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  • #2241245

    Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

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    by gadgetgirl ·

    Background: after a constant 18 months of niggles with the beautiful, but old laptop, I?ve ended up with a new one. Well, new sorta. It?s an ex demo Acer 4220 WLMi, with empowering technology. Spec here if you need it: (but mine is an 80Gb hdd)

    http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=TM4220-R

    This time, HOB is not getting his hands on it (despite what he thinks) and I?m looking after this baby myself so he can?t muck this one up like the other one. It came preloaded with XP SP2 which I updated immediately, and Norton Suite, which I ditched immediately as it hadn?t been activated, and I can?t stand Nortons intrusiveness. Now running MacAfee (legit) (trade pressie) Also downloaded AVG rootkit, spybot S & D, and changed from IE to FF2. There is also Skype and SightSpeed on this, so naturally I?ve done the webcam and USB phone installation, and they all run ok. Startup register is also installed.

    As it?s new, there?s literally nothing else on there!

    Sadly, I?m getting more issues than I know how do deal with, hence the yell for help ? pals, buddies and mates out there?. Gosh, my knees are sore??.

    Problem 1. On doing this all just before Christmas, after installing FF2, I downloaded Foxmarks to get my bookmarks back. Should have read the site blog first, as v2 has loads of problems which they maintain they?ve now fixed. My problem is that I couldn?t ditch foxmarks, as it wouldn?t let me find it to uninstall it. Around the same time, I started getting slow loads on all sites, with TR being the most problematic. Despite fiddling with foxmarks and disallowing sync, loading is still slow, and I absolutely cannot get on TR from home.

    Last night, I reloaded the latest version issued 8 Jan, which has stopped the main sync problem, but internet load still remains slow. And I still can?t get on TR from home.

    Problem 2: I think I may be getting a duff BIOS battery ? on start up last night, the laptop reverted to 0100 01/01/04. I?ve reset, but due to unforeseen circumstances, couldn?t check before I left for work this morning. It?s no problem getting another battery, but I?m including this problem in case it?s more indicative when combined with others.

    Problem 3: Last night after resetting the date/time, I went to do other things, and ended up with what I can only describe as jumping programs. No matter which program I loaded, if I altered anything on screen, it took ages to change, semi-stalled, then jumped to catch up with itself (if that makes any sense at all). Tried it on Office (new, legit, virus free) as well as a few games (which were even more problematic and jumpy, naturally)

    I ran spybot and AV full scans last night, as well as AVG rootkit and Belarc advisor, none of which could find any faults/problems/issues at all, so now I?m stuck.

    I have wireless access, which seems to have no problems at all (main set on floor 3, I use the laptop on floor 1) There have been no reported problems on the providers site, and none of the neighbours are having any trouble.

    This laptop IS under warranty from Acer, but I?d rather get some help from you guys and do some diagnostics first, so I?m not accused of presenting them with an ID10T fault!

    So ? where do I start, what do I do, and please don?t tell me I?ve got a duff laptop or you really will see a grown woman cry?..

    Any help super-appreciated, but be gentle, and remember just how NON-techie I really am!

    worried

    GG

All Answers

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    Replies
    • #2643381

      Clarifications

      by gadgetgirl ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      Clarifications

    • #2643379

      well gg,

      by jaqui ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      I’ll not bother saying it.
      cause you know exactly what I would say don’t ya. :p

      seriously though, get a copy of PCLinuxOS and boot it up. it is a livecd, so no change to hard drive at all.
      [ if pcinux is running all right, then it isn’t a bad lappie, it’s something in the software ]
      if everything runs right, you might want to try uninstalling McAfee and switching to AVG’s anti-virus.

      http://free.grisoft.com/

      McAfee is as bloated and slows your system down as much as Nortons.

      • #2643370

        Jaq, dearest….

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to well gg,

        the last time I uninstalled MacAfee, I had to format to get it to let go…..

        Linux? Moi? You want a permanent ringing on your skype phone babz??!! :p :p

        Seriously, it is an option, but I think it’ll be my last option – hey, I’m only just getting the hang of windoze…. 😀

        GG

        • #2643368

          um, gg

          by jaqui ·

          In reply to Jaq, dearest….

          pclinuxos, dead easy.
          running it off the cd without installing anything:
          login name root
          password root
          [ and this is displayed right in front of you at the login screen ]

          double click the configure computer icon
          pick networking on the left menu in the window that opened.
          select add wireless connection and keep clicking the ok button until you get back to the starting screen of networking.
          done, online with wireless.
          [ if chipset supported ]
          if you don’t get apps like firefox playing games on you, then it’s software in windows causing the problem.

          to go back to windows, reboot lappie and take the cd out of the drive when it opens. :p
          windows will boot up and never know linux was there, it was in “stealth mode” hiding from that evil monster called windows. 😉

          edit for typo

        • #2643358

          GG dear

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to um, gg

          I’m going to step in with Jaqui on this. Run PCLOS from the CD and the computer will never know it was there. If you decide you like it, you can install it later.

