# Eve's Computer (2003–2003) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430 "2003-08-20T13:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/21 "2003-08-20T18:12:19Z")
Hmmm, I’ll be walking back toward 34th tonight after work—lemme find a good meeting place. If nothing else, there _must_ be a Starbucks or an Au Bonne Pan! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/22 "2003-08-20T18:17:56Z")
… No, it’s Manhattan. There _must_ be a pizza joint with several of the words “Famous” “Ray’s” “Original” “Pizza” in the name, in some random order. As it happens, there is… not that I suggest we meet there. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/23 "2003-08-20T18:27:01Z")
I’m rather sure warranty will not be void if the case is opened. Atleast I don’t think so. I build my own PC’s so I’m not upto date on the main brands and their warranty practices. But to do so is inconceivable to me. What happens when you want to upgrade?!? Eve, what do you use your comp for? I’m thinking Windows XP pro might be a better way to go than Win 2K. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/24 "2003-08-20T18:30:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by E-Sabbath \* > \*\*… No, it’s Manhattan. There _must_ be a pizza joint with several of the words “Famous” “Ray’s” “Original” “Pizza” in the name, in some random order. As it happens, there is… not that I suggest we meet there. \*\* . . . You forgot “Papaya.” I already have Windows XP; I use it for writing and researching. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/25 "2003-08-20T18:33:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > That’s more than sweet of you! But I’ll be out of town from Friday till after Labor Day. Maybe Sat. the 6th? I’ll pay ya, _and_ buy you lunch! And/or give you a signed copy of one of my books, of your choice! I now know what I _really_ want to be when I grow up… **E-Sabbath**. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/26 "2003-08-20T18:33:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by E-Sabbath \* > \*\*but I’m asking for the name of a good utility to check RAM [MemTest86](http://www.memtest86.com/). Never leave home without it. Well, unless you’re going fishing or something. Then I guess you wouldn’t need it. > [@](#): > > and motherboards. Can’t vouch for this one, as I’ve never tried it, but a quick search turned up [Hot CPU Tester Lite](http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,7592,00.asp), which, according to the page, “tests the CPU and motherboard for errors.” ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/27 "2003-08-20T18:34:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **I dunno if it’s the CDs or my computer. Three times I loaded CD #1 and it chugged along happily till it got to 90%, then—poof! dead screen.** My second computer is really finiky when it comes to loading operating systems. No problems with Windows XP, Linux, BeOS, or FreeBSD, but it BSODs or crashes on other versions of Windows. I don’t get it. I have a friend with a HP laptop that had the same problems you’re experiencing: it would load the OS, and then stall when there wa a few minutes left in the installation. Apparently, there was a problem in the BIOS, and HP issued a recall. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/28 "2003-08-20T18:36:07Z")
There is a starbucks on 34th between Broadway and 7th or 6th ave (not sure which one). It’s right by Penn station. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/29 "2003-08-20T18:40:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > That’s more than sweet of you! But I’ll be out of town from Friday till after Labor Day. Maybe Sat. the 6th? I’ll pay ya, _and_ buy you lunch! And/or give you a signed copy of one of my books, of your choice! I now know what I _really_ want to be when I grow up… **E-Sabbath**. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/30 "2003-08-20T18:41:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **I dunno if it’s the CDs or my computer. Three times I loaded CD #1 and it chugged along happily till it got to 90%, then—poof! dead screen.** My second computer is really finiky when it comes to loading operating systems. No problems with Windows XP, Linux, BeOS, or FreeBSD, but it BSODs or crashes on other versions of Windows. I don’t get it. I have a friend with a HP laptop that had the same problems you’re experiencing: it would load the OS, and then stall when there wa a few minutes left in the installation. Apparently, there was a problem in the BIOS, and HP issued a recall. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/31 "2003-08-20T18:43:35Z")
There is a starbucks on 34th between Broadway and 7th or 6th ave (not sure which one). It’s right by Penn station. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/32 "2003-08-20T18:51:10Z")
