Computer and backup disc problems

Linbox

catalina66 wrote: »

Hi Linbox, not sure if I'm having a dozy moment ... snore ... but what's VM, and is the download an XP patch that works with Dell Dimension, that I can make a disk of? Not sure what I'm downloading. Okay to have a link to the page the download is from. Maximum instructions, minimum wreckage potential, with me! Cheers, Cat :beer:

A VM is a Virtual Machine or an image http://www.djinnsplace.co.uk/vm.html
I can (and do) run several diferent Linux OS on my Winblows machine I also run a few XP VM's so that I can test stuff. - quite useful for time limeted stuff. or stuff you have down loaded and are suspect.
AutoPatcher downloads all windows issued (XP or Office) updates - it allows you to put all the patches together on a CD and update any (many) PC gives you the option to install aditional items or not install some windows updates as required.

catalina66

Many thanks for further responses. Get it now!

BUT ... the problems are slowly munching their way through the whole drive [no virus] ... as closed down machine, windows tried to install millions of updates. When booted up the next day, machine just about wrecked, stuff lost from the drive. Have contacted Dell again about replacement XP disk for emergency format I can't do until it arrives! ... all emails lost, so had to submit new request!

In the meantime, apart from spending my time nutting the screen occasionally, I can't back up tutorial videos as got no dvd-writer, so am wondering where the cheapest, internal or external, can be found, for the Dimension Desktop 1100. Had a look around to see if it first is possible to fit/use another company's one [Dell don't sell writers, yes?]; seems can fit/use as far as I can see, and so far noticed cheap pack on Novatech.

Cheers, Cat :beer:

Donnie

You can take a look here: Play.

Any, apart from the SATA drives, should be fine.

catalina66

Donnie wrote: »

You can take a look here: Play.

Any, apart from the SATA drives, should be fine.

Donnie, you are a star :beer: . Thanks for the link. I'm thinking the

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/672/879/-/3499237/Hewlett-Packard-DVD1040i-B-20x-Internal-IDE-Lightscribe-DVDRW-Drive-With-Nero-Software-Black/Product.html?searchtype=genre#151260

looks ideal. Just checking ... it'll be fine to fit in the Dimension Desktop 1100? Found some instructions on Dell site, and when mooching about around the web saw someone had clarified them too. Just making absolutely sure!

Many thanks, Cat

catalina66

catalina66 wrote: »

Donnie, you are a star :beer: . Thanks for the link. I'm thinking the

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/672/879/-/3499237/Hewlett-Packard-DVD1040i-B-20x-Internal-IDE-Lightscribe-DVDRW-Drive-With-Nero-Software-Black/Product.html?searchtype=genre#151260

looks ideal. Just checking ... it'll be fine to fit in the Dimension Desktop 1100? Found some instructions on Dell site, and when mooching about around the web saw someone had clarified them too. Just making absolutely sure!

Many thanks, Cat

Hiya, just bumping it up to check if the drive linked to will definitely be okay in machine. Wanting to order it Wednesday, so just to check. Cheers, Cat :-)

Donnie

Yes, an IDE drive is what you need; Dell Dimension 1100 specs

catalina66

Donnie wrote: »

Yes, an IDE drive is what you need; Dell Dimension 1100 specs

Total star; thanks Donnie. Will look forward to ordering it Wednesday, getting everything backed up, then a nice clean machine as the replacement disks will have arrived from Dell by then too ... them great; sent them free and by post. No need to wait in for courier as before. Much appreciate advice.

Cheers, :beer:

catalina66

Me again! Picking writer up from depot tomorrow, but computer is showing more errors today which I'm thinking will stop me backing up any videos. It's on 100% CPU usage all the time. Wouldn't play sound; had to reinstall driver, which turned sound system on, rebooted, working, but is still crawling, takes forever to get Word to open and isn't printing now. Ran Adaware [51 killed]. vsmon and iexplore showing a lot of usage in Task Manager. Unusually high. Got a game running which is only taking up 15,300, but always everything runs fine with a game running. Even typing this it's stopping and starting. Driving me nuts. Would much appreciate advice. Cheers, Cat

Donnie

If you are just backing up, disconnect from the Internet and uninstall all of your unneeded programs. i.e Zone Alarm.

If you want to check for Trojans before backing up, you can download Trojan Hunter, maybe using another computer and downloading it to a USB drive and then installing it to the Dell.

You can do the same for Viruses by downloading; Kaspersky Anti-Virus

catalina66

Donnie wrote: »

If you are just backing up, disconnect from the Internet and uninstall all of your unneeded programs. i.e Zone Alarm.

If you want to check for Trojans before backing up, you can download Trojan Hunter, maybe using another computer and downloading it to a USB drive and then installing it to the Dell.

You can do the same for Viruses by downloading; Kaspersky Anti-Virus

Many thanks Donnie :beer: Hadn't crossed my mind about not needing to be connected to the internet! Will run the trojan hunter and check out Kaspersky. Many thanks, Cat