The Computer Thread

[Joey Lock]

I was looking around and I could find no Computer thread.

I would like this thread to discuss and Computer problems or questions. Or genreal discussion on PC upgrades e.t.c.

Now, Im a games fan. But sadly early this year I found I had alot of Viruses once I bought Norton 360 for a year and Im pretty sure the viruses did there last toll of damage just before they were deleted because since then there have been alot of errors. First and formost, My Internet Browsers, All of them, do not work. No browser based program's work. Steam store doesn't load as it runs on browser base e.t.c. Anyone got any ideas? Ive seen the usual ideas:

1. Have you turned off your Firewall?

2. Have you ran a scan?

3. Have you searched?

And so on. Second problem is my Steam games, I try to load a Day of Defeat server and when I look in the console it says

"Missing map cp_badlands" which happens to be a Team Fortress 2 map, so some files are messed. But luckily, Steam and steam games work, which is my love. I only use the main PC for games now, for its the only things that work. Im using my brothers OLD laptop to post, which is extremely slow. Anywho to the big question.

My dad said he checked everywhere for the Internet browser problem and everyone online had diffrent results, diffrent errors and diffrent solutions. The main problem that came up was something to do with Registry and command consoles which seem a bit long winded. So my dad said (Months ago) "We will do a system rebuild."

Still hasn't got around to doing it. But I asked him whether we can rebuild too Windows 7 and hopefully we can. But I just finished installing a THQ Pack (Games) on Steam and it took me hours because they are quite big and I really don't want to have to spend days re-installing everything to my PC but I guess I have to.

So I thought, If I am going to do a System Rebuild, I might aswell rebuild some PC components. So I thought I might aswell buy a bigger Hard-drive than my current 290GB or so Hard Drive which is nearly full, But with the System rebuild, do you completely wipe off everything to a External hard-drive? (I have a 1 Terrabyte External hard-drive)

If so a new fresh Hard-drive sounds like a good idea. Also I was thinking of trying out 4-8GB of ram, for the complete experiance, mabye a good graphics card and finally, get a spare LCD TV from downstairs and use it as a massive PC screen, but will the screen strecth enough or will it show up as a small box in the middle of the big TV screen?

Any Ideas?

Discuss your own problems or thoughts too!

[prateek]

I use Comodo firewall, but I do like Norton better. I guess I'm just more familiar to Norton. BTW is Windows 7 any good?

[CP5670]

So I thought, If I am going to do a System Rebuild, I might aswell rebuild some PC components. So I thought I might aswell buy a bigger Hard-drive than my current 290GB or so Hard Drive which is nearly full, But with the System rebuild, do you completely wipe off everything to a External hard-drive? (I have a 1 Terrabyte External hard-drive)

If so a new fresh Hard-drive sounds like a good idea. Also I was thinking of trying out 4-8GB of ram, for the complete experiance, mabye a good graphics card and finally, get a spare LCD TV from downstairs and use it as a massive PC screen, but will the screen strecth enough or will it show up as a small box in the middle of the big TV screen?

You don't need to format the drive, unless you suspect a virus took over a lot of stuff other than the OS.

4GB should be enough unless you have some specific, non-gaming use for more. I don't know of any game that uses more than 2GB by itself.

As for widescreen support, it depends on the game, but almost all games from the last 3 or 4 years will support it properly (i.e. having the image fill up the screen without any stretching, and with an appropriate FOV).

[Big Cam]

I haven't used any type of Norton or Mcaffe or any security setup in over 5 years. Iif your careful where you go and do manual sweeps with a program like ad-aware, or spybot. You can keep your computer clean on your own, and I download, music, movies and software from time to time. The Norton type software is just a waste of money. It desn't o anythgin you can't do and it costs $50 every year.

As for your problem, just reload windows. Start fresh. I've done it 3 times in the 7 years i've owned my computer.

