Reputable shop/person to fix computer

[russianrobert]

My computer a Sony Viao keeps crashing. It doesn't seem an easy issue to solve.
I'm looking for reputable repair shop/person to fix it.

Anyone have any ideas?
Cheers

[Farang]

Check:

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=16520

[buksida]

Second that.

[MrPlum]

Try driverguide dot com

It will scan your machine for drivers, check you are up to date and provides any updates. Just make sure you do not have any sensitive material on your laptop and delete cookies. I'm never sure what these corporations scan for.

The only problem I have with computer shops is they often will simply delete everything and start again. They can't afford to spend 3 days trouble-shooting, then re-installing everything. Back up all your data before letting them loose!

Do you know when this problem started? I suspect you have installed something to upset the laptop. Can you not go back to a system Restore point prior to when you installed whatever it was... anti-virus?

[pharvey]

I had a lot of problems with my Viao in the past with crashing/"Blue Screen of Death".

I would suggest saving what you can from the hard drive and restoring the computer to original factory settings. To start the restore/reset process, hold ALT and F10 together when the boot up sequence begins. Follow instructions and should all be done within 10-15 mins.

[russianrobert]

Try driverguide dot com

It will scan your machine for drivers, check you are up to date and provides any updates. Just make sure you do not have any sensitive material on your laptop and delete cookies. I'm never sure what these corporations scan for.

The only problem I have with computer shops is they often will simply delete everything and start again. They can't afford to spend 3 days trouble-shooting, then re-installing everything. Back up all your data before letting them loose!

Do you know when this problem started? I suspect you have installed something to upset the laptop. Can you not go back to a system Restore point prior to when you installed whatever it was... anti-virus?

I agree totally about computer shops and would prefer to avoid if i can.
Read below:

I keeps crashing and i get blue pages telling me:
Windows has closed to prevent damage to my computer. BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER Check any hardware or software is properly installed. Ask for Windows updates. If the problem persists disable any new installed hardware or software. Disable Bios memory options such as caching or shadowing.
The computer them restarts after giving me the option of which mode to choose.
I'm also getting continuos error messages saying: USB port error. Windows doesn't recognize one of your devices.


All my windows updates are current and they update automatically.
Because Windows doesn't recognize the device it's difficult to find it. I click on the dialog box for more info and i'm led to a device identified by only a number thay windoes says it cant recognize. I've uninstalled it. I've also uninstalled all printers & faxes and other devices but no difference. I haven't uninstalled my iphone which syncs through a USB port but that's working and syncs okay. Can't be that then, can it?
A guy very kindly took a look at it who's knowledgeable about computers with some of the above and other issues but the problem persisted.

As a note, i installed McAfee AV recently. That didn't install properly. I had to download Windows Service Pack 1 and then it worked.
Loads of other 'bugs' like problems downloading updates for iphone, itunes, other software crashing.

Any help gratefully received. Perhaps a resource /website out there?

[dtaai-maai]

I think pharvey and Mr Plum have already given you some good advice. I'm no expert, but whenever I've had a problem like this "system restore" to a date a few months back has always done the trick. Failing that, back up what you can and go back to the original factory settings.

[Big Boy]

I second, third or fourth that. In fact if your data is important to you, you shouldn't have to back it up now, because it should already have been backed up anyway. Computers can crash at any time.

[buksida]

You could have a fried USB port, unplug all USB devices, start the machine in safe mode and see if it crashes.

If it is a hardware failure a format and re-install will not solve the problem, as suggested above I would also recommend checking/updating the chipset drivers - you can download them from the Sony website.

[MrPlum]

Even though Windows says it updates everything, it often throws up spurious error messages that can mislead you. Bill Gates has made many a computer support company wealthy with his buggy software!

Run the driverguide scan, it is more reliable than Windows Update and might just resolve your problem.

I would help you but you've asked for a reputable person.

[russianrobert]

Try driverguide dot com

It will scan your machine for drivers, check you are up to date and provides any updates. Just make sure you do not have any sensitive material on your laptop and delete cookies. I'm never sure what these corporations scan for.

The only problem I have with computer shops is they often will simply delete everything and start again. They can't afford to spend 3 days trouble-shooting, then re-installing everything. Back up all your data before letting them loose!

Do you know when this problem started? I suspect you have installed something to upset the laptop. Can you not go back to a system Restore point prior to when you installed whatever it was... anti-virus?

Thanks for that.
Is that freeware? No problem with paying 30 bucks to help fix the problem but It's asking me to give credit card details.
Cheers
Robert

[russianrobert]

Even though Windows says it updates everything, it often throws up spurious error messages that can mislead you. Bill Gates has made many a computer support company wealthy with his buggy software!

Run the driverguide scan, it is more reliable than Windows Update and might just resolve your problem.

I would help you but you've asked for a reputable person.

You've already helped me. If i didn't think you reputable you wouldn't have got this far!

[midlandmike]

Service at iBeat for Macs is really horrible

[MrPlum]

Is that freeware? No problem with paying 30 bucks to help fix the problem but It's asking me to give credit card details.

Just use the scanner to identify which drivers need updating. You can go to the manufacturers sites to get the updates, without paying.

Edited to clarify

[russianrobert]

Try driverguide dot com

It will scan your machine for drivers, check you are up to date and provides any updates. Just make sure you do not have any sensitive material on your laptop and delete cookies. I'm never sure what these corporations scan for.

The only problem I have with computer shops is they often will simply delete everything and start again. They can't afford to spend 3 days trouble-shooting, then re-installing everything. Back up all your data before letting them loose!

Do you know when this problem started? I suspect you have installed something to upset the laptop. Can you not go back to a system Restore point prior to when you installed whatever it was... anti-virus?

I did a scan with driverguide (nice piece of software that) and downloaded 16 drivers that needed updating. Unfortunately the problem returned.
I'll have a go at system restore today but not sure what will happen when i do it. Obviously i will back up first but how drastic is it, will i loose anything apart from settings?

Cheers for any info.