          Go now to http://www.ccleaner.com. Download CCleaner (free). Install that baby where you can find it easily- it will put an icon on your desktop.

          Now we’re going to kill Mc Affee. First, go download AVG Free. Do not install it, just do the download. Now go to add/remove and remove McAffee. Yes, I know that there are still hooks. We’ll get those in a second.

          Right now, consider uninstalling FF. We’ll reinstall it in a minute using a fresh download. This time we’ll leave Foxmarks well alone.

          Okay, new experience time. Open CCleaner. Go to the registry. Tell it to find issues. It will, I guarantee it. Now hit the “Fix issues” button. It will prompt you to backup the registry. DO THIS. Put the backup on your desktop where you can find it. Now fix issues. Do this over and over (on the second and subsequent passes, you don’t have to backup the registry again) until it finds nothing else. Now reboot.

          When you are back to your desktop, you can toss the backup of your registry in the bin. You don’t need it.

          Now install AVG and reboot.

          If you have decided to reinstall Firefox from a fresh download, now is the time. Download and reinstall. Do not add Foxmarks this time. Reboot.

          You should be pretty close to fresh at this point.

          Get that BIOS battery replaced if that is called for. If you think it is failing, it probably is.

          Peer me if there is anything else I can help with.

          Edit- typo

        • #2643356

          “We’re not worthy! we’re not worthy” !!!! :p

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to GG dear

          thank you for knowing I needed step by step destructions, Tig!

          You are an absolute life saver!

          Don’t worry, I won’t touch foxmarks again with the proverbial barge pole. There was me thinking I was doing myself a favour saving my bookmarks like that…..

          I’ll start this tonite as soon as I get in – if I get back online (this is me being practical, not a pessimist, I know me and [b] anything [/b] electrical!) I’ll let you know how it goes.

          Dammit, Tig, that’s [i] [u] [b] ANOTHER [/i] [/u] [/b] martini I owe you!

          GG

        • #2643347

          Not to worry

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to “We’re not worthy! we’re not worthy” !!!! :p

          Is your old lappie still able to get to the internet? If it is, you may want to have it close. I should be on most of the day today as I want to hear the News Digest Week in Review- if you can, check it out. Sonja usually has it up by noon local.

          Anyway, if you run into problems, just ping me.

          Something I thought of after I posted- go to Windows Explorer by right clicking the “Start” button. One of the context options is “Explore”. From wherever it opens to, find the “Programs” folder. When you open that, you should see folders for all programs. After you have removed McAffee using add/remove, go to the Programs folder and look for one called McAffee. If you find one, delete it.

          After you have done that, run your CCleaner.

          Sometimes programs don’t leave gracefully. McAffee and Norton are notorious for that. Fortunately, CCleaner give you a way to give them the boot.

        • #2643331

          the old lappie

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Not to worry

          was sold before Christmas (went to a good home, I insisted….!) but the upstairs office one is ok, and if necessary I will physically remove HOB and hijack it!

          Noon local. O- – – – – k! That’s 8pm mytime – I think – oh, bugger, I’ve lost it again!

          GG

        • #2643310

          CCleaner

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to GG dear

          Can’t beat it. Works every time. Highly recommended!!!!

        • #2643305

          thanks, DangerMouse!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to CCleaner

          Happy New Year!

          😡

          GG

        • #2643320

          I’ve never had a problem uninstalling McAfee.

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Jaq, dearest….

          I’ll occasionally use it to scan someone else’s pc and then use CCleaner or Add/Remove Progams to get rid of it.

          As for reasons to uninstall it you might want to read this post:

          http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=101&threadID=248164&messageID=2389207

        • #2643302

          thanks, Ropes – also

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to I’ve never had a problem uninstalling McAfee.

          proves that the search still isn’t that good on here – I did a search on slow internet before I posted the question…..

          Yup, MacAfee is a definite goner.

          Last time I ditched it, it really wouldn’t let go. Downloaded AVG and it couldn’t run because MacAfee still had control…..

          By the time HOB had finished, you just know the whole thing needed a rebuild, don’t you?!

          thanks again 😡

          GG

        • #2643296

          Link to

          by dumphrey ·

          In reply to thanks, Ropes – also

          the McAffee removal tool.
          http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=107083&lc=1033

          That should get it out for you. I have never used it, but I use the Norton counterpart almost monthly.

