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Nicole
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Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 5:20:08
It might be a good opportunity to go visit the local "stand-alone" computer guy in town, as opposed to the computer chain store that i didn't even realise was there until last week. I put my business cards in his store last week and am building a rapport, so it might be a good opportunity to build on that and give him some money.
Thing is, my computers aren't networked, they should be but they're not. I've just saved some files to CD to transfer to the other computer to work on them with a program that is only on the other computer, put them in the disk drive, open that drive in "my computer", and it simply doesn't recognise the drive I put them into. Just comes up blank for E: and D:, well the drive won't even open to allow a disk inside. One is a CD-R and the other a CD-RW, it's a Dell Dimension 4600, quite slow but I figure that's because I back things up to it meaning that it has almost everything that's on the Dell Dimension 8400.
Why won't the disk drive even open? Why when I insert a disk that I know has information on it does it tell me nothing is on the disk?
Does it like, need a service? Do computers need a service like this?
Sorry for the dumb questions, but I'm not up on hardware things.
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Nicole
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 5:33:07
quote:
How many miles has it done?
Sydney to Albury 550km, to Tyringham 1100km, to here 110km, probably about 1760km. Well that's kilometres.
< Message edited by Nicole -- 2/16/2007 6:21:16 >
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Nicole
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 5:34:22
E: opens and I can put the disk in, but it says nothing's on it.
D: physically doesn't open
p.s. that last response was a joke, you realise!
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Nicole
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 5:50:09
quote:
ORIGINAL: jaybee
Before taking the machine anywhere there are things you can do.
1. Delete all unneeded rubbish. Get rid of all temp files both Internet files and do a search in Explore for *.tmp
2. Defrag
3. Go to Dell's site and download the latest drivers and install them
4. If you're feeling brave on the same site look for BIOS upgrades, download and flash the BIOS.
Then see what works and what doesn't.
Thanks Jaybee, I'm glad somebody took this post seriously because quite often, as you say, things can be done before spending money on such things, in all reality though, if something doesn't work, mostly people, including me would just take it straight to the computer store.
In response to 1. It's done, I do that every few days on both computers, jv16 PowerTools, Nod32 and a range of virus/spyware and malware things.
2. I'm the original Defrag Queen!
3. Will do.
4. I'll see how 3. goes. I'm not very brave with things like this, see you tube book video in the Lounge. I'm in disguise in that video, I'm the one slapping the back of the book saying that it won't open!
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Kitka
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 6:05:16
If jaybee's suggestions don't work ... and you are still feeling brave, look for physical reasons for the failure of D drive.
Take the side off the case and check that the IDE cables and power plugs are securely seated at both ends - in the CD drives and at the motherboard.
Check for excessive dust build up - and carefully remove it using a clean (new) paint brush, or lightly dampened cloth or compressed air. Under no circumstances use a vacuum cleaner (static electricity).
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Nicole
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 6:10:12
Very briefly, I'm just not confident with this. I'm on the Dell site on the other computer and nothing seems to match up from their Drivers & Downloads page to what is listed on the specs that came with the computer 3.5 years ago.
I think I'll take it to him, like I said it might cost me $100, maybe $200, but it will keep the rapport going with this guy.
Thanks
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Kitka
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 6:12:07
quote:
I did it last year with my heart in my mouth but it's actually very simple. Harv does it on machines all the time.
Erm - I wouldn't attempt it unless the computer is connected to a fully charged UPS at the time. If the power fails or even blips in the middle of a BIOS update you are in real trouble.
Nicole has already mentioned in other threads about the flakiness of the power supply in her town.
< Message edited by Kitka -- 2/16/2007 6:28:09 >
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BobbyDouglas
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/16/2007 23:45:15
If the computer doesn't like the BIOS update, you might have to replace the entire motherboard, or if you are lucky you can get a new BIOS chip (not all MBs allow you to replace the BIOS chip though).
For the cost to "fix" the problem, you could buy a 10 new DVD drives, or 5 good DVD burners.
I would just go down to the local store, buy a retail version of a DVD burner (IDE cable + screws + drive), take out the current IDE cable and DVD drive, replace it with the new one. If it works, then the problem is just that your old DVD drive died... If the price for the retail version is good, keep it. If not, buy online and return the retail one.
Also, swap out the new IDE cable for the old one to make sure that wasn't the problem.
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TJolly
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/17/2007 6:41:32
quote:
ORIGINAL: Nicole
E: opens and I can put the disk in, but it says nothing's on it.
D: physically doesn't open
p.s. that last response was a joke, you realise!
Hi
Try cleaning drive E.
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Nicole
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/17/2007 7:00:32
Bobby, I'm afraid your response went way over my head - too complicated!
Brian, too simple, you might need to elaborate a bit?
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TJolly
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/18/2007 5:52:26
quote:
ORIGINAL: jaybee
Get a CD cleaning kit.
Hi Nicole.
That is what I meant.
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BobbyDouglas
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RE: Does my PC need a service? - 2/18/2007 10:17:33
quote:
ORIGINAL: Nicole
Bobby, I'm afraid your response went way over my head - too complicated
- Do you know how to replace a CD drive?
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