Daughters laptop bu@@ered

[diplomaticdanny]

Anyone know anywhere good in Southampton to get a laptop repaired. Have got quotes from a couple of independent shops of £70ish to wipe clean and start again. Don't mind spending the money but how do you know who's good and who's bad.

Laptop is running very, very slow, has lost wireless icon and capabillity, connects to the internet through cable only. Laptop is two years old, should I just buy a new one.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

Danny

 

[Dickieboy]

Aside from the wireless connection it sounds like it just needs a bit of cleaning and virus checking.

To turn the wireless back on you either have a separate switch somewhere or you need to use a function command, have a look at the 'F' keys along the top of the keyboard, I think it can either be be the F2 or F5 key on most lapTs, just hold down the 'fn' key usually situated near bottom left of keyboard and then tap the appropriate key.

Download and install the Microsoft Security essentials

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/?mkt=en-us

Once you've successfully installed that uninstall whatever other anti-virus you have especially if it's Norton anti virus.

Download and install CCleaner from here -

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/standard

Run the 'Cleaner, and delete anything and every thing it finds, you might have to run it more than once on first installation.

Check for spyware/malware using Superantispyware - Free version

http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

All above software is free

Edit:

If your running Win Vista get yourself a copy of Widows 7 and complete a 'new' installation yourself it really is very simple to do and will only cost you about £40 if you buy before the VAT increase.

http://www.software4students.co.uk/...fessional_32_bit_Upgrade_Edition-details.aspx

 

[scud]

Anyone know anywhere good in Southampton to get a laptop repaired. Have got quotes from a couple of independent shops of £70ish to wipe clean and start again. Don't mind spending the money but how do you know who's good and who's bad.

Laptop is running very, very slow, has lost wireless icon and capabillity, connects to the internet through cable only. Laptop is two years old, should I just buy a new one.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

Danny

Daughters + internet = free toolbars

toolbars + windows browsers = bl**dy pain in the ar*e

Stop and Uninstall ALL the add on browser toolbars and various "aids" such as live searching etc they claim to make life simpler! (remember to check each of the internet browsers you have on the laptop)

All of the computers I have "fixed" in the last 6 months that had "slow" or internet related problems were sorted once all the freebie toolbars were removed....

They're horrible and cause all sorts of problems...

 

[Monsieur]

Daughters + internet = free toolbars

toolbars + windows browsers = bl**dy pain in the ar*e

Stop and Uninstall ALL the add on browser toolbars and various "aids" such as live searching etc they claim to make life simpler! (remember to check each of the internet browsers you have on the laptop)

All of the computers I have "fixed" in the last 6 months that had "slow" or internet related problems were sorted once all the freebie toolbars were removed....

They're horrible and cause all sorts of problems...

What is the best way to do this - is it as simple as going to uninstall programmes?

 

[scud]

What is the best way to do this - is it as simple as going to uninstall programmes?

firstly, open the internet browser - do this for each you have (chrome, IE, firefox) and uninstall any toolbars..... a quick google search gave these...

firefox/chrome...
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_toolbars

IE
http://ask-leo.com/toolbars_in_internet_explorer_how_do_i_get_rid_of_them.html


After you've stopped whatever you can (using the above), close your browser and got to the uninstall feature in the control panel and go through the list of programs uninstalling anything that refers to "toolbar".

Then check the START/PROGRAMS for the same

You may have to restart your computer once or twice, but then open your browser and check your toolbars have been uninstalled.

remember to check through your browser settings to change them back to "normal" if necessary (such as the search facility)

Once removed, you should notice a big difference....

REMEMBER......... Tell everyone who uses the internet, that whenever something is next downloaded and installed, when a box appears offering to install "extra features for free" such as toolbars and search preferences, UNTICK the box next to it all!!!!! Even AVG Free is at it now!

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Thanks for all the replies, have done most and it is much faster now, wireless still doesn't work, I think the physical switch on the front of the laptop is knackered as it doesn't change when slid from one side to the other.

 

[scud]

Thanks for all the replies, have done most and it is much faster now, wireless still doesn't work, I think the physical switch on the front of the laptop is knackered as it doesn't change when slid from one side to the other.

well, you've saved yourself £70 - a wipe clean and reinstall won't fix a broken switch!

 

[franco]

Thanks for all the replies, have done most and it is much faster now, wireless still doesn't work, I think the physical switch on the front of the laptop is knackered as it doesn't change when slid from one side to the other.

You didn't say what operating system you were using, but if we assume XP, click on the windows start icon>settings>network connections then select the wireless icon.
Is it enabled? Try disable/re-enable, then you can right click on it, and check available networks. If it doesn't see any...errr I'll have a think about it.

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Using Windows Vista, have now tried swapping wireless cards from another laptop, didn't work, laptop still doesn't recognise wireless.

 

[Dickieboy]

Using Windows Vista, have now tried swapping wireless cards from another laptop, didn't work, laptop still doesn't recognise wireless.

If you don't want to spend money on a new laptop just get a USB wireless dongle to replace the knackered card.

 

[DollyRocket]

I do some IT support for a company in Southampton. Do you want me to call in at some point to take a look - No charge as I will be in the area anyway.

 

[diplomaticdanny]

I do some IT support for a company in Southampton. Do you want me to call in at some point to take a look - No charge as I will be in the area anyway.

Cracking offer, will pm my contact details, thanks.

Danny

 

[DollyRocket]

I will give u a call when I know that I will be in the area - possibly one evening next week.