        • #2643283

          Thank you muchly!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Link to

          I have every intention of printing this entire thread out before I leave work so I know what I’m doing in case I STILL can’t get on to TR from home for any reason.

          Thank you, that’s a tool I’ll stash for future reference too!

          GG

        • #2643279

          For reference

          by dumphrey ·

          In reply to Thank you muchly!

        • #2663784

          McAfee Removal Tool

          by seanferd ·

          In reply to Jaq, dearest….

          http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=107083&lc=1033&partner=10005&type=TS

          If you do decide to get rid of it.

          edit: Sorry, I see this was already posted.

      • #2663603

        McAfee is horrible

        by jdclyde ·

        In reply to well gg,

        check out the memory usage at bootup and you will be sitting around 400mb instead of the 150 to 200 on a normal xp install (running av and firewall).

        And Jaqui, your wrong. Mcrappy is even worst than norton…. :0

    • #2643376

      Oh boy … or

      by rob mekel ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      should I say: Oh woman 😉

      Not the right time to get in to this kinda trouble. Meaning I can imagen to spent my time on Christmas holidays better then worrying about a new laptop and how to get the …* thing working properly.

      Just a idea:
      Is it an option to start from scratch?
      As you said it came preinstalled as an ex demo. May be there is an hidden system drive that allows you to re-install the whole OS.
      To check if it’s possible on start-up there will be displayed some options on how to get in to preinstall mode or … look up in the manual how to get there … and last [i] but maybe try it first[/i] call, email, the reseller on how the get there.

      If this is possible, a good thing to do is to re format the damn thing or [i]if the laptop came with the disks …still possible alltho pre-loaded OS was on the system[/i] hard-format of the disk. Be sure you have the right tech-info before hard-formatting the disk 🙂

      Bummer it is GG. But look on the bright side … some of the peers will have a good time …* helping you 😡

      Rob

      * [i]fill in the right wordy[/i]
      [i]can’t even type right … so why should she take notice of my penny 😉 😀 😉 [/i]

      • #2643371

        PS

        by rob mekel ·

        In reply to Oh boy … or

        Take Jaqui’s note in consideration it’s a good one 🙂

        And more don’t make the same mistake on installing bad ambiguous shonky software.

        Have fun recovering from …* 🙂

        😡
        Rob

        *[i]fill in the right wordy[/i]

      • #2643369

        Rob, you do make me laugh!

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Oh boy … or

        It sounds as if your keyboard has gone dyslexic, the same as mine today!

        thanks for the info – I’ll check for hidden drives etc. tonight!

        Happy New Year! 😡

        GG

        • #2643340

          Woha a talking/singing

          by rob mekel ·

          In reply to Rob, you do make me laugh!

          keyboard 🙂 That’ll be the day. 🙂

          I know my typing isn’t the best there is … but WTH if it gives some fun 😀 😉

          Rob

        • #2661818

          Extra thumb ….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Woha a talking/singing

          as a thanks for the back up reminder!

          GG

      • #2663907

        There should indeed be a restore partition…

        by boxfiddler ·

        In reply to Oh boy … or

        Acer Empowering Technology eases the process of restoring to factory settings. It also allows one to burn bootable disk/s that will restore factory clean.

        It’s pretty straightforward to use… But I don’t remember exactly how and have disabled the software after burning the disks.

        Also, Acer posts a fairly decent users manual at their website in pdf format. Sorry, can’t get to it at the moment, doing the really slow dialup thing.

        At any rate, GG, before you disable the Empowering Technology software, burn the restore disks! (See post below.)

        Thanks for the reminder, Rob. 🙂

        • #2661827

          Boxy, you’ve been a Godsend…..

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to There should indeed be a restore partition…

          and you’ll get another thumb further down the list.

          I’ll reply to your 4220 post with what I’ve done for future reference (for both of us!)

          Thank you. Sincerely.

          GG
          😡

        • #2662343

          That’s the

          by rob mekel ·

          In reply to There should indeed be a restore partition…

          word I was asking myself about, hidden or restore partition. 🙂

          Long time ago since I did this kinda engineering on hard and software 🙂

          Oh, YW fiddler. Sometimes I even have to remind myself to these kinda things 🙂 😀 😉

          Rob

    • #2643311

      I have to agree with Jaqui

      by dumphrey ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      About a lice linux cd to diagnose the problem. Right off, I would guess bad cmos battery and a twitchy stick of ram. Of course, it could just be that it all needs to be reseated as opposed to replaced. Pull out the ram, clean the contacts GENTLY with a pink pencil eraser, and put it back in. Check that the HD is in good etc.
      Memtest+86 willlet you know in 10 min or so if you have a truely horrid stick of ram.