Worth a shot. Yes, I know you have XP, Eve. Kinthalis does have the good point of “Are you running XP Pro or XP Home?” There’s some significant differences, mostly in reliablity. Kinthalis: As I said I’d be wiping it anyhow, I figured I’d use the less candy-coated version of the OS to do the tests with. A different operating system also might cure the issue Eve has… we’ll see. Neutron: By god, MemTest86 is still around! Yeep! That’s a name back from when I was using Norton Commander for a desktop and Turbo Pascal as my text editor. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/33 "2003-08-20T19:10:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinthalis \* > \*\*There is a starbucks on 34th between Broadway and 7th or 6th ave (not sure which one). It’s right by Penn station. \*\* Perfect, as we’ll be taking the PATH train (at 6th and 34th) to Hoboken, then NJ Transit to my place. Oh, **Oxymoron** may be joining us as well! The hard drive is already back to Zero; it just won’t seem to accept the “rebuilding” CD. Everything was _fine_ with it till last week . . . ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/34 "2003-08-20T19:11:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **I dunno if it’s the CDs or my computer. Three times I loaded CD #1 and it chugged along happily till it got to 90%, then—poof! dead screen.** My second computer is really finiky when it comes to loading operating systems. No problems with Windows XP, Linux, BeOS, or FreeBSD, but it BSODs or crashes on other versions of Windows. I don’t get it. I have a friend with a HP laptop that had the same problems you’re experiencing: it would load the OS, and then stall when there wa a few minutes left in the installation. Apparently, there was a problem in the BIOS, and HP issued a recall. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/35 "2003-08-20T21:25:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*I dunno if it’s the CDs or my computer. Three times I loaded CD #1 and it chugged along happily till it got to 90%, then—poof! dead screen. The Toshiba guy on the phone was gobsmacked. “Well, that’s _supposed_ to work!” \*\* I don’t know that I’d put a lot of faith in Toshiba. My Toshiba hard-drive failed awhile back. I called the company, and the guy on the phone was about 5 minutes into diagnosing my problem, when the questions got too tough for him and he admitted that he actually worked in the Appliances dept. and they were sending the overflow calls from tech support to him. Gee, that’s great - I’ll let you know when my washing machine breaks, asshole.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mo3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@mo3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo3)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/36 "2003-08-20T22:04:06Z")
I’ve seen this before… just can’t remember how I fixed it. My guess - it’s not the memory or motherboard - those aren’t usually the things that break on laptops. I’m guessing either a scratched CD (does it always die at the same point?) or the BIOS power management suspending the machine because no keys were pressed in 20 minutes or something. Try going into the BIOS setup screen and turning off all forms of BIOS power management before starting the install. Keep the laptop plugged in throughout. After the install is done you can set everything back how you like it. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/37 "2003-08-20T22:44:36Z")
When installing WIN98 I used to have a similar problem which drove me nuts: the computer would just hang at a given poit, always the same one. The problem was I had set the “master boot record virus protection” in the BIOS which would prevent the OS from completing installation. I used to forget and it would take me several tries until I would finally slap my forehead and remember to change the bios. Windoze would just hang and not give any error message. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/38 "2003-08-21T04:23:58Z")
Worming your computer. Now I’ve heard of everything! **Eve** , do you think, just maybe, your computer took a hint from all of those obit threads you start and headed for the harp farm on its own? ---
**Author:** ![Beryl\_Mooncalf\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Beryl\_Mooncalf\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beryl_Mooncalf_1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/39 "2003-08-21T06:03:35Z")
I really hate to say this, but I went to M/S today, to check on updadtes, (which I had done on 8/14/03) and there were two new ones, 1 for IE and 1 for XP - both are designed to stop attacks from net turds. Then I stopped by symantes, and go figure, there is yet another worm, this one discovered 8/18/03. (this one is strange, it is cleaning up the mess of the msblaster worm???). Anyway, you’ll better head on up to Redmond and fill up on updates, then stop by the AV place of choice and update there too. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/40 "2003-08-21T06:12:43Z")
I’m a New Yorker, but am I a Doper? Heh. I dunno. Anyway, definately sounds like a Bios issue to me if it happened right after the virus: some worms/viruses can actually screw with bios things in Windows (don’t you just love running as, basically, root all the time?), and take great pleasure in doing so: it’s one of the hardest things for a non-tech-support person to identify and deal with. So I wouldn’t rule this out, and E-S will surely root around in there for something along those lines. I am so depressed by technology these days: I want it to work so badly, but the more powerful it gets, the more pathetically vulnerable it is to one of millions of different problems. I just spent 4 weeks trying to get my DSL up and stable, and i THINK I’ve narrowed it down to my somewhat ditzy apartment current. I’m building a new computer for the next gen of games soon, and I just dread my thousand-dollar + creation simply not working. If so, then I’m gonna have to call it quits, maybe go dig some more wells in Nepal or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430.md?page=3)