Laptop running XP doing all sorts of wacky things. (help request)

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JonnieC

14 posts

Geek

#15388 20-Aug-2007 13:36

Howdee, first of all ill start by introducing myself, my name is Jonathan, Jonnie for short.
I have been playing with computers for a few years now and know my way around most things, unfortunatly when things go wrong, I am the last person who should fix them.

I've been having a run of bad luck recently. First of all my desktop computer fried due to a power surge.
Followed by my a week later.
As i don't currently have much money to my name (none in fact) i was donated an older laptop by a friend.
I have used Belarc Advisor to get the specs for you to help me with my problem.

Operating System System Model
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 1 (build 2600) CLEVO M22ES 0106
Enclosure Type: Notebook
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: Clevo M22ES Rev.A
BIOS: Phoenix 4.06 04/29/2003
Drives Memory Modules c,d
40.00 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
8.08 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Floppy disk drive

IC25N040ATMR04-0 [Hard drive] (40.01 GB) -- drive 0, s/n MRG208K2CYV9PH, rev MO2OAD0A, SMART Status: Healthy 478 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'U5' has 256 MB
Slot 'U6' has 256 MB
Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 0) 5.24 GB 594 MB free
d: (NTFS on drive 0) 34.76 GB 7.49 GB free

Network Drives
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers
local user accounts last logon
Jonnie 8/20/2007 8:19:39 AM (admin)
josh 8/16/2007 10:54:48 PM (admin)
other 8/20/2007 9:53:47 AM (admin)
local system accounts
Administrator never (admin)
Guest 5/25/2007 12:08:25 AM
HelpAssistant never
romee 8/20/2007 8:22:05 AM (admin)
SUPPORT_388945a0 never

Marks a disabled account; Marks a locked account None detected
Controllers Display
Standard floppy disk controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
SiS PCI IDE Controller SiS 650_651_M650_M652_740 [Display adapter]
Plug and Play Monitor
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Generic CardBus Controller
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller (2x)
SiS PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM)
Communications Other Devices
Wireless Broadband Modem (WDM)

RAS Async Adapter
IP Address: 203.211.98.190 / 32
Gateway: 203.211.98.190
Physical Address: 00:53:45:00:00:00
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
Dhcp Server: none responded
Physical Address: 00:90:F5:25:CE:48

Networking Dns Servers: 202.74.207.10
202.74.207.100
Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Microsoft AC Adapter
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
HID-compliant consumer control device
HID-compliant device
USB Human Interface Device (2x)
IrDA Fast Infrared Port
HID Keyboard Device
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
HID-compliant mouse
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
USB Composite Device
USB Root Hub (3x)

Internet Explorer
SP1 (SP1)
Windows XP
SP2
Q816650 on 7/20/2006 (details...)
KB842773 on 8/15/2007 (details...)
SP3
KB893803V2 on 8/15/2007 (details...)

The only other relevant information i can think to add is that the laptop keyboard does not work, as such i have purchased a DSE branded $24.95 keyboard and similar mouse they are both plugged in via usb... you may already know this from reading my belarc list...

okay heres the problem, (I'm sorry for going about this the long winded way and thank you in advance for any help or time you may spend on this problem)

now really.. the problem... i sign into xp (everything up until this point is fine)
the desktop is loaded. i want to do something.. anything.. example.. connect to the internet. i click on something and 200 or so boxes pop up asking me if i want to delete... I really don't i swear... but i have to tell it 200 times... and make sure i dont accidentily click it again.

along the same lines... my keyboard likes to choose random moments to change any of the keys into the delete key.

not good... especially when your trying to explain whats wrong to a forum...

I didn't mind it at the start, what's a few hundred clicks here and there to start the day...
now I am getting frustrated.

I have tried 3 things to fix the problem myself
AVG virus scanner. recent version. fresh updates. (no virus or problems found)
CCleaner - i figured the registry might be broked... no problems...
Fresh windows instal...

This is where it gets really frustrating...

the cd drive (im not sure if belarc tells you i have one or not.) is no longer working.
the green light is on.. i can hear it fire up every time a cd goes in there... Windows just doesnt recognise it, or similar problem...

I had a thaught, maybe i could download some version of linux. it is free. but then im not so sure i would know what to do (i only use the computer for emails, browsing the internet and listning to the ocasional (legaly aquired) mp3 ;)

Your opinions?

Any help???