      • #2663776

        Checking RAM

        by seanferd ·

        In reply to I have to agree with Jaqui

        http://oca.microsoft.com/en/mtinst.exe
        Microsoft Memory Diagnostic, for when your system has no problems with RAM, but Windows might.

        • #2663772

          Now thats good to know.

          by dumphrey ·

          In reply to Checking RAM

          I would give you a thumb if I could.

        • #2661817

          another tool stashed….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Checking RAM

          thanks, Sean – solution to this particular problem below…

          good tool, though, kept for future reference, along with a helluva lot of other stuff on here!

          GG

        • #2661704

          Wow!

          by seanferd ·

          In reply to Checking RAM

          Thanks GG! My very first thumb. Aren’t you considerate, even if my suggestion was a bit off on a side track.

          Thanks to Dumphrey also, for the comment.

          I’ve been thanked before, mostly in discussions. Never gotten a thumb for a question, though.

          Glad to see that the problem was resolved. Boxfiddler is pretty good, no? Everyone else here pretty much rocks, too.

          edit: sp

        • #2662532

          by boxfiddler ·

          In reply to Wow!

          Thank you seanferd! 🙂

    • #2663874

      Really good help here, here’s another

      by dadspad ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      If you will use Internet Explorer, try changing the settings for the phishing filter (tools/phishing filter/phishing filter settings, scroll down and change the settings to ‘turn off automatic website checking). I like the idea of the filter, but found it slowed my website access to unacceptable levels. This setting also allows you to decide when the phishing filter is used.

      I use McAfee with little problems, but understand the frustration here. Of course, I must support it at work, also. 🙂

      May you laptop problems get cured this weekend.

      • #2661816

        thanks, Dad!

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Really good help here, here’s another

        Solution posted below, but McAfee WAS part of the problem.

        Now unceremoniously ditched, and I’m back on AVG…. so much for trade Christmas presents…. that’ll teach me….!

        GG

    • #2663707

      Wow, you’re in deep huh?

      by dryflies ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      1. don’t know what foxmarks is but foxfire links are kept in your user profile in C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\eshpters.default in a file called, you guessed it, bookmarks.html.
      use msconfig to not let foxmarks run on startup.

      2. how old is the laptop? you may need a bios battery just as you thought if you know anyone with a meter, have them read the voltage of the battery to test it.

      3. hard to say. I use a tool called tuneup utilities 2008. they want you to pay for it, but the 30 day trial will fix most slowdown/ registry problems, then uninstall it or buy it if you feel guilty about it.
      I think they want US$39 for it.

      4. send me a glamour shot OMG, did I say that?

      Dryflys

      • #2661814

        Ha! well…..

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Wow, you’re in deep huh?

        1. It’s a bookmarks synchronising add on for FF. It no longer works, especially if like me you hit on the time between then taking down v1 and finding out v2 didn’t work…. Amazingly, it’s no longer in bookmarks. It’s in tools. Well, hell, obviously…..

        2. New to me, but less than a year old. I think that glitch could have been just that, but I’m getting the output checked tomorrow. HOB is a sparky, btw ….. (HOW MANY voltage testers in this house?!)

        3. Tool name stashed for future reference…. qvrymuch!

        4. Ha! Yes you did, I heard you! If I said “ok then” you’d probably have a fit! Hmm. Must see if there is something that passes for a “glamour shot” in the cruise pics…. that should frighten the hell out of you!! :p 😀

        thanks for the help!

        GG

    • #2663628

      Acer 4220…

      by boxfiddler ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      GG, disable that Empowering Technology. It’s a pig, pita, and doesn’t appear to be designed with any thought in mind that users will use something other than the standard IE and MS Office stuff.

      I have an Acer Travelmate 4220 (not WLMi) that misbehaved on a quite regular basis until I disabled that crap.

      Start by disabling everything in that program that you can via the software interface. Then do the following in order to keep it from firing up at boot:

      Start\Run\msconfig\Startup tab
      Clear the checkmarks from the following:
      ePower_DMC
      ePresentation
      eDSloader
      eRAgent
      QtZgAcer
      AcerEmpoweringTechnology

      Did a world of good for mine! Now all I need to do is convert the file system from FAT32 to NTFS.
      Why in the world this was loaded FAT32 I’ll never know…

      edit: dang, dang, dang another typo

      • #2661820

        The solution so far…..

