to install Windows 7 but since you'll be replacing your existing operating system, a clean install is your best bet in my opinion.

Download the Latest Windows 7 Drivers

Sometimes Windows 7 won't find a piece of your hardware. No problem - most hardware manufacturers now have Windows 7 drivers available. This updated list will get you the files you need fast.

More on Windows 7:

If you've just installed Windows 7, what are your first thoughts? Do you like what you see?

Windows 7 Available Starting Today originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 14:12:02.

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Sideways Screen

2009-10-21T17:50:26Z

From lou_2010 in the PC Support Forum:

"I have XP home. My grand kids hit a key that turned my display sideways.What keys will return it to read upright again?"

Any thoughts for lou_2010? Hop on over to the forum post and give your thoughts.

Sideways Screen originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 17:50:26.

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Boots Up... After 10 Tries!

2009-10-19T09:41:58Z

From alltatuath in the PC Support Forum:

Hi there, I have a Pentium 4, 3ghz,� windows XP service pack 3, - recently it has been overheating so have cleaned fan and a friend who knows a bit about computers put a coolant on the CPU - this appears to have worked but for some reason when i boot up it can take up to 10 times to get in using safe mode then doing system restore to a date i know it was working.

Have done a RAM memory diagnostic test and it came back with no errors.

It works fine till i switch off - then when i try to switch on next day it boots up - sometimes to post and safe mode option but then it switches itself off - no input data comes up on screen like when you first turn the monitor on and its not booted up yet.

Could the monitor be the problem - the screen sometimes goes a bit jelly like - at the moment i am on it and works fine - can anyone help?

Look forward to hearing from someone.

Any ideas? Head over to alltatuath's post in the forums and help out!

Boots Up... After 10 Tries! originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 09:41:58.

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WINSRV Not Found! BSOD! Oh My!

2009-10-15T16:41:30Z

Any advice for lcrob in the PC Support Forum?

"Please help! My computer died and a blue screen came up with black letters saying WINSRV NOT FOUND, REINSTALLING MAY FIX THE PROBLEM. I do not know what� WINSRV means. Thanks for any info."

Head on over and see if you can help.

WINSRV Not Found! BSOD! Oh My! originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 16:41:30.

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Free Copy of ZoneAlarm Pro 2010 - Today ONLY!

2009-10-13T14:13:15Z

OK, for 24 hours, and it started at 6 a.m. PST today.

ZoneAlarm is a good firewall - even the free "Basic" version.

I guess it's an early Halloween gift from ZoneAlarm. Read all about it in a blog post today by About.com's Guide to Antivirus Software, Mary Landesman:

http://antivirus.about.com/b/2009/10/13/dont-forget-free-copy-of-zonealarm-pro-2010.htm

Note: Here's the most important part of the small print on this deal: 1) it's only available for free in this 24 hour period and 2) the license is valid for one year only. The good thing is that you can use this free one year license on up to three PCs.

Free Copy of ZoneAlarm Pro 2010 - Today ONLY! originally appeared on About.com Focus on PC Support on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 14:13:15.

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