Friday, June 12, 2009

Someone Please Help Me With This Problem I Have. Computers.



How. Are any of my readers Indian tech support dudes?

Because I need your help.

I turned my computer on the other day and:

- All my files are gone. Word docs, pictures, etc. Also, missing desktop icons.
- The opening pop up screen says,"Welcome to you new Dell Computer" - with steps to walk through setting it up.
- Everything is REALLY slow.

Does this my computer has crashed? I thought when it crashed - nothing even worked. I'm not sure.

I do have everything backed up on an external hard drive.

Does anyone have any solutions?

Should I simply plug into the external hard drive and try to pull everything back onto my laptop?

Thanks. And sorry my people stole your land.

28 comments:

Bloggin' Bama Girl said...

Dude! That sucks!
I'm not Indian - neither PowWow nor Dot-Dot; but sounds like you have a virus. Personally, I wouldn't attach the external drive until you update your virus software and run a deep scan.

Bloggin' Bama Girl said...

I should have noted on the above post that I do NOT get paid to work on computers, I'm just a geek.

Dominica said...

I'm afraid Bloggin' Bama Girl is SO right !
Damn' !!
Virus or crash or both (one thing leads to another)
That's why I haven't seen you on Twits today !!
And today was just hilarious -> 1 of todays trending topics was #beatlesporn ...I think Twitter got an overload on tweets and is pretty soon hitting the 'tilt' button !!

Hope everything will work out soon !!
Nevertheless, enjoy the weekend !
D.

je_suis_hannah said...

ah thats rubbish. My pearls of wisdom are limited to "have you tried turning it off and back on again?"..that seems to be the only thing our work I.T guys ever suggest. And surprisingly it sometimes works..however i bet you've already tried that

Slyde said...

have you made any recovery (backup) points? its done thru windows.

it sounds like youve had some kind of issue with a system file being corrupted. Restoring an old back up point thru windows may just be all u need...

Son of a Thomas said...

Here ya go,

First you are going to need a chicken foot, eye of newt,three leg hairs from your first born and the breath of Sacagawea.

Let me know when you have that and a 50 gallon cauldren and we'll go to step 2.

Some Guy said...

Zibbs, you've been holding on to that old Commodore 64 for far too long. She's done a good job for you, but it's time to let go.

Former Fat Chick said...

recovery back up to a previous date (before you got infected) you will only lose what is recent, but if you have the hard drive mirrored, then it's no problem.If that doesn't work, wipe it clean, you just need the cd that came with the computer when you bought it, back to zero, again good thing you have your back up. Bet you didn't know I could tlak techie to you! ha!

Blonde Goddess said...

I am computer illiterate.
I'm sorry but I can't help you.
I will dance in my back yard and try to summons the spirits of my elders to see if they can help you instead.
What Viking raiders would know about computers is beyond me, but perhaps they can pillage an IT center for you and will bring back an IT specialist.

diane said...

I'm part Algonquin, but I don't think I can help. (not sure I understand the connection there) God, I can't even figure out how to help you access my page. Good luck with it honey. I'm glad you have the presence of mind to back up your stuff. xo

Dr Zibbs said...

Wow. Thanks for the help everyone

(tears up)

..It's like

...it's like. It's like the Gift of the Magi.

..in a way because..it's like a gift.

OK it's nothing like the Gift of the Magi but thanks anyway.

The Devil's Daughter-In-Law said...

Hm. I have had similar issues lately. All of my stuff's still there, but it's all super slow and I get shut down periodically with no warning.

I bet you infected me. Thanks a lot.

Trooper Thorn said...

Have you tried poking it with a stick?

Fancy Schmancy said...

I fear anything I tell you will make it worse, and then you'll blame everything on me. Not that I had anything for you, anyway...

Dr Zibbs said...

Trooper - tried that. 3 short pokes ad one long right?

Fancy - if you're really a friend you'll sit for 2 hours on the phone with tech support then tell me what they said.

Jennifer and Sandi said...

Well....being part Indian myself I know the answer to your problem. I'll tell ya once you give us back our land!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Good One Some Guy!!!
"Commodore 64"
S.G. cracks me up!

Hope you get your computer back up and running!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!
- Jennifer

words...words...words... said...

I'm afraid your computer is going to stay that way until you relocate your house away from that sacred Indian burial ground.

Dr Zibbs said...

WWW - AND I just insulted and Indian.

I'm screwed.

Mr. Condescending said...

some f*ckin computer nerd can probably fix it. Just threaten him with a wedgie and slap his stephen hawking books out of his hands.

Scope said...

When on the phone with tech support, here's the game I play: Tell me your real name.

The last time, I refused to continue the call because I knew the dude's name so wasn't "Eric" and how could I continue if our whoel relationship was built on a lie like that? Took 10 minutes of me calling hime various Indian names before he admitted his correct name.

Dr Zibbs said...

And speaking of tech support. I guess I start with Dell? Whow know. I've had the computer for about 2 years or so.

SkylersDad said...

Reboot.

If that doesn't work Reboot again.

Repeat as necessary.

Moooooog35 said...

I can help you. I speak geek.

But it will cost you $85/hour.

Plus my air fare to fly to Bangalore.

I don't think we're allowed to to tech support here in the States anymore.

jadedj said...

You were expecting a serious answer from these people? Har. My theory is, the yak ate it all. Pull it's plug, stick it in the nearest wall socket and reboot.

Do you not have a recovery disk? NO? Buy a new computer.

Sans Pantaloons said...

It sounds like your laptop has went through the Dell PC Restore utility, where the system is restored to the factory shipped image. If this is the case, it probably means all changes and files are already lost.

This ulitity is normally envoked by pressing Ctrl F11 at boot, and has numerous warnings about data loss. It is not something that should happen by accident. If you think this is what has occurred, allowing the restore to complete and re-download all the relevent MS updates may be the only option.

When all that completes you can attach your external backup and reload your data and/or programs.
Hope this helps a little...

Dr Zibbs said...

Sans Pant - thanks for the info. I will be using your advice as I decipher all of the other messages.

Sans Pantaloons said...

Sometimes, I have no shame.

sista #2 said...

Step one...get out old bong.
Step two...fire it up...take a few hits then stare at said POS stoned.

worked for me

peace
#2