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Acer 4220…

        (and if I could give you any more thumbs, I think I bloody well would, even if Beth got miffed!)

        I’d burned 2 restore disks, btw, one before and one after activating and setting up the etech. Having said that, I think I’ll go back and give Rob a thumb for the reminder…..

        Thanks to you, I discovered it really was the etech messing things up. I managed to get the problematic foxmarks off (never to be seen again near ANY of my machines!)last night, but still had problems. Managed to get on here this morning – just the once – and read your post, and clarity started descending…..

        Although I’d set the machine up with FF2 and other bits and pieces, I hadn’t had a go at the etech until I had more time (like after the family descent on Boxing Day) That made me think back to when the problems first started, and that was it. Whilst I’d had a bit read up on what it did, I hadn’t actually activated any settings till just before New Year, and that’s when the real problems started.

        I get the distinct impression it doesn’t like FF. As part proof, I uninstalled FF2 to make sure I’d got rid of foxmarks, and the laptop speeded up when I used IE to get back on the net.

        After reinstalling FF, I was back to the waiting hours bit.

        Today, my “other” lifesaver, Dawg, got in touch and told me to download Mike Lins’ Start Up Control Panel, and its’ companion, Start Up Monitor. Install both, and follow instructions.

        Solution: Go into the SU control panel, and switch off everything that says “Acer”!

        It works!

        I’m here!!!

        I’ve also made a folder of “set ups” on my desktop, and am about to burn my own DR disk from that. As I haven’t yet deactivated the Acer restore prompt, I’ll do another one of those too, and scrap the other two.

        I am no longer suffering withdrawal symptoms.

        I owe you a couple of , at least!

        Thankyouthankyouthankyou.

        😡
        GG

        • #2661810

          Another possible tool

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to The solution so far…..

          If you aren’t using a software firewall, you should be. Zone Alarm Free is good and easily available at http://www.zonealarm.com. You can check to see how visible you are on the net by going to http://grc.com and using the Sheilds Up tool online. Basically what it will do is a port scan to see if your tail is hanging out. There is a variety of good tools available on that site as well.

        • #2662562

          Happy to be of assistance!

          by boxfiddler ·

          In reply to The solution so far…..

          And I’ll have a double Wild Turkey 101, neat, thank you very much! 😀

          I’m home to broadband! Yay!

        • #2662536

          FWIW…

          by boxfiddler ·

          In reply to The solution so far…..

          It looks like the only real difference between yours and mine is that I have a 60G drive rather than an 80G. That and the refurbished thing.

          Once I disabled that etech, this has been a trouble-free laptop. I use it heavily for work as it is my only Windows machine and it is holding up in great style.

          I’m using Avast! antivirus, Spybot, Adaware and ZoneAlarm Pro(a prior to Checkpoint purchase of them) as well as cCleaner. OpenOffice runs nicely on it.

          edit – so excited to be home I can’t type

        • #2662511

          eTech settings…

          by boxfiddler ·

          In reply to The solution so far…..

          From what I have been able to ascertain, eTech ties directly into the BIOS, likely why it is such an PITA.

          First thing I usually do when I get a machine home is explore the BIOS to see how extensive or incomplete (in my own arbitrary judgment) it is. I fired it up and went to have a look-see and thought “Cripes, this is a real piece of crap BIOS!”. All kinds of things I would have expected to see and be able to fiddle with were either missing or greyed out. I bought the thing cheap though when CompUSA went out of business locally and just settled for kicking myself for not checking the BIOS before I bought. Once I disabled the eTech – lo and behold! – a decent (though still less extensive than I would like) – BIOS was back! Sheesh.

          Whoever thought that tying software directly to the BIOS in that fashion was a good idea should be horsewhipped.

          edit another freaking typo – where’s that Turkey? 😀

    • #2661822

      Ha! told you so!

      by neilb@uk ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      :p

      • #2661819

        Yes, dear.

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Ha! told you so!

        😡

        GG

        ok, ok, ok……..

        • #2661764

          For those of you who think I got the thumb

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Yes, dear.

          for knowing what was wrong with GG’s system, well, I didn’t – I got it for knowing that YOU would know what was wrong.

          Neil 😀

          Deserved it, too!

    • #2662550

      Jumpy Programs?

      by Anonymous ·

      In reply to Problems with the new laptop: how do I diagnose?

      This could be your hdd going for sure. Sometimes the heads start sticking and then become unstuck then try and do a catchup with the commands. Get ALL of your programs backed up and get a new hdd, this will cure your programs from jumping, also up your memory if you can all of this can make for a stable system. If you can not do it yourself please get someone who can.
      Please post back if you have anymore problems or questions.

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