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cant install software

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by hefty10

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Hello
someone please help
A friend of mine bought a new PC earlier this year and has had nothing but problems with it.The first problem was that the PC would shut down at anytime when using it,and then it would reboot.It could happen after any amount of time,there was no pattern.After returning it to the shop,they said it was a software problem.I thought it was maybe a faulty motherboard,but they insisted it was software.After reinstalling all the software,it was still doing it.They then said there was a faulty diode on the motherboard which was causing the problem.They now say it is software again and not a faulty motherboard.
Whatever they have done,it has stopped the rebooting,but we cannot install any software.It only has the OS on it,and when we try to install any other program or drivers,it comes up with a message saying "there is insufficient hard drive space or an error".There is plenty of hard drive space as only the OS is on it so I figure it must be an error.It is an 80gb HD which is set for full use,no partitions on it etc.The cpu is a celeron 2.5 ghz 512mb ram and we have tried XP home and Pro.I do not want to format the drive and reinstall everything as the old problem of rebooting will probably come back.
Could someone please tell me what is going on and how to fix these problems.It was a brand new PC from the shop(or so they told her)
Thanks
Steve

10 replies

by bfilmfan

My advice is return it to the shop until they can provide proof that is "faulty software."

My other advice is to not purchase another system there.

by jdclyde

Uninstall and reinstall any applications that she has put on.

Run the Windows update.

Take the piece of crap back to where she got it and let them fix it.

Software or hardware, they are still responsible.

Back up any data, as the first thing they will do is wipe the drive and reload Windows.

If that doesn't solve the issue then they will HAVE to resolve the hardware issue. Most likely CPU overheating or bad power supply.

by sgt_shultz

i think your troubleshooting instincts are right on. i'm with bfilm. they should take it back at least replace it. maybe you should go with her back to the place she bought it and make them an offer on buying them out. you'd do well it think. sheesh. shame on them.
forgive me if this is too fundamental but have to start at the beginning. does she install the software while logged in using an account that belongs to the local Administrators Group?
perhaps they have installed windows and neglected to give her the administrator password (try a blank password)
sounds like her account has read only privledges on the hard drive or something??
i'd look at device manager
i would also copy over a bunch of files into a test folder on the hd to see if we have basic hd problems and permission to write stuff.
i'd check the bios, see what it detects and does it match what i expect hd and ram wise
i'd ask if any other error messages at boot. i'd look over the event logs. i'd make sure a swap file was setup.
that configuration they have sent back may work but it is so bogus who knows what they did? are they clever or stupid? if they did something clever, i'd reinstall. if they did something stupid, i'd reinstall anyway...
they have it working without reboot now, in a useless configuration, but it doesn't reboot. which is great and does help a lot troubleshooting. still might be their problem tho.
has me thinking less 'motherboard' problem (they fixed that one) and now thinking more RAM or hd controller problem. or who knows?
just make very sure your drivers and software are XP sp2 compatible. printer. cd burner. everything.
have they supplied to her a list of part numbers for what's installed, like video card, nic, etc. if not, look over Device Manager. any bangs? yellow question marks. write down the nic, the display, the sound card the ide contrller scsi controller.
if you reinstall, go slowly. make a restore point right away. once you feel it is not rebooting, add

by sgt_shultz

i think your troubleshooting instincts are right on. i'm with bfilm. they should take it back at least replace it. maybe you should go with her back to the place she bought it and make them an offer on buying them out. you'd do well it think. sheesh. shame on them.
forgive me if this is too fundamental but have to start at the beginning. does she install the software while logged in using an account that belongs to the local Administrators Group?
perhaps they have installed windows and neglected to give her the administrator password (try a blank password)
sounds like her account has read only privledges on the hard drive or something??
i'd look at device manager
i would also copy over a bunch of files into a test folder on the hd to see if we have basic hd problems and permission to write stuff.
i'd check the bios, see what it detects and does it match what i expect hd and ram wise
i'd ask if any other error messages at boot. i'd look over the event logs. i'd make sure a swap file was setup.
that configuration they have sent back may work but it is so bogus who knows what they did? are they clever or stupid? if they did something clever, i'd reinstall. if they did something stupid, i'd reinstall anyway...
they have it working without reboot now, in a useless configuration, but it doesn't reboot. which is great and does help a lot troubleshooting. still might be their problem tho.
has me thinking less 'motherboard' problem (they fixed that one) and now thinking more RAM or hd controller problem. or who knows?
just make very sure your drivers and software are XP sp2 compatible. printer. cd burner. everything.
have they supplied to her a list of part numbers for what's installed, like video card, nic, etc. if not, look over Device Manager. any bangs? yellow question marks. write down the nic, the display, the sound card the ide contrller scsi controller.
if you reinstall, go slowly. make a restore point right away. once you feel it is not rebooting, add

by sgt_shultz

if you reinstall, go slowly. make a restore point right away. once you feel it is not rebooting, add drivers one at a time (no programs yet). make a restore point each time. with luck you'll hit the thing that is rebooting it.
another thing to try is System properties/advanced/uncheck box that says reboot on system error. with luck you'll get stopped with a blue screen error which we can look up.
it is hard to tell hardware from software many times.
it is easy to tell bad customer service.
tell her to stand in middle visible part of store and quietly ask for manager. state case one more time and ask for remedy. say, i am not satisfied with this. I will be satisfied with a replacement/fixing it/my money back.
Have her plant her feel and keep repeating it. tell her it is ok if she gets a little excited and her voice rises a bit. have her say loudly that her friend is a computer consultant and he says this is not right and she is gonna tell everybody she knows not to buy here!! (this part can be pretty loud).
tell her to be ready to be escorted from building with new computer. remind her that is what she wants and you drive the getaway car...
good luck and hope she is cured of buying from hotel now...(tease!)

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