The Digital Surgery (computer questions/problems here)

[Pleng]

The easiest way is to get her to download and install TeamViewer

Then you need to do the same. she gives you her 'partner id' and password and you can log in and take control

[buksida]

heating the vga chip then clean it then put tiny solder balls on the clean chip then heat and re solder hey presto!!!!!!! your black screen has gone and graphics come back

I wouldn't even attempt such an operation when you can get a graphics card for less than a grand ...

[bozzman101]

hi Buksida tis on the mother board in my laptop have been looking at guys doing it on you tube interesting if you have some equipment to do it too hard for me i would fry my mother board !!!!!!

[buksida]

Ahh, yes laptop graphics adapters are a little more expensive - I still wouldn't attempt it myself though for the same reason as you mentioned!

[Big Boy]

On 16 Oct 11 I wrote:

I'm looking to upgrade to a new laptop before the big move to Thailand. I'd appreciate any views on this spec. I will only use the machine for general surfing, downloading of music and videos, connecting to TV. I definitely will not be using it for gaming.

Does it look adequate for the task, and more importantly, can anybody see anything vital that is missing?

As there was no response which was really negative, I went ahead and purchased the machine. Generally, I've been very impressed with most aspects, and it has been really fast. However (there's always a however ), one feature does niggle me. Every week HP sends down an update. The update always asks if want to load it. The first couple of times I said yes, and noticed that it had knocked my ability to use the Internet wirelessly. Each time I recovered to the relevant date/time.

Since the above couple of mishaps, I've said no, when I've seen the message. However, if I don't see the message, and cancel the update, it installs automatically after 30 minutes - result is always the same - no wireless connection.

Troubleshooting the problem always tells me that there is a problem with wireless driver. Resolution is always the same.

The problem is getting worse i.e. last night I missed the warning, and the update loaded. The only way the machine would let me roll back was by first uninstalling my virus guard and firewall (I tried disabling, but repeatedly received messages saying that my virus guard (Avast) was preventing restore. The entire process of trial and error took me just under 3 hours to resolve last night.

Does anybody know how to stop this happening please?

[Edit] The machine is a HP Pavilion G6.

[richard]

On 16 Oct 11 I wrote:

I'm looking to upgrade to a new laptop before the big move to Thailand. I'd appreciate any views on this spec. I will only use the machine for general surfing, downloading of music and videos, connecting to TV. I definitely will not be using it for gaming.

Does it look adequate for the task, and more importantly, can anybody see anything vital that is missing?

As there was no response which was really negative, I went ahead and purchased the machine. Generally, I've been very impressed with most aspects, and it has been really fast. However (there's always a however ), one feature does niggle me. Every week HP sends down an update. The update always asks if want to load it. The first couple of times I said yes, and noticed that it had knocked my ability to use the Internet wirelessly. Each time I recovered to the relevant date/time.

Since the above couple of mishaps, I've said no, when I've seen the message. However, if I don't see the message, and cancel the update, it installs automatically after 30 minutes - result is always the same - no wireless connection.

Troubleshooting the problem always tells me that there is a problem with wireless driver. Resolution is always the same.

The problem is getting worse i.e. last night I missed the warning, and the update loaded. The only way the machine would let me roll back was by first uninstalling my virus guard and firewall (I tried disabling, but repeatedly received messages saying that my virus guard (Avast) was preventing restore. The entire process of trial and error took me just under 3 hours to resolve last night.

Does anybody know how to stop this happening please?

[Edit] The machine is a HP Pavilion G6.

BB

I bought an HP Pav DV6 (which is fast and loads of memory) when last in the UK. It was loaded with Vista and constantly demanded updates. Took it to a mutual friend who installed a clean version of Win7. Never looked back.

I know I've had a couple of beefs about W7 but think it is maybe me and my settings

UKW will sort it when you land BB

[Big Boy]

Thanks Richard, but this one is Windows 7 Premium. The problem is these stupid HP updates.

[richard]

Sorry BB

Got to be my fault. Last worked for HP and was based in HP's Bristol research centre. Must have dropped a spanner in their works

[Big Boy]

That'll be it then

[buksida]

Got to Control Panel > Programs & Features > then uninstall all of the HP software.

Sorry I missed your original thread else I would have advised on avoiding HP laptops, that said most of them come with a load of bundled software that you don't really need. First thing I do with a new laptop is format the thing and install a clean version of Windows minus the manufacturers crapware.

[georgy]

Thanks Richard, but this one is Windows 7 Premium. The problem is these stupid HP updates.

Just disable the autostart of HP update in the registry.
Its a file called HPWuSchd2.exe

[Pleng]

Buksida's advice of uninstalling *all* HP software is probably easier, and more effective than disabling the autostart in the registry. Corporateware tends to have nasty ways of re-enabling itself.

HP, Dell, whoever... they're all the same; fill up the computer with a load of crap from the start.

I did a 'clean' install of Windows on a Dell laptop for a friend back in England. Unfortunately I only had the supplied system restore disk and no time to sort out a clean OEM install media. The install of Windows took about 40 minutes. Then on 'first run' the computer spend around an hour and a half forcing you to watch as it installed a load of crap, resetting itself two or three times in the process. Once all that crap had been installed I spend another hour removing it all. That's 2 and a half hours of my life that I can't get back Dell!!! Maybe I should do the world a favor and attempt to sue Dell for my time All it would take would be for one case to get to court and all the manufacturers would be forced to at least provide an option on install "would you like to install Dell tools".

Sorry I'm in fantasy world again!

[wpcoe]

can any ex pat here do a re balling on the vga chip??? have sceen it done on you tube but requires a propper heat gun and some one who can use solder correctly????????

If you're brave and adventurous, Google "baking vga cards." The things you can find on the internet!

[barrys]

I have some disks containing .cda files.
When played on a DVD player there is audio and visual content.
However, when I play it on my PC, it opens in MediaPlayer but only the audio plays.
The same happens when using VLC media player and PowerDVD.
GOM doesn't recognise it at all.
Does anyone have any ideas please?

[Pagey]

Barry : Have you checked the song titles against the SF or JC discs 'cos they will probably mainly be duplicated so no need to copy those few discs ?