deddard
12-10-2002, 05:46 PM
Hi
I've just come back from a friend who's been having problems with a PC.
I originally just went to solve a problem with his internet connection which wasn't automatically connecting when he clicked on the connection (that was easy to solve)
He also asked me to look at his 'printer' which is in fact an multifunction device, scanner-printer-copier: a Lexmark Z75.
It doesn't appear to work, although it certainly has power.
Another device which doesn't work is an external CDRW.
I didn't have time to deal with these problems this time round, but am going back in a few days - I suspect his machine needs a damn good cleanout.
The system is a compaq presario, running win Me:rolleyes: with an AMD processor.
I noticed several referrals to 'virtual USB' devices, though I can see no reason for them at present. The system has the standard 2 USB ports on the back, as well as 2 on the front; perhaps the lexmark requires virtual drivers?
He had loaded USB2 drivers although he has not got USB2. I tried reinstalling and autodetecting the lexmark, but as i had never used Me before, was a bit perplexed by the dialogue I was faced with - a dialogue box listing loads of different ports, including LPT, and some which were actually named after the printers installed (he also has a deskjet), virtual devices etc.
After reinstalling and detecting, I couldn't get the lexmark to be recognised in the printer section. I clicked 'add printer' and sure enough, it added it, and it then promptly disappeared.
Anyone have any clues about what is going on?
he's also having problems with his email. Using outlook express, the system hangs, or a prefetch screen pops up. He's thinking of upgrading to XP after christmas, but before then, he needs things sorting.
He has a built-in CDR drive, which I thought was a bit odd, as he also had the external one. He explained that it didn't work, and the guys at PC World had sold him the external one - nice support guys. I suspect again that this is all down to the system being messed up, but as the guy is in his eighties, any mug in a computer shop can take advantage of him - i'd like to sort it if possible.
I'm going to run Norton Utilities over the system, just to iron out the initial problems it can find, uninstall everything except what is 100% necessary and start from scratch if needs be.
I assume that as it's a compaq, there is no system disc - he said he had one, but couldn't find it (it's more likely that it's a system rescue disc) so we could be stuffed there.
The logical partition D: is there, as on most compaqs, and I assume this is where the system backups are, but he says information he has created has been written here as well - nothing like complications huh:eek:
pointers on any of this are welcome.
I've just come back from a friend who's been having problems with a PC.
I originally just went to solve a problem with his internet connection which wasn't automatically connecting when he clicked on the connection (that was easy to solve)
He also asked me to look at his 'printer' which is in fact an multifunction device, scanner-printer-copier: a Lexmark Z75.
It doesn't appear to work, although it certainly has power.
Another device which doesn't work is an external CDRW.
I didn't have time to deal with these problems this time round, but am going back in a few days - I suspect his machine needs a damn good cleanout.
The system is a compaq presario, running win Me:rolleyes: with an AMD processor.
I noticed several referrals to 'virtual USB' devices, though I can see no reason for them at present. The system has the standard 2 USB ports on the back, as well as 2 on the front; perhaps the lexmark requires virtual drivers?
He had loaded USB2 drivers although he has not got USB2. I tried reinstalling and autodetecting the lexmark, but as i had never used Me before, was a bit perplexed by the dialogue I was faced with - a dialogue box listing loads of different ports, including LPT, and some which were actually named after the printers installed (he also has a deskjet), virtual devices etc.
After reinstalling and detecting, I couldn't get the lexmark to be recognised in the printer section. I clicked 'add printer' and sure enough, it added it, and it then promptly disappeared.
Anyone have any clues about what is going on?
he's also having problems with his email. Using outlook express, the system hangs, or a prefetch screen pops up. He's thinking of upgrading to XP after christmas, but before then, he needs things sorting.
He has a built-in CDR drive, which I thought was a bit odd, as he also had the external one. He explained that it didn't work, and the guys at PC World had sold him the external one - nice support guys. I suspect again that this is all down to the system being messed up, but as the guy is in his eighties, any mug in a computer shop can take advantage of him - i'd like to sort it if possible.
I'm going to run Norton Utilities over the system, just to iron out the initial problems it can find, uninstall everything except what is 100% necessary and start from scratch if needs be.
I assume that as it's a compaq, there is no system disc - he said he had one, but couldn't find it (it's more likely that it's a system rescue disc) so we could be stuffed there.
The logical partition D: is there, as on most compaqs, and I assume this is where the system backups are, but he says information he has created has been written here as well - nothing like complications huh:eek:
pointers on any of this are welcome.