Well, I do need a new laptop. But I thought I needed one now!
We're really trying to get another six weeks out of this one so that we don't have to buy a new one until we're in Seattle.
Woke up this morning, turned on the laptop and it....froze!
Now, it's been doing this once or twice a day for the last month or so. But, I just force a shut down and it restarts and works fine. For a while, anyhow. In fact, I wrote about it on August 5th.
But this time, restarting it didn't help!
I could restart it in safe mode and even safe networking mode. And it seemed to work fine, so I tried doing the old "restore" program that sometimes fixes a glitch. But this time, even "restore" could not compute! It kept coming up with "Restore cannot complete due to error" or something to that effect.
So I ran a memory test program and it passed everything with flying colors. Then, I ran a hard drive test program and on the very first test it failed! Came up with some error code and when I did some research on the error code the consensus seemed to be that anybody with that error code needs a new hard drive. But one forum I was reading said that hard drive error codes can occasionally be repaired using the hard drive manufacturers (in this case, Fujitsu) diagnostics tools. So I downloaded that onto Ruth's little laptop, transferred it over to mine, ran the program (for about two hours!) and it did all kinds of automatic repair and test and partition things...and BINGO! Everything works fine.
In fact, maybe it's just me, but it seems like it's working better than it has in two months!
Now, how long will it last? Who knows...but hopefully six more weeks...
ARG! At least you have an idea of how to troubleshoot problems... the last time my laptop crashed we were in Costa Rica and the computer shop guy didn't speak English and our Spanish was none too good.. But then... do things ever break at a convenient time?
ReplyDeleteIt was a good thing we have two computers as well because he couldn't have troubleshooted the problem without using my computer to access the internet to get ideas on how to go about trying to fix the problem. No, they never seem to crash at a convenient time!
DeleteGood luck with your computer, when they work they are great, when you have issues, not so much.
ReplyDeleteYep, that is so right!
DeleteMicrosoft builds in the obsolescence. They force it to fail after so many years. We have three laptops in a closet we need to clean up. I bought a 1T to download all of our photos from those laptops. Still not sure what to do with them. It's all about money.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that we buy in the fact that Microsoft builds in the obsolescence. I think it is just the fact that technology changes so much and so fast that the older the computer system is the harder it has at keeping up with the new technology and that happens with all systems not just Microsoft. You are right though, it's all about money! It seems that everyone wants the "new toy" in town when something new is out on the market.
DeleteWay to go Kevin for getting it back working. How old is it? I've got a 5 year old Dell that needs to last another 2 years. So far, so good.
ReplyDeleteBought it in August of 2007. It has done as much traveling in those 7 years as we have!
DeleteThe low-level repair process likely moved data from damaged sectors onto undamaged ones. The nice fringe benefit of this is that the OS no longer wastes enormous time accessing the damaged sectors, so the laptop's overall performance improves. If you are otherwise happy with the laptop, a new disk may be all you need.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there are more issues with the computer than just buying a new hard drive. There is no longer a battery in the computer, the internal wifi antenna has given up the ghost and he is missing a few keys, it's definitely just about time for a new one!
DeleteFingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteThey are!
DeleteWhat a wonderful fix. Hope it lasts for you.
ReplyDeleteSo do we Paul and Marsha!
DeleteLife without a computer is inconceivable to me but that doesn't mean I have to like them. Glad you were able to rescue it and fingers crossed that it makes it through another six weeks.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Jim and Sandie, we can't imagine what life would be like without one anymore and we don't want to either. It is like our lifeline now!
DeleteI wouldn't have the slightest idea how to begin to fix the problem you had.
ReplyDeleteNeither would I, Judith! I am glad I have a hubby who likes to try and figure out some of these mysteries.
DeleteCongratulations on finding a solution; hopefully, it will be more lengthy than what you are hoping for! Blessings, Lynn
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynn, we will be happy enough if it just gets us through to the beginning of November as the computer really is just about done and a new one is needed.
DeleteWhat I used to rush off to pay somebody else to fix on the computers we have I now do myself. The only exception was replacing a fan which even a tech friend I have told me was too complicated for him to attempt. I have gotten rid of several viruses (now run a paid virus program and free virus program at same time. What gets around the paid one the free one has removed twice - yay!) and regularly run diagnostic tests. You sure can extend the life of computers that way.
ReplyDeleteThere is lots of info out on the internet to help you do your own repairs to the computer and that helps to save lots of money! Neither Kevin nor myself have had any anti-virus protection on our computers for the last 5 years and neither one of us has ever had a virus. We are very careful to know which sites we are going to before entering them. When we did have virus protection though we did use a free one. Kevin runs the diagnostic test quite regularly as well, maybe that is one of the reasons we have been able to get so much life out of our computers. Every little bit helps.
DeleteI am surprised that you do not wait until you are in Korea to buy a new computer where the technology is way ahead of the US
ReplyDeleteWe actually won't get it until we return from South Korea unless of course the computer dies before then. The problem with buying it in South Korea is one the warranty and two we aren't sure if the key board would be in Korean or in English. I am sure that we will keep our eyes open while we are there because you just never know what to expect.
Delete