Blue Screen Help !

[Daisycakes]

For the past 3 weeks my computer screen turns blue eachtime I try to log on...after about 3 or 4 tantrums it eventually lets me log on...by this time not only is the screen blue... but the air also... Is it time to have the so called health check ....?

Ann

[dickiesam]

Hi Ann,
Sorry for your trouble but is it only when you try to log on to this site that the problem arises? Or any site?

And what browser are you using? If you have Microsoft's Internet Explorer what version is it? And you might try downloading and installing Firefox and see if the same problem occurs. http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

[MaryA]

I think Ann is meaning "blue screen", and her computer not actually booting up. Sometimes there is a lot of errors listed on it too. I hate to say it but it could be fatal. If you actually manage to get it booted up, please make sure you have everything you need backed up if you don't already. And then yet, get a health check, but it could mean a new hard drive. Sorry.

[dickiesam]

It may not be the hard drive. If a list of errors is displayed at start-up and the machine fails to boot I would immediately suspect a problem with the operating system. Could be a corrupted MBR [Master Boot Record]. To overcome this you need to re-install the OS after backing up all your precious data. A re-install should not 'destroy' existing data files. It usually simply restores the OS. If OS discs did not come with the machine use the CDs made when you first got the machine and started using it.

However, if you are running Vista, do not reinstall. Upgrade to a later Windows such as Windows 7. I suggest that version because while the format is similar to Vista, it looks and works roughly the same but is vastly superior. Windows 8 is quite different in layout and format.

[MaryA]

Like DS, we couldn't stress more that if you get it booted up, MAKE A BACK UP COPY IMMEDIATELY, just in case.

[Daisycakes]

I gave up on it last night and threatened next stop the tip however this morning gave it one more chance it let me in had to log off(( because I had profiteroles inth oven)) It then said do not log off... 17 updates to install...and hey ho it seems to be ok...because here I am chatting to you.

Thanks DS and Mary....I have windows 7 and I will back up now.. again thank you for your advice. Ann

[dickiesam]

I gave up on it last night and threatened next stop the tip however this morning gave it one more chance it let me in had to log off(( because I had profiteroles inth oven)) It then said do not log off... 17 updates to install...and hey ho it seems to be ok...because here I am chatting to you.

Thanks DS and Mary....I have windows 7 and I will back up now.. again thank you for your advice. Ann

Some good news Ann! After the backup, if the machine misbehaves again, I suggest doing a reinstall of the OS. Most unusual for 7 to give trouble. Have you had a power outage recently when the machine was switched on, even very temporary? Also suggest you do a disk cleanup via Administrative Tools in Control Panel and then do a defragmentation of the HD.

Do your profiteroles post well? I could send you my address!

[MaryA]

Do your profiteroles post well? I could send you my address!

They would roll up the M6 rather well to my house

[Daisycakes]

Checked out the defragmentation and apparently it does that all by itself every Wednesday at 1 A.M. How good is that Tonight though it had another blue screen moment but only one so thats not bad...I did find in the control panel that I could, "Restore your computer to an earlier time" and wondered if that might work.

With regard to the profiteroles..sadly none left

Ann

[dickiesam]

Checked out the defragmentation and apparently it does that all by itself every Wednesday at 1 A.M. How good is that Tonight though it had another blue screen moment but only one so thats not bad...I did find in the control panel that I could, "Restore your computer to an earlier time" and wondered if that might work.

With regard to the profiteroles..sadly none left

Ann

Hi Ann,
Your machine will only defrag itself if it is actually up and running on Wednesday at 1 AM. If you are having those Blue Screen boot-up moments when you switch on, you must be shutting the m/c off? So the m/c can't defrag itself.

If you use that option "Restore your computer to an earlier time", you will lose all data acquired since that earlier time. So a data backup is essential and it has to be to an external drive. If you know for sure when these blue screens started and have an external drive [an 8 or 16 Gb flash drive could be big enough], then go for it. I use a program called Rollback in preference to Microsoft's 'system restore' program. Rollback makes an 'image' of my entire system and contents 3 times a day, and I always use it before I install a new program. So if I don't like it I can revert to the original state without doing an uninstall because an uninstall will usually leave some junk or clutter behind particularly in the Registry. The images are discarded after 3 days.

Personally I would do a re-install of the Win 7 OS. Most computer problems are nothing to do with the hardware but with the OS or a corrupted program. An OS reinstall would also fix any 'defects' in the Registry, a very important part of the OS that tells the m/c were everything is, and is essential to a clean start or boot-up.

[Fledge]

I'm devastated about the profiteroles. I think we missed out there, chaps.

My laptop keeps giving me the BSOD as well. I keep trying to remember to back up and transfer it all to another laptop on which the keyboard doesn't work but know that the time I forget to save my work it'll die on me. I hate computers.

[MaryA]

laptop on which the keyboard doesn't work

That rings bells, I have one of those too!!

Please invest in a flash drive, they have come down hugely in price and are probably the most economical way of saving your work unless you want to go down the line of a larger external hard drive.

At the very least open a gmail account and use it for storage. There is also free online storage, such as Dropbox which also enables you to share files with others.

I don't think this hot weather is doing our computers much good, it's possibly making the fans work overtime. If anybody is using a laptop make sure you aren't using it on a cushion or anywhere that the air can't circulate around, some years ago I bought a Belkin laptop stand that sits at an angle, plugs into your computer with a USB connection that powers a fan to keep things cool.

[dickiesam]

I don't think this hot weather is doing our computers much good, it's possibly making the fans work overtime. If anybody is using a laptop make sure you aren't using it on a cushion or anywhere that the air can't circulate around, some years ago I bought a Belkin laptop stand that sits at an angle, plugs into your computer with a USB connection that powers a fan to keep things cool.

MaryA,
That is very sound advice about laptops and you can add notebooks etc. Never use a laptop or notebook on your lap! Or on any soft surface! That Belkin device is still around and a lot cheaper than buying a new machine to replace an overheated one.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/computers-acces ... B000W0D15O

[MaryA]

Well I'm sure I paid £15 for it a few years ago, so that's even more of a bargain now - grab one while the going is good.
Gold-plated copper contacts offer conductivity and keep data loss to a minimum
Over-sized ergonomix thumbscrews make installation easy
State-of-the-art wiring design ensures 100% compatibility

I don't know what all this is about as the little stand folds flat when not in use and I believe it arrived all in one piece and the only wiring is one connecting it to the PC - childs play.

[Daisycakes]

Thanks everyone for all your help re: Blue Screen Disease....Fingers crossed as its behaving itself now You deserve some profiteroles if ever ya down Staffordshire way.

Ann

[Fledge]

I've just ordered the little stand thing from Amazon - thanks for the link. I've been having to switch this machine off frequently during the warm spell.

I've always had my laptop on a hard surface since my daughter went out for the evening in Bradford and left her laptop on on top of her duvet. Fried the hard drive and all its contents, could've burnt the house down. Kids, eh.