Question:
help with solving this anomoly
A classmate of mine has a compac that recently stopped functioning.
It will boot up and start windows but after the desktop is loaded no programs can be accessed.
I'll try to get some more info, but as for now, does anyone have any thoughs or ideas on the cause of this occurance?
thanks in advance
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
a few questions first
1) where does it exactly stop?
2) can you call up task manager?
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
It stops just after the destop is loaded.
I haven't tried the task manager yet.
What should I be looking for in the TM?
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
Can you start up in safe mode? (hit F8 right as windows starts loading)
Can you use the start menu? Did someone replace his desktop with a screenshot of a desktop as a joke?
Answer:
I can probably start it in safe mode.
I can click on the start menu but It takes along time for it to pop up, if it pops up at all.
ok so I have had suggestions to use the task manager and safe mode but what I am supposed to be looking for/trying to acheive by doing such things?
haven't solved the problem yet
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
If you don't have the time and patience to anwser questions from people trying to help you to identify the problem, your best bet is to talk to someone technically-inclined that can look at the laptop physically, either a friend or a computer shop.
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
I am technically inclined but I'm doing this in the dark since I don't have the laptop in front of me at the moment. i have plenty of patients now that class has just ended. I thought I was ansering the questions. It's just that she really wanted an answer before class let out.
I couldn't see the Task manager to check the CPU and RAM usage but my guess is it was being hevily used if it was difficult to simply access the start menu. I won't be seeing her until thursday so feel free to stop by and post suggestions and possible solutions to fixing this problem.
once again thanks in advance and I'm sorry if I tried to rush the forum too much.
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
Something similar happened to me a while back...it turned out to be a prank from my room mate. Here's what he did:
1) Made a 'print screen' of my computer at the desktop.
2) Made my start bar disappear, along with all my Icons (hidden then) like My Computer and My Desktop
3) Changed my background to that print screen (saved in a hidden file), so that nothing looked wrong.
So I'm suggesting that you change your background and then check to see if the start bar "auto hides"
Does that help?
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
well, not entirely, I can on occasion click the start menu with success and the clock works, and the cursor changes when dragged over a program icon. I think something is eating her resources, which would if I'm not mistaken, cause programs to not load when she clicks on them.
I won't be able to give much more info until thursday since that is the next time we have class.
keep the suggestions coming and thanks in advance.
Answer:
Re: help with solving this anomoly
Well, if the system boots into safe mode you could try running system file checker or perform a windows repair using a Win XP disc if it doesnt boot into safe mode. Does the system get hot when you leave it for a few minutes at the desktop?? If a process is using 100% of the cpu then it should heat up pretty quickly. In any case I would suggest backing up the data by using an external HDD enclosure & another system. This way you can also see if the system is clogged up with malware.