Archived CalgaryPuck Computer Help Thread

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

What OS are you running. Some devices require the device to be powered - example USB keys and External HD. Mice/Keyboards/Cameras normally are either self powered or dont require enough power to matter. I would guess its either:

Mobo USB ports arent rated to handle power over usb devices.
Mobo USB ports are just wonky.

Intermitent problems are likely hardware (the reason for the above suggestions), and not driver problems unless you are running pre W2K.

MYK

Windows XP. It's run perfectly fine for about 2 years. It just suddenly stopped working, which leads me to believe that there's probably a hardware issue (something shorting out so the USB isn't getting full power?) or a virus affecting the drivers?

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Windows XP. It's run perfectly fine for about 2 years. It just suddenly stopped working, which leads me to believe that there's probably a hardware issue (something shorting out so the USB isn't getting full power?) or a virus affecting the drivers?

Does the device manager give you any hints?

Is it all the ports that have this problem or specific ones?

Could it be a grounding or static issue?

[InSutterWeTrust]

nm answered my own question

[Otto-matic]

Dont know whats wrong but my headphone is dead on the left side but when I unplug them its fine with the speakers. I plugged 3 in and its the same problem

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Dont know whats wrong but my headphone is dead on the left side but when I unplug them its fine with the speakers. I plugged 3 in and its the same problem

it could be that the jack in your comp died (dunno if you have onboard sound or a sound card). If you have any other cards try that. You may also wanna check your sound settings to see if you can change it (which you should be able to). Change it from speakers to headphones and see if that works.

[MoneyGuy]

My laptop when I leave it unoccupied for a few minutes, it seems to time out. It likely goes into power-saver mode and sort of goes off but when I click on the return key or use the mouse pad it takes about 20 seconds to come back on. It's a Dell Inspiron. How do I reset the time-off to take longer to go off?

[cSpooge]

right click->properties->screen saver->power and there should be the options in there.

[MoneyGuy]

I'll try it, thanks.

[ratech]

Need some help - How do you put icons onto your task bar. Not the automatic ones by the clock, but ones you can drag on to it. There must be a setting to do this. Thanks

EDIT - Sorry, I figured it out.

Quick launch in taskbar properties.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

My laptop when I leave it unoccupied for a few minutes, it seems to time out. It likely goes into power-saver mode and sort of goes off but when I click on the return key or use the mouse pad it takes about 20 seconds to come back on. It's a Dell Inspiron. How do I reset the time-off to take longer to go off?

Still happening. I leave my laptop for 10 seconds and the screen goes black and I have to hit the enter key and then it takes 10-20 seconds to come back on. However, if I leave it alone for 30-60 seconds, it goes into sleep mode and I have to hit the on key to get it back on and that takes almost a minute to come back on. I've tried right mouse click and none of the settings there is that brief. Is there another place I can find settings for this?

[cSpooge]

you could also try... start->control panel->power options

[Bobblehead]

If it is a laptop, how is your battery? It will shut down quickly if it is about to run out of juice.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Anybody have a suggestion for this doozy?

I have IE6 on my PC. There are two windows accounts. One is mine and one is my sons. If I log on using my account, IE will either go to one particular webpage no matter what you type in the address bar or will give a 404 error. I logged on to my son's account and IE will go wherever I tell it.

Thoughts?

[Vulcan]

My thought is to download and use Firefox instead. It has far fewer problems such as having your browser hijacked.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

My thought is to download and use Firefox instead. It has far fewer problems such as having your browser hijacked.

Well, that was one obvious 'solution', but I have used firefox in the past and had problems with it losing bookmarks.

If anyone has an actual solution to the problem I would appreciate the help.

[Vulcan]

Have you tried running Spybot Search and Destroy and also Adaware. Anything else and I'm out of my league. Sorry.

[BlackArcher101]

DFF, lookup Hijack This! in google. Don't download it and start removing stuff you don't know though. Read a few tutorials on it.

Here's one: http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/
Another one: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...utorial42.html

Finally, download it here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html

This will kill any program that hijacks browsers and other software. Those spyware programs you see mentioned rarely help you and are spyware themselves sometimes.

[Displaced Flames fan]

OMG

What would happen if I uninstalled IE and reinstalled it instead?

I ask this silly question because from reading through that it looks like I may need several uninterrupted hours for that project. I just don't have 'em!

[Vulcan]

BA101 your bleepingcomputer link also recommends running Spybot and Adaware before trying Hijack this.

[Vulcan]

You can also download WinPatrol which will allow you to remove or disable any programs that shouldn't be there.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/col...07,pg,1,00.asp