Got a free computer :D:D:D

No seriously tho any help or ideas or what ever would be greatly apreciated, altho if you have read this far i understand if you don't have the energy to do anything else :) i tend to ramble :)
thanks for you t ime on this matter in advance.

freitasm

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#83016 20-Aug-2007 19:08

You are saying this continues to happen even after a fresh Windows install with nothing else installed?

JonnieC

14 posts

Geek

#83058 20-Aug-2007 21:37

The problem started after a fresh install.
The problem now is the computer does not recognise my cd rom drive so i cannot do another fresh install.
This is why I was thinking about linux but i just dont know how i can get it onto this computer. also i am sorry for any mistakes also not capitalizing the i but i cannot use my caps lock or shift keys as they both delete everything on the page.
earlier today after making my first post i tried downloading wubi and another linux install through windows neither of them would let me connect to the server.. i am starting to get the feeling i might have to get linux image put onto this hard drive... i dont know much about it i just want it to work, i would just throw the thing away and save for a new computer but its rather essential for me to have access to emails on a daily basis at the moment... it is getting rediculous now.. any help would be apreciated

freitasm

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#83059 20-Aug-2007 21:59

If you did a fresh install with the original restore CD then it could be a hardware problem - memory or power supply?

I you done a fresh install from a Windows CD then I suspect you don't have the correct drivers for the motherboard and other devices... You should download all drivers from the manufacturer's site.

Laptops are tricky thing - they are very integrated and require specific drivers and software to work well.

JonnieC

14 posts

Geek

#83060 20-Aug-2007 22:10

i hear what your saying, but if my computer device manager doesn't detect the cd drive which is the only thing that i would need drivers for. then how would i instal drivers, the cd drive used to work.

realisticly this computer needs a fresh install of some description. i do not have the original windows cd any more as it is scratched to pieces.

as linux is free i figure i could go down this road, now i need help i think figuring out how to get it to work on here

also i am currently using woosh wireless and there is no suuport for the modem..

freitasm

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#83062 20-Aug-2007 22:27

You need drivers for motherboards, CPUs, discs, etc. You can use default drivers, but won't get the performance or might have problems. But since you are sure you have what you need and there's no virus or spyware then I'd send the laptop for a service with an authorised service centre.

JonnieC

14 posts

Geek

#83064 20-Aug-2007 22:38

cool, cheers for your help. unfortunatly i do not have any money for service and the likes...
can any body offer any information about getting linux installs onto computers with no cd drive.

JonnieC

14 posts

Geek

#83187 21-Aug-2007 18:11

Okay just a little update. After playing around with various settings the program wubi connected to its server and is now downloading ubuntu at 4kbps in 30 or so hours ill be able to update and tell you all how i get on...

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rwales

122 posts

Master Geek

#83260 22-Aug-2007 01:12

JonnieC: now downloading ubuntu at 4kbps in 30 or so hours ill be able to update and tell you all how i get on...

Downloading Ubuntu won't do you much good unless you can burn the .iso (disk image file). This could be a problem if your CD drive is on the blink. An alternative is to request a free CD from http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download (and at 4kbps a mailed CD will probably get there faster!).

Also, the Ubuntu installation disk boots into a LiveCD environment by default and will attempt to autoconfigure your devices (i.e. CD drive). You'll have a good idea whether Ubuntu is going to play nice before you commit yourself to an install.

JonnieC

14 posts

Geek

#83298 22-Aug-2007 10:58

Thanks for the time to reply, I gather tho you havent read my previous posts.
First, the cd drive does not work. Its got power to it, a little green light etc.. windows doesn't recognise.
Second, I have downloaded a program called Wubi.

http://wubi-installer.org/

:)

tonyhughes

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#83309 22-Aug-2007 12:00

If you have faulty hardware, Linux is not going to fix that for you. The laptop clearly has major issues, & sounds uneconomical to repair. If it was mine, I would happily lend it to a mate, and hope that it came back fixed!

My advice is to sell it on Trademe as a laptop that boots up and works, but has errors (and list them). You would be surprised what sort of price you get for it. Then use that few hundred dollars to buy a good quality desktop with the same specs and a 30 day warranty from an ex-lease seller on trademe.

Wont have cost you a cent, and you will have a fully working machine.

JonnieC

14 posts

Geek

#83334 22-Aug-2007 14:18

Thank you for your advice. I hadn't even considered it.
I will give that a shot and let you know how I get on.