Laptop Problems

[moonjiver]

Well, I am gratified with the helpful responses about my laptop problems, so here goes with the nub – I’m sure some others will empathise with this. The fact is that older people don’t tend to be computer wizards – few of my friends are good on computers and most don’t even own one! I’m actually considered a bit freaky .. Also I live on my own and for a while I had to side-track to deal with some health issues. So it’s been hard to keep up with the technology or to know where to discuss issues, get advice from others etc. I do now have time to try a course and maybe that should be my road ahead ..

So when I do start connecting to the internet, I am afraid that I don’t feel I have the knowledge or the confidence to do it without some help. I am aware of the abysmal way that some ISPs treat their customers, unfulfilled promises about download speeds etc. But I will also need some help with installing security and other software – my laptop has Open Office which I dislike intensely and which seems to have compatability issues.

Specifically on my computer: last year, I bought a recon. HP (with Windows 7) from a well-known Hastings shop. But a string of problems - the CD/DVD writer did not work at all at first, then after some fiddling it did start working, grinding horribly into action like one of those trams moving off down the rails on Blackpool prom (I found that tipping up one end of the laptop helped!). After I had managed to burn some of my folders to CD, the laptop suddenly started insisting that the CDs be formatted (and the option to name the CD disappeared!). Disc formatting takes nearly ten minutes, sometimes fails, the laptop is often unable to write to CDs (or to read them afterwards), two of my CDs seemed to get corrupted during burning and had to be discarded .. Some of my files can no longer be read.

Also some USB ports did not work at first and the laptop could not open the image gallery on my smartphone. I also have some dire messages coming up about "Your Windows activation period has expired" and "This copy of Windows is not genuine"! Presumably this is just nagging me to connect online and start getting updates ...

Obviously I am wary at the moment about giving away more money to shops, but I have been quite unable to find independent advice, find someone who could look at the computer and tell me whether it’s any good.

Sorry for the long message and I’m sure some of this will come over as a bit dumb to the boffins, but if anyone wants to comment it will be very gratefully received.

[Richard]

Hiya moonjiver,

I don't claim any skills at repair or anything but I would comment as follows:

If it was my situation I would first get a connection to the internet sorted out.
It's not 'rocket-science' and once set up you should be ok.
don't worry about download speeds unless your job depends on it and the basics will do I think. You can download free antivirus like "AVG"

Then try to work around your annoying Laptop problems - you can upload folders/files to the internet (Cloud storage) for backups if that is your requirement.
Google and Yahoo offer lots of free space.

Laptops (IMO) are more difficult to repair than desktop PC's and the latter are cheap to buy, but I think you probably want mobile computing.
There are plenty of other mobile computing options available and someone else can point these out.

[Geoff]

Hi Moonjiva

I used to run a PC repair business some 15 years ago before getting more involved in the internet side of things. Although I haven't been at the forefront of technology for some years, I can hopefully give you a bit of advice from a savvy user.

I have covered connecting to the internet for the first time as a separate thread so please see ... for advice.

Regarding the laptop issues, as Richard mentioned a desktop computer is always going to be easier to repair and upgrade so I would advise everyone to get one of these if it's not essential to be mobile. Laptops are quite specific to their brand and spares can get expensive. But if you need mobile computing then stick with the laptop.

The CD drive sounds fudged, what is the model number of your laptop? I will look into prices on getting you a replacement. Then you can take the laptop along with the new drive to a computer shop and ask them to fit it (unless you fancy messing around with very small screwdrivers). Getting the drive yourself will save quite a bit on asking the computer shop to get one.

Ref the Genuine Windows message, are you sure your Windows is genuine? I guess only connecting to the internet will tell.

[moonjiver]

Thanks to all for the help and sorry for my delayed response. Had to spend two days sorting out email log-in problems after Yahoo received a concerted attack the other week! I'm in the process of switching to Gmail - seems to be much more reliable and secure.

I reckon I need to be sure the laptop is working ok before I connect to internet, in case I have to start again .. I was hoping someone might recognise the possible faults with the CD drive which I listed, I can hardly think that two of my brand new CDs were duds .. However, some info about prices of replacement drives would be very useful, if it turns out that is what is needed. I have an HP G62, seems pretty modern, 3GB, 320GB, with Windows 7.1. I bought it from a Hastings shop but, because I thought the problems were due to my inexperience, I didn't take it back - now it's long past the 3 month's guarantee. I'm not sure I should ask this but .. do you think I should still take it back and argue with them?! Maybe I should try to get an independent opinion first ..

[Geoff]

CD/DVD drive for G62 on ebay for £7.80 with free delivery. Go for it!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/161349875296?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

[moonjiver]

Well, thanks very much for the info and I may well have to down that route later.

However, the basic problem remains as I set out before, I have already given almost £300 to a Queens Road shop for a laptop which has a string of problems - it seems to corrupt my files, even my CDs, and the version of Windows 7 on there may not be authentic! I dare not risk going to another repair shop until I can get some independent and totally honest advice about this laptop - that I have found extremely hard to achieve and hence unfortunately the laptop has sat in a cupboard for months.

I know that KC Computers have a good reputation (although a bit expensive). Some other computer shop seem more dubious - one atleast is run by people who have little understanding of the technology and I think repairs are done by other people!

As I say, having been stung once, rightly or wrongly I'm very wary about where I should go next to get this sorted.

[Geoff]

Do you have a friend or colleague with wireless internet at their home? Take the laptop round their place and connect to the internet using their wireless router. This is the only way you will tell if Windows is genuine as it can't check itself without connection to microsoft.

It is impossible to corrupt an existing CD without physically damaging it. If you mean it's corrupting them as it burns them then this is quite possible. Is this happening with all brands of disc?

As far as taking it back to the Queens Road shop goes, I think you've left it too long. Worth a try but don't bank on getting the response you want.

[moonjiver]

I'm aware that I have been a bit demanding here, I'm sorry! However, I appreciate all the advice which has come back, it has of course been very frustrating to throw money and time at trying to get a computer set up and not making much progress.

In the process of copying files and photos from a memory stick to CDs, at first the CD drive didn't work at all, then only very noisily and after several attempts. I used a pack of brand new TDK CDs but two of them "could not be read" afterwards by the computer and I had to throw them out and start again. Of the files which I managed to copy to CD, two likewise can no longer be read. Several other irritating problems ..

I bought this laptop because it had Windows 7 (not a big advance on XP and I didn't really like the look of Windows 8). I also bought a copy of MS Office intending to install that in replacement for the existing Open Office which I hate. However, I am wondering whether maybe I should swallow hard, cut my losses and start again - get a new computer and just grapple with learning Windows 8. Atleast presumably I'd get a computer which actually worked, plus a year's guarantee!

[moonjiver]

Oh, to answer your other point, unfortunately I don't have friends/colleagues with computers, that's part of my problem. Well, one friend who owns one, she just about knows how to type a letter! So far as I know, she doesn't have Wi-Fi set up.

[Geoff]

Okay, last resorts, let me borrow the laptop, I will connect it to the internet here and check your windows validity.

I can also test the CD drive for you (but if it's making weird noises it doesn't sound too promising).

No point buying a new computer if we can fix this with an £8 drive off ebay.