Well, it was a LONG day fighting with PC’s yesterday. It started with my own home built which has been giving me some USB problems and probably could use a W2000 re-install (been 3 years). After about 3 hrs of trying to get my 6 in 1 memory stick reader to work I decided it’s bad hardware and moved on to the next project.
Somebody gave me 2 teenager PC’s to clean virus/spyware/malware from and that’s when the sh*t hit the fan. I probably should have just re-installed the OS (XP Home) but I normally enjoy the challenge of beating the bad guy. In this case, it was an eMachine FULL of dust bunnies which I blew out and had the system almost finished with updates of MS, AVG, Spybot & Adaware when it just shut down. It seemed to have a failed power supply so I changed it… Hit the on button and it appeared to start just fine but for the smell of something burning and smoke…. And, another one bites the dust! That makes 3 eMachines waiting for the dump. DRAT! Another 3 hrs shot to hell!
Moving on to the Dell Latitude…..
I’m no pro with XP, I use Win 2000 Pro in all my personal PC’s and it suits me fine.. XP to me is simply a prettied up version.
This one is a bugger. Could not get the desktop to show any icons or the toolbars so I couldn’t get “into” the OS. Did what I could via safe mode with anti-virus, regclean, etc. but just would not go. Then did the lazy man way of reinstalling the OS (XP Pro). Problem is, this is a second hand refurbed PIII with no OS-CD. I took my copy and assumed it would just replace the necessary files without having to re-enter the Product Key…. DOH! Now I remember why I avoid doing it! So, it’s midway in the installation process and won’t let me in via safe-mode to search the registry for it. I do have a laptop HDD adapter that will allow me to connect it as a slave to another PC if that’ll help. Any ideas out there? I hate the thought of having to buy another OS for this fast approaching boat anchor. Remember, I’ve already had to tell them their beloved eMachine is toast…..
This can be a b*tch of a hobby…
I still blame Win9X for my gray!
