just ignore and let this one die

It won't let me turn on the computer normally. Gives me one or two error messages, either "new Hardware installed wrong" (or something like that, I do not recall installing new hardware other than the cooling pad/fan thingie), or the .. . . um . . how was that worded "No page . . . ". I can't remember that one, and it is the one that keeps turning up right now.

What does it allow me to do? Enter the computer through safe mode with networking. Meaning I can get to the Internet but everything is like it was back in, say, 1991. The video card, I think, is off.

I have never heard of Fry.

I want that guy from Chuck. He seems smart. You know, Adam Baldwin. He'd shoot my computer and I'd move on with my life. (I haven't seen the series since last year, so for all I know the series is dead, Baldwin is dead, or there is in an odd twist and he is in a sexual relationship with Chuck.) heh, actually mean that tech guy, Chuck himself.

I can pay roughly 95-97 dollars an hour to fix my melted laptop, or spend $949 for a desktop with a 20 inch screen. And with Vista. ick.
512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GT
3GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHZ - 2X1GB+2X512MB
Intel® Core™2 Quad Proc Q6600 (2.40GHz,2X4M L2Cache,1066FSB)

I'm confused by the:
Modem and Wireless No Modem Option
with the
Network Interface Integrated PCIe Gb NIC Ethernet

I assume the Ethernet card will allow me to connect to a router I already have.

Of course it doesn't ship until Friday, and costs $949. And is a desktop instead of a laptop. And has a fat tower. And I do not think I should spend that kind of money.

Of course the problem with the laptop could take an hour to fix. If it takes more than an hour, then is not fixed . . . won't have the money to pay everything I need to pay (as in bills plus new computer).

I'm going to investigate "lifting" a computer. Yes . . . that's what I should do. Yes . .

I wonder what the cheapest laptop I could buy that runs SL like a dream and doesn't burst into flames. The laptop that melted had that second one going for it. Didn't burst into flames, but did melt. Wasn't cheapest laptop I could have gotten.

I just want something that will run SL, and not explode in flames. I do not need all that other stuff (which leads to my assumption that SL is so demanding that I could do all that other stuff easily with SL turned off. heh).

Thanks 3Ring

Pep (If I ever need a straight man I will call you)

errrrr.... i won't actually be playing. i was just being a smartass.

fun site:
http://www.kwik-fitinsurance.com/pimpmysleigh/

do you have the windows software that came with the computer? have you tried reformatting?

your disk might have taken a dive also.

i'm just guessing here. i actually have no clue, but i'd totally start with the reformat.

seriously.

Computers are somewhat beyond my knowledge level, or comfort zone (the fixing of). I do have an aggressive-keep- pounding approach, though. Which is how, after about 10 minutes, I found the option that allowed me to enter through safe mode with access to the internet (took me that look as I was attempting to get to start in normal mode for a while, I didn't want to believe it was finally dead).

I did look to see if I could defragment, or fragment, or shoot my bytes like in an early '80s video game in a tiny ship, but I did not find any of those options. I did not get any of the discs. I do not know why I spelled discs that way. I do not know how to reformat.

It's a Dell, right? Does anybody know if Dell will help with the OS if you didn't purchase install media?

Really? You could have fooled me . . .

Pep (Subtlety not needed on this voyage?)

Yes, a Dell Inspiron E1700, or something like that.

i'm known for my (tom)foolery, but not for my subtlety. so, yes.

darn. Cheapest Laptop I can find that runs SL is $1,018 (or 1008 with Vista).

Have no idea if the desktop I mentioned earlier is any good, but it is "only" $949.

reformatting is simply using the windows media disk that came with your computer.

if you have windows XP, simply put it in the disk player, reboot your puter, and it will walk you through it.

reformatting erases EVERYTHING you've added to your puter and restores it to it's original state. i suggest you save anything you don't want to lose before trying this solution.

Make sure you have an XP setup disk first though . . .

Pep (Most machines now don't)

I did not get a windows media disk.

um...yeah!! Just joshing ya.

Is one GB of memory, going from 2 to 3 GB, worth an extra $50?
Is Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB) worth $125 more than Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5670 (1.8GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)? (This is with XP, recommended for XP is 1.5 GHz, 2.0 GHz for Vista).

So "save" $200 and get a computer screen of 15.4 vs. 17 inches.

Darn. Just noticed video card drops from 8800 to 8400 in this "savings" of $200 comparing the two laptops.

Never mind. Too small screen, and there was something I read somewhere to get at least a 8600.

Right. Back to trying to get melted computer fixed.

Okay living on the ground in SL is a little too close for comfort for me. Every time I log in ,there are people out in front of my house just standing there. I don't like people. Well, random people..... Honey, I think I need to go back in the sky where I can be a hermit. People scare me.

Signed your pain in the ass anxeity ridden tenant

Hmm...Lex...being able to start in Safe Mode is a good sign. At least you can get in.

I didn't catch it, are you using Vista or XP?

It would help to know the exact error messages you get when trying to start up on Normal Mode though.

This just started after shutting down and restarting your computer? No other changes have been made?

Rio, I can't solve your problems but can I offer you a *really* big hug?

Pep (Read 'Men are from Mars . . . ' a long time ago)

Lexxi's computer has been overheating for some time, running SL. After a while, she'd get the usual GPU artifacts when overheating, and then the machine would crash hard (please correct me if I'm wrong Lexxi). She tried a cooling pad to get the overheating under control, but that caused more crashes (USB powered, so yeah...). She has XP, but no install media. Anybody know how to get the appropriate OEM version out of Dell if necessary?

She disappeared last night, so I presume she overheated, crashed, and couldn't boot back up.

I was wondering if the device manager in Safe Mode might point out broken hardware. Something that could be disabled to get her running again? I'm out of my depth with this.

Not a problem sweety. Let's take a look at it tonight when I get home, and figure out where we can put you. I have a few empty skyboxes, I can just either put you in one of those or let you have a lot to put up your own.

Aww thanks. Throw in a case of beer and some Valiums with that hug and I'll be okay again.

Love, she should be able to call Dell with her service tag number and talk them into install media.