[Siegfried]

I haven't used any type of Norton or Mcaffe or any security setup in over 5 years. Iif your careful where you go and do manual sweeps with a program like ad-aware, or spybot. You can keep your computer clean on your own, and I download, music, movies and software from time to time. The Norton type software is just a waste of money. It desn't o anythgin you can't do and it costs $50 every year.

I concur. I don't run any (free or otherwise) and I have about 5 computers in my house. The last time I did was Norton 95! I was so pissed off that it refused to run on Win98 even when they were mostly the same I swore vengeance!

All you need is common sense, and that you can't buy. I download things like porn from time to time, and I'm trouble free. I even have installations over 5 years old that still work perfectly.

In your case however I would re-format. It's a lot faster.

[Big Cam]

I concur. I don't run any (free or otherwise) and I have about 5 computers in my house. The last time I did was Norton 95! I was so pissed off that it refused to run on Win98 even when they were mostly the same I swore vengeance!

All you need is common sense, and that you can't buy. I download things like porn from time to time, and I'm trouble free. I even have installations over 5 years old that still work perfectly.

In your case however I would re-format. It's a lot faster.

If I could cahnge titles, I'd change yours to "I concur"

Back to the topic, when I reload windows, I just save all my pictures and documents that are important to me on my external hardrive and anything else you might want later, adn then just wipe it clean. This would also be a perfect time to upgrade hardware, which in my eyes is always a good idea.

I re-read your problem and missing files sometimes just means the files have been corrupted, have you tried to re-install the game? Or is it an online game? Reloading tons and tons of software is a pain, but it really is nice to have a fresh system since it usually will run faster, plus there has to be a game or two you don't really play anymore, if you leave those out of the re-instal, your computer will run faster and it will take less time.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[Joey Lock]

Well the game is a Online game, Team Fortress 2, which has the map and Day of Defeat (made by the same company, Valve) has got mixed with the Team Fortress 2 files. I mean, I could uninstall and reinstall easy but I would lose all my map files, so I would have to spend a long while re-loading custom maps like Orange-X.

Also about the Anti-Virus, this was months ago it happened. I found a few viruses when I first got Norton in about March-July I don't remember and It could have been one of them, been on there for too long. The main folders that contained viruses were "Free MP3 Converter" sorta things. I had lots of WAV files and I couldn't work out how to convert them with Windows Media Player so I downloaded a few, they had trials so I downloaded others. Then I found out that many of them (Cnet Virus approved) had viruses. So don't trust Cnet.

@Big Cam: As in start fresh, do you mean System Rebuild or wipe everything off or what? Also, Im afraid that if my PC has a virus left on it, so deep and hidden, that if I store lots of files onto my external hard drive it would be infected?

[Big Cam]

Well the game is a Online game, Team Fortress 2, which has the map and Day of Defeat (made by the same company, Valve) has got mixed with the Team Fortress 2 files. I mean, I could uninstall and reinstall easy but I would lose all my map files, so I would have to spend a long while re-loading custom maps like Orange-X.

Also about the Anti-Virus, this was months ago it happened. I found a few viruses when I first got Norton in about March-July I don't remember and It could have been one of them, been on there for too long. The main folders that contained viruses were "Free MP3 Converter" sorta things. I had lots of WAV files and I couldn't work out how to convert them with Windows Media Player so I downloaded a few, they had trials so I downloaded others. Then I found out that many of them (Cnet Virus approved) had viruses. So don't trust Cnet.

@Big Cam: As in start fresh, do you mean System Rebuild or wipe everything off or what? Also, Im afraid that if my PC has a virus left on it, so deep and hidden, that if I store lots of files onto my external hard drive it would be infected?

What I'm referring to is reloading windows to your C drive, or primary harddrive where windows is stored. it will reformat your hard drive and absolutely everything will be lost, and it will be like opening a brand new computer witha new copy of Windows, you'll only have the features that came with your computer the day you bought it.

