Urgent Help need Young man not a techie

Jake'sGran

My lovely young neighbour has just told me that he has not been able to use his computer for a while. I'd be immensely grateful, if someone can tell me what is wrong. This is what he said -

He has been in the habit of turning off his computer and unplugging everything every time he had finished a session (he is on dial up). Now when he turns it on he gets the Windows Logo and the taskbar starts and halfway along it stops, the screen goes black and there is a lot of white writing.

Has he caused this by unplugging all the time? He has tried clicking Ctrl/Alt./Delete and it makes no difference. Will it be simple to put right or is it a job for the people at computer shop?

I'd love to be able to help him as he is not yet working and money will be short as his Dad died suddenly not long ago.

albertross_2

suggest trying safe mode (F8 at boot up), if that works try a start, run, chkdsk c: /F

then reboot

switching off without shutting down first is not a good idea.

more details of the white writing may help diagnosis.

Conor_3

Tell him to take it to a shop or ring someone in the paper. You've not got the ability to help him or explain it to us enough and there is a plethora of things that can be the cause.

PasturesNew

Conor wrote: »

Tell him to take it to a shop or ring someone in the paper. You've not got the ability to help him or explain it to us enough and there is a plethora of things that can be the cause.

Best advice ever.

Alias_Omega

or F8, boot in safe mode.

Then system restore to an earlier date.

probably needs computer shop help though.

unrich

As long as you tell the computer to shutdown before you switch the power off and unplug no damage should be caused.

Just switching off/yanking the plug while the PC is still on can cause an early demise.

Some say you get more reliability from leaving a PC on but I think now that hard disks are so cheap any saving is marginal against the environmental considerations.

Conor_3

TBH, there's no conclusive proof either way and it's an argument that'll carry on in perpetuity.

OTOH, there's some convincing arguments for using "Sleep" mode regarding saving power. Shame that waking up from sleep mode is where many device drivers fall over.

Jake'sGran

I have not yet given any info to the young man concerned but I will tell him what Albertross and Alias have said. I always turn off my computer properly but never unplug it. I have been helped by doing system restore from time to time. With regards to Conor's post I thought it was obvious I could not help him or I would not have asked for help on here. Some people are a tad superior with their comments.

johnmc

Why not invite jnr round and let him answer the questions himself?

If he feels he can have-a-go at fixing it then better that we can "have-a-go" at him first ;-)


Must admit I was expecting something else from "Jake's Gran" who "needs a young man". Ah-hem!

msmicawber

Ah hem, swiftly trying to raise the tone again ... !

Hi Jake's Gran,

Does the white writing on the black DOS screen move too quickly to read? If not, it would be wortwhile noting down the last few entries to give an idea of where the PC is floundering. If you then post the results on here, we could see if we can find an easy solution.

Jake'sGran

To Johnmc, I have my own young men thanks very much (grandsons) and one takes size 11 shoes is over 6ft and on only 16. The other has not long since broke a UK weightlifting record for under 17s (he is 13)...so watch what you say:D

Back to my next door young man I don't think there is any point in asking him round as he will refuse and he has not invited me to see his computer but, as has been said, I won't know how to fix it except for trying the helpful suggestions here. To msmicawber, thank you. I don't know what the words on the screen are but I will see him tomorrow hopefully and give him printed copies of the good responses I have had. He only uses his computer to look at cars, the one thing that really interests him. He has a beautiful personality but will never be a techie and said he did not understand the questions I was asking about his computer.