Decided To Get Brave and Remove Cover to HP Desktop (monitor, icon)

[scarmig]

Though you've already got it in for repair... you don't need a techie friend to burn a linux CD. Just someone with an internet connection, and a working computer with a CD burner and some CD burning software such as Nero.

Good luck on the repair. $195 to run an install sounds like robbery to me, so I would certainly milk him for every question, configuration, and tweak you can think of over the next few months.

[thrillobyte]

Originally Posted by scarmig

Though you've already got it in for repair... you don't need a techie friend to burn a linux CD. Just someone with an internet connection, and a working computer with a CD burner and some CD burning software such as Nero.

Good luck on the repair. $195 to run an install sounds like robbery to me, so I would certainly milk him for every question, configuration, and tweak you can think of over the next few months.

Yeah, I hear ya but even my DVD driver is not operating now, though I sacrificed it because I just don't play DVD's so no big deal for me. I just want to be able to surf and play YouTube w/o seeing that *&^%$ blue screen, I'm so sick of it. (smilie for big scream needed here)

$195 is steep but I'm behind the 8-ball. It's either that or buy a new computer for minimum $500 base with tax, bloatware removal, disposal fees (Cali) extended warranty, etc bringing grand total to over $650. Next time I'll seriously consider having one custom built by a reputable company. He offered me that option for $700 but I wasn't ready to commit that much $$$ and I wasn't sure what configurations he was offering me. I won't do it except on the recommendation of a good company by one of you good people on this forum.

[Ninjahedge]

Actually Thrill, you can get the old line surplus Dells for less if you are not looking for Power.

It sounds kinda like your memory might be overheating. Hows the dust in your machine? Did you unclip the memory, blow the connections out and re-seat it? Is the fam on the CPU loose (just wiggle it a little bit, it should NOT move by itself!).

As for Antivir? Try Avira Antivir (the red umbrella). Works pretty well. Norton is a waste of $$ and bogs everything down. Malware Bytes is also handy for pesky programs, and Spybot Search and Destroy is handy as well.

Getting a BSOD is usually not an HD problem.HD problems usually have a nasty mechanical "clunk clunk clunk" sound and then a freeze of the system. It usually does not alloy you to reboot.

As for BIOS, when your machine first boots, texxt usually pops up on the screen. Look for anything saying "Press F#" (F3, Shift-F8, each motherboard has its own way in), that will get you a menu into the boards operating system. If you have problems with THAT, it is definitely NOT the HD!!!!.

Well, whatever happens, GL! And remember, keep the heap. You can always fiddle with it later when it DOESN'T matter and learn a bit more about the machine!

[knoxgarden]

Sorry I steered you wrong on the latches.
I was reading too fast. My main computer case has latches that remove the box that holds 4 hard drives.
Two directions I would recommend from experience:
1. Go to Mwave.com, select the parts you want and have them put it together for you for an additional $79. They do an excellent job.

2. If you want something simple, get an IBM/Lenovo refurb. I've got one I bought when my big computer hard drive burned up and took the MB with it.
Paid $179 for it from Tigerdirect.com.
Came with no bloatware at all, not even AOL. Nothing in it but XP Pro and some very useful IBM restore software and tools.
I got it out of the box, plugged it in and it started right up. I've been using it for two years while I get my other one back together and it's never crashed on me, even when running lots of Adobe design apps at the same time.
I'd highly recommend one. I've become quite fond of it.
It's not the latest and greatest but it sure does work good. I added a Firewire card, a modem, a DVD drive and some memory. No problem with any of it.
Lenovo Refurbished Desktops at TigerDirect.com
I'd heard bad things in the past about Tigerdirect but I had no problem with them.
Or you can buy direct from Lenovo
Lenovo Outlet - Home page
For the price, they're solid little computers. I don't do gaming and things like that.

[rubber_factory]

I'm confused as to why you are replacing the hard drive. If I had to take a shot in the dark I would say it was a memory problem.

It is hard to know without a very detailed explanation of the problem, when it happens, and how it happens.

[thrillobyte]

Thanks, everyone for your helpful advice.

Update: I got the computer back. He tested it for me and it seems to work great now, really fast. He said the memory sticks were fine (3 gigs); he couldn't fix my bios but said that because my DDRM is only 3 gigs and not four it wouldn't be a problem ; he installed a new HD; he got the DVD drive running again at no extra charge; he re-downloaded Vista again, this time w/o all the bloatware and unnecessary extras (I wanted XP but that would have been extra); he put in a few additionals like Acrobat, (I don't have the desktop in front of me so I can't read the icons) all for $270. If I get a few years use out of it I'll feel it was worth it. Now all I need to do is find a good home security program. I'm deciding between BitDefender and Kaspersky--both came in No. 1 & 2 respectively in the antivirus software review top 10:

http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

[Ninjahedge]

Go Avira Antivir.

Free and great. Also get Malware Bytes and Spybot Search and Destroy.

GL!

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by thrillobyte

Thanks, everyone for your helpful advice.

Update: I got the computer back. He tested it for me and it seems to work great now, really fast. He said the memory sticks were fine (3 gigs); he couldn't fix my bios but said that because my DDRM is only 3 gigs and not four it wouldn't be a problem ; he installed a new HD; he got the DVD drive running again at no extra charge; he re-downloaded Vista again, this time w/o all the bloatware and unnecessary extras (I wanted XP but that would have been extra); he put in a few additionals like Acrobat, (I don't have the desktop in front of me so I can't read the icons) all for $270. If I get a few years use out of it I'll feel it was worth it. Now all I need to do is find a good home security program. I'm deciding between BitDefender and Kaspersky--both came in No. 1 & 2 respectively in the antivirus software review top 10:

AntiVirus Software Review 2009 - TopTenREVIEWS

I would not buy a security suite.

I do not think there is that much difference between the AV programs in terms of virus protection.

I would choose a free one from the following:

Avast
AVG
Microsoft Live Essentials

If you are behind a router with a firewall, I think the firewall builtin to XP or Vista is good enough.

I like Spybot too.

[rubber_factory]

Antivirus software is, to me, one of life's great mysteries.

Why do people purchase it?

It slows your computer down, it does not prevent viruses, and it does not clean up viruses if you get one.

[Ninjahedge]

It does prevent viruses if you get the right one.

Between definitions of known ones, and heuristic scans/monitoring of possible patterns, it can give you warnings about malicious scripts on web pages or other things.

If you get the right one, it really does not slow your machine down!