That's why you need to store as much as you want on an external drive. As for storing the virus on your external hard drive, it is possible, but usually viruses are hidden so saving a bunch of pictures maps, files etc, on your external usually wont copy the virus over. Virus' normally are just programs designed to run a command, or stop you from runnign a command. So they usually plant them deep in your Program Files which is on your C drive and you certainly wouldn't copy those to your external hard drive.

What I suggest is before you do a reformatting, you download alot of spyware programs and run them till your blue in the face, and run them on your external drive as well, then once you've cleared up every virus you are capable of finding, reformat your hardive and start fresh (with your external drive unplugged form your PC)

99.5% of the time this will solve any problem you're having. It can be alot of work, but if there's a virus that's just so elusive that you can't find it, it may be your "cheapest" option.

[prateek]

It desn't o anythgin you can't do and it costs $50 every year.

If you don't want to pay, just don't renew the subscription. Even if you son't it still works

[Siegfried]

Also, Im afraid that if my PC has a virus left on it, so deep and hidden, that if I store lots of files onto my external hard drive it would be infected?

It is possible, but you really don't have much choice. Some viruses do embed in image headers and the like, but these are easily detected. (Interestingly today I'm rebuilding a computer that hasn't been formatted for about 5 years... but I have a network to spread the files across so it isn't as hard.) My advice is copy across all the important data files, none of the replaceable programs (re-downloading is better than copying across a virus), wipe the system drive, re-install, then use a free virus checker (I've heard Panda is OK) on the external before running/viewing anything.

[Joey Lock]

It is possible, but you really don't have much choice. Some viruses do embed in image headers and the like, but these are easily detected. (Interestingly today I'm rebuilding a computer that hasn't been formatted for about 5 years... but I have a network to spread the files across so it isn't as hard.) My advice is copy across all the important data files, none of the replaceable programs (re-downloading is better than copying across a virus), wipe the system drive, re-install, then use a free virus checker (I've heard Panda is OK) on the external before running/viewing anything.

Luckily I don't have many pictures, mostly documents and Lego Digital Designer files. And Im guessing the viruses changed an Internet Browser command in the registry...

Yeah I might aswell uninstall Windows and buy Windows 7.

[CP5670]

Well the game is a Online game, Team Fortress 2, which has the map and Day of Defeat (made by the same company, Valve) has got mixed with the Team Fortress 2 files. I mean, I could uninstall and reinstall easy but I would lose all my map files, so I would have to spend a long while re-loading custom maps like Orange-X.

Look in your user profile folder (inside Users on Vista and 7, and Documents and Settings on XP). Most games store their custom maps, savegames, profiles, etc. either in their own folder in AppData, or in the My Documents folder.

I concur. I don't run any (free or otherwise) and I have about 5 computers in my house. The last time I did was Norton 95! I was so pissed off that it refused to run on Win98 even when they were mostly the same I swore vengeance!

I haven't used any AV program in around 15 years either. I often wonder how exactly people manage to pick up all these viruses.

[Milan]

I haven't used any AV program in around 15 years either. I often wonder how exactly people manage to pick up all these viruses.

By downloading everything from everywhere... especially with the hi speed Internet available.

Some sites are regularly filled with hidden viruses, because of their great traffic, like sites with adults content.

[Big Cam]

If you don't want to pay, just don't renew the subscription. Even if you son't it still works

If you don't want to pay you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. It doesn't work, Norton and Mcaffe can't find jack, they are very worthless programs IMO. The free ones you can get via the internet are much more effective.

[Siegfried]

(Interestingly today I'm rebuilding a computer that hasn't been formatted for about 5 years... but I have a network to spread the files across so it isn't as hard.)

On this note, here's some free advice; don't use Windows Server 2003 as a desktop, especially if you have a NVIDIA card. There goes several hours down the drain...

[prateek]

If you don't want to pay you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. It doesn't work, Norton and Mcaffe can't find jack, they are very worthless programs IMO. The free ones you can get via the internet are much more effective.

