Ok... I hate 'em too. Ours died a couple of years ago and I just couldn't get it fixed and had to buy a replacement. It's a good thing we had it as I got laid off and had to spend half a year job searching and it was a life saver. That said, when I got some money ahead this last year I got a Mac laptop and didn't look back. You can get by on the cheap but I would advise going for middle of the road and going with name brand. Get a new computer and rebuild.

I'll recommend you find a knowledgeable kid - some boy scout or rural area outdoor type in your area and they will be willing to help with all sorts of hands on computer assistance in exchange for some Equipped to Survive gear.... barter in other words. If you are really in a pickle, just let us know here and the group will rally - we will buy some stuff, toss a few bucks into the hat and what ever else it takes to support you like you have supported us with all the good gear, advice and this great site!

I'm in the land of the walleye (Minnesota) otherwise I would just stop by and try to help out. Anyone you can call on near by? Good luck and keep us posted and let us know what to do to help. McDonald's will thank us too I think....

Paul -

I realize you are frustrated, but since you're tight on cash, I would explore why the new windows version works fine. It does sound to me at least, the Windows Registry is corrupt. The only surefire way to fix it: reinstall.

I think your best bet is to find a knowledgeable geek as everyone has suggested. Maybe even go to one of those big-box stores and see if they can repair it for nothing!

Don't hate computers...Hate the operating system.

Then switch.

Any recent Mac can also run Windows. Often, faster and more reliably too.
Although god knows why anyone would want to continue accepting such abuse.

Yeah - I know where you're coming from. My job is computers and writing software, and they frustrate me too.

So to relax, I go upstairs and play the piano. Which happens to be, uhm, made by Roland. So it's a computer with an 88 key keyboard rather than the standard 101 key PC keyboard. Oh well, I do have an acoustic piano up there too, if I totally want to abandon the electronic world. Even the Nikon camera sitting next to me is ... a computer. That thing must have about 972 "keys" on it - front, back, top, sides - most of 'em I have no idea what they do.

Doug,

Two things....

I am currently in Austin Texas, want me to go put a rock thru Mike Dell's window?


Can you say MAC???? They can now run windows mind you. Four in our house and they are going strong. And if anyone can foul up a computer, it's my kids.

PS: For work, I HAVE to have a PC. I am back in the field consulting for wireless companies. I just last friday destroyed an HP from vibration. (it's mounted in my F350.) I went to a Panasonic Toughbook CF30. Thick as a brick and twice as heavy, but almost indestructible. I got a demo from a company here in Texas. I know where some more are. Going for about half price.

get my email from the records and shoot me a note if you have questions.

My laptop is a Toughbook.

Not doing the Mac thing. Can't afford it, both cost and time to get it all going with everything else.

I've played with Macs and been plenty pissed at them as well.

All my tame geeks grew up and now manage geeks or found a life. Side effect of getting old.

Some of the dells you can plug a USB stick in and it works as RAM.
A very cheap way of adding it!
The Sock

I generally suggest avoiding the "find a knowledgeable kid" route. If it is something simple, like swapping a bad network card or RAM, sure, ok, that they can do. If you need to set up or integrate with an existing network, be sure you don't lose critical data, or deal with any kind RAID, it is often beyond their knowledge.

When I was doing consumer tech support, about a third of what I did started with "my kid tried to fix it".

I just one of our geeks was closer, Doug.