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Hardware and Windows Vista Hardware issues in relation to Windows Vista. (microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices) |
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Serious Hardware or OS Problem?
Thanks to all for your educated advice and opinions. I am placing an order
for a new replacement computer but will continue to diagnose the dirty one. I don't think acid water got into it, but as mentioned earlier there was a substantial amount of soot. I will clean the add-on circuit boards and install them in the replacement computer and I think that I'll be able to get the data from the hard drives of the burned one. I almost wish that I was not getting the tease of a familiar boot and desktop. After I get the new computer up and my data off, I'll continue to look for a utility that can at least determine if the problems that I'm seeing are Windows or hardware related. I may be able to use the damaged one as a backed-up spare for non-essential work. "RalfG" wrote: It really depends on what degree of exposure the computer and peripherals had. If any circuitry got wet you might as well trash those parts. Smoke contaminated water is highly acidic and any circuitry that was exposed to it can corrode very quickly. If you can save your data off of the harddrive (onto another PC) you'll have got off lucky. Anything saved beyond that is a bonus. IMO of course. "Lee Beck" wrote in message ... That response could go to every post here. What I'm trying for is to diagnose the major problem myself, with the help of expertise from the newsgroup community. The computer is a Dell Dimension E510, which I paid about 1000 for a couple of years ago. I'm hoping that I won't need to trash it. I'll try to figure out how bad it is first. If I determine, with the help of whatever I learn from forums such as this, that the hardware is seriously compromised, I'll replace it. However, it may be a software (Windows) problem that can be repaired with the right care. An added advantage to self-diagnosis is that I get smarter. If I take it to a technician I'm out the lost time to deliver/pickup and whatever expense to diagnose and fix it. And I still have a questionable computer. "Colin Barnhorst" wrote: Take it to a technician. "Lee Beck" wrote in message ... I rescued my computer from a house fire. I was pleased that after cleaning it up it recognized my drives. I had to move and get a new DSL carrier, so I got a new gateway from them and also replaced my mouse and keyboard. The first problem that I encountered was that I could not get the setup.exe file to activate for the MSFT hardware CD, but I did get the mouse/keyboard working (w/o the MSFT software on the CD). Next, I figured that I'd connect to the Internet. My computer did recognize the setup executable on the setup CD and I was able to begin installing the gateway modem. On the step where I installed the Ethernet cable my computer crashed and shut sown. I have been able to reboot, but am experiencing all sorts of problems never experienced before like not able to access Control Panel or System Restore. Also, I was never able to connect the modem to the computer (I’m working from my notebook computer now). Because my computer is acting so strange, I clicked on My Computer. The information bar at the bottom shows the correct microprocessor and memory. But if I right-click on Properties the window returns Processor: Not Available; Memory (RAM): Not Available; Computer Description: Not Available. My Vista install CD was destroyed in the fire, so I can’t do a repair from that (if needed). At this point, I’m just trying to diagnose the big question – is my computer ruined or is my OS terribly out of whack (maybe from the aborted/botched installations)? Is there some way to do this? I have MS OneCare that initially worked (I turned off the firewall to try the DSL install) but now isn’t accessible. Any help is appreciated. Thanks |
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Serious Hardware or OS Problem?
This response is extremely unhelpful! Colin Barnhorst;666075 Wrote: Take it to a technician. "Lee Beck" LeeBeck@xxxxxx wrote in message news:14912F10-BB38-4232-9917-C1EF2C5F5140@xxxxxx I rescued my computer from a house fire. I was pleased that after cleaning it up it recognized my drives. I had to move and get a new DSL carrier, so I got a new gateway from them and also replaced my mouse and keyboard. The first problem that I encountered was that I could not get the setup.exe file to activate for the MSFT hardware CD, but I did get the mouse/keyboard working (w/o the MSFT software on the CD). Next, I figured that I'd connect to the Internet. My computer did recognize the setup executable on the setup CD and I was able to begin installing the gateway modem. On the step where I installed the Ethernet cable my computer crashed and shut sown. I have been able to reboot, but am experiencing all sorts of problems never experienced before like not able to access Control Panel or System Restore. Also, I was never able to connect the modem to the computer (I’m working from my notebook computer now). Because my computer is acting so strange, I clicked on My Computer. The information bar at the bottom shows the correct microprocessor and memory. But if I right-click on Properties the window returns Processor: Not Available; Memory (RAM): Not Available; Computer Description: Not Available. My Vista install CD was destroyed in the fire, so I can’t do a repair from that (if needed). At this point, I’m just trying to diagnose the big question – is my computer ruined or is my OS terribly out of whack (maybe from the aborted/botched installations)? Is there some way to do this? I have MS OneCare that initially worked (I turned off the firewall to try the DSL install) but now isn’t accessible. Any help is appreciated. Thanks -- hyla |
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Serious Hardware or OS Problem?
Use of any electrical product following exposure to a fire is very risky to
the user. Only a qualified technician can determine its safety. "hyla" wrote in message ... This response is extremely unhelpful! Colin Barnhorst;666075 Wrote: Take it to a technician. "Lee Beck" LeeBeck@xxxxxx wrote in message news:14912F10-BB38-4232-9917-C1EF2C5F5140@xxxxxx I rescued my computer from a house fire. I was pleased that after cleaning it up it recognized my drives. I had to move and get a new DSL carrier, so I got a new gateway from them and also replaced my mouse and keyboard. The first problem that I encountered was that I could not get the setup.exe file to activate for the MSFT hardware CD, but I did get the mouse/keyboard working (w/o the MSFT software on the CD). Next, I figured that I'd connect to the Internet. My computer did recognize the setup executable on the setup CD and I was able to begin installing the gateway modem. On the step where I installed the Ethernet cable my computer crashed and shut sown. I have been able to reboot, but am experiencing all sorts of problems never experienced before like not able to access Control Panel or System Restore. Also, I was never able to connect the modem to the computer (Iâ?Tm working from my notebook computer now). Because my computer is acting so strange, I clicked on My Computer. The information bar at the bottom shows the correct microprocessor and memory. But if I right-click on Properties the window returns Processor: Not Available; Memory (RAM): Not Available; Computer Description: Not Available. My Vista install CD was destroyed in the fire, so I canâ?Tt do a repair from that (if needed). At this point, Iâ?Tm just trying to diagnose the big question â?" is my computer ruined or is my OS terribly out of whack (maybe from the aborted/botched installations)? Is there some way to do this? I have MS OneCare that initially worked (I turned off the firewall to try the DSL install) but now isnâ?Tt accessible. Any help is appreciated. Thanks -- hyla |
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