Pirated version x2

Edited December 10, 2009 by prateek

[JCC1004]

There' this site I log into and I get to my control panel. The next thing I click on it acts as if I'm not logged in. I've checked cookies and my computer accepts them from that site. I've tried logging in at someone else's computer and it works fine. I'm running on Opera Web Browser and a Windows XP. Any suggestions?

[Siegfried]

There' this site I log into and I get to my control panel.

Control panel for what?

[JCC1004]

Control panel for what?

The site's control panel to change my avatar and other options.

[Trexxen]

JCC, have you tried using Firefox? Otherwise, it seems it might be a site cache problem (basically, site doesn't save your login on that section, likely due to a glitch - it's happened to me before). If you try all the browsers you can and can't get it to work, then it's likely a site problem, as I can't think of anything on your computer that could be causing it.

My questions for you guys:

1. Is it worth it to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate?

2. Should I shell out the cash for a 1 TB external?

(Just as a note, my current system specs:

Vista 64-bit

8 GB RAM

2.5 gHz Quad-Core processor

Nvidia GeForce 9600 Video Card

750 GB HD)

3. What should be the first thing I upgrade? I'm thinking get an external and a better video card...(btw, this is a gaming comp, but it's also my main =P)

And finally, 4. What do you guys recommend for a cheap but reliable microphone? I don't want to play Left 4 Dead 2 until I can voice chat again, for obvious reasons =P

~Trexxen

[Siegfried]

The site's control panel to change my avatar and other options.

Maybe you should be asking them for help!

It sounds like a cookie issue to me. Delete the sites cookie and it should correct.

JCC, have you tried using Firefox?

Firerfox, by their own admission, is a memory hungry beast. JCC has an old computer.

1. Is it worth it to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate?

No. If you like Vista (I do) there's little reason to upgrade. Windows 7 is just like XP was to Win2K. Extra fluff and tweaks.

2. Should I shell out the cash for a 1 TB external?

No. I don't trust externals. I've lost data and I'm tired of the incompatibilities. But I do understand the need for one (I need one for my PS3 backups) so I use a Hard Drive dock instead. Similar in most ways, but it's easier to upgrade and transfer inside a computer if needed. Many externals have their own file format and it's hard to be sure until you get them home. I've returned 2 over this issue... If you must buy one most drives that claim Mac compatibility are OK. (To do Mac compatibility it's too hard to use custom drivers and formats.)

Vista 64-bit

8 GB RAM

2.5 gHz Quad-Core processor

Nvidia GeForce 9600 Video Card

750 GB HD)

3. What should be the first thing I upgrade?

Nice, especially the RAM! This is waaayy in excess of mine and as a reformed PC-gamer I've been too long out of the loop to give good advice here. I'd be happy with yours!

[JCC1004]

Firerfox, by their own admission, is a memory hungry beast. JCC has an old computer.

XP is old? Anyway it doesn't have much space. I have deleted the site's cookie's but I'll try again. I go into Tools; Advanced;Cookies;and then it takes me to cookie manager;I then delete the site's cookies;no avail. I'll try contacting them.

The site told me what you already did and told me to do "forgot password". It doesn't work.

Edited January 17, 2010 by JCC1004

[Siegfried]

XP is old?

I currently have a 9.5 downloaded. When I try to switch to 10.01 I get the missing files error. The sane thing happened when I tried to go to 10.10 from 10.01. I'd be happy just to have 10.01 back. Yes I run on windows ME.

[CP5670]

Vista 64-bit

8 GB RAM

2.5 gHz Quad-Core processor

Nvidia GeForce 9600 Video Card

750 GB HD)

3. What should be the first thing I upgrade? I'm thinking get an external and a better video card...(btw, this is a gaming comp, but it's also my main =P)

If you play games, then the video card. That card is the weak point of the system compared to everything else. ATI currently has the best cards at most price points (the 4890, 5850 and 5870 would all be worthwhile upgrades), although Nvidia is expected to bring out some competition in a few months.

Edited January 17, 2010 by CP5670

[JCC1004]

That was November. I upgraded in December. I've had enough of that thing.