Guess Who's PO'd! (Computer Problems)

[JT]

Yep more computer problems. A while ago, I spent about ten minutes trying to download, from www.wost.org, the 1983 "DYNASTY" opening credits, and after it downloaded all the way, I hit PLAY, and the second I pressed PLAY, that godawful message appeared. You know, the stupid "This program has performed an illegal operation." message. I clicked "OK" and the RealPlayer window, with the DYNASTY opening in it, just disappeared from my screen, as if I closed it. This computer is 5 years old, but my parents think that nothing is wrong with it. IT'S FIVE FRIGGEN YEARS OLD!!!!!!! OF COURSE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT! You know what, forget trying to help me figure out this problem, just help find a way to go about asking for a new computer....

[Truth]

Originally posted by JT
just help find a way to go about asking for a new computer....


Show them some of the great deals out there today.... Ive seen good complete computer systems for under 600 bucks...

[brownsocks]

threaten to delete any and all of their files;) okay bad idea...spill pop IN the computer yea that'll work

[ConservativeBalla]

Copy/Pasted from my "Everyone with AND WITHOUT..." topic:

Okay, update! I've sort of made this a little more readable, added the recommendations, and added some more hints.

BE SURE THAT WHEN YOU GET THESE PROGRAMS TO TELL THEM TO CHECK FOR UPDATES WHEN YOU FIRST GET THEM, AS WELL AS PERIODICALLY ATER YOU GET THEM!!! Make sure you have, AND KEEP FREQUENTLY UPDATED these things:

A Virus Scanner - I recommend McAfee Viruscan. Don't forget to check for updates EVERY day! (BTW, how does everyone pronounce "McAfee"? I say "MA("A" as in "Apple")-kuh-fee", but I've heard people say, "Muh-KAF-ee".)

A Firewall - I recommend McAfee Firewall. Update it, but it doesn't update near as much as the Virus Scanner.

Program that finds/deletes "Spyware/Adware" (Which is baaaad stuff) - I recommend "Spybot, Search and Destroy", "Ad-Aware", and "SpySubtract". Go to " http://www.download.com " to get "SpyBot" and "Ad-Aware", and these two are free forever. SpySubtract you can get at www.adsubtract.com , and it's a 30-Day Free Trial. ("AdSubtract" is a cool program too; it stops pop-ups and banners on websites; it works very well.)

Other tips after you get these:

1. Don't use "KaZaA" or any other file-sharing program to download full versions of Virus Scanners/Firewalls, just go spend the 40 - 50 bucks and do it right. Like with the registering and everything. The Spyware/Adware removal programs are free, so I guess you can get them from KaZaA. I wouldn't, though. I'd still go to their websites and get them.

2. Be sure to run the Spyware/Adware scanner, and the Virus Scanner to scan your computer at least once a week. I'd do the Spyware/Adware Removal program scanner at least once a day, especially before and after using the Internet.

3. Make sure your Virus Scanner and Firewall are always running, ESPECIALLY if you are on the Internet. MORE ESPECIALLY if you have any sort of an "Always on" Internet connection such as Cable, DSL, Satellite, etc. And MOST ESPECIALLY have them both on if you're using any File-sharing network such as "KaZaA".

4. Use your "Scandisk" and "Disk Defragmenter" at least once a week.

5. If you don't need your Cookies, go to all your "Temporary Internet Files" folders, and delete EVERYTHING there. Some cookies are used to remember User Names/Passwords for you on Message Boards and other sites, so if you need some cookies, see if you can find which ones you need and which you don't, and delete the ones you don't need.

6. If you have ANY programs or files on your computer that you do not want, or do not use, get rid of it! The process you should use to get rid of them/it is this:

A. See of they have an "Uninstall", and use IT.

B. Whether it DOES or does NOT have an "Uninstall", go to your Start Menu, then "Settings", then "Control Panel", and go into "Add/Remove Programs". Check stuff you want to get rid of there and tell it to get rid of them.

C. After you do both/either of these (Or if neither displays the program you're trying to get rid of) go to "Start", "Find all Files and Folders", and type in the name of the program. Make sure you set it to search "My Computer" so it checks everywhere. When it finds it, delete it, then delete it out of your Recycle Bin, if you have one.

D. THIS NEXT PART DEALS WITH THE BACKBONE OF YOUR SYSTEM, SO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHILE USING THIS METHOD, AND I TAKE NO REPONSIBILITY FOR SYSTEM DAMAGE! Okay, now, go to "Start", "Run", and type in " regedit " and press "OK". It brings up a little window with a few folders. These folders contain files that are on your computer, and even ones you might've deleted! And fragments of different programs, as well. Double-click on "My Computer" so it searches everything, click "Edit", then "Find". Type in what you want to search for and press "Find Next". When it finds something matching what you typed in, MAKE SURE IT'S THE EXACT PROGRAM/FILE YOU WANTED TO DELETE, AND THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING ELSE BEFORE DELETING IT!

E. This particular thing ought to be completely off your system now.

Good luck with your comp., and stay tuned in case I think of any more tips/hints!

[robyrob]

Originally posted by JT
Yep more computer problems. A while ago, I spent about ten minutes trying to download, from www.wost.org, the 1983 "DYNASTY" opening credits, and after it downloaded all the way, I hit PLAY, and the second I pressed PLAY, that godawful message appeared. You know, the stupid "This program has performed an illegal operation." message. I clicked "OK" and the RealPlayer window, with the DYNASTY opening in it, just disappeared from my screen, as if I closed it. This computer is 5 years old, but my parents think that nothing is wrong with it. IT'S FIVE FRIGGEN YEARS OLD!!!!!!! OF COURSE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT! You know what, forget trying to help me figure out this problem, just help find a way to go about asking for a new computer....
DONT USE RealPlayer - (or QuickTime for that matter) download the Alternatives (basically it is the classic Windows Media Player from Windows98 with plugins for each) from the Kazaalite downloads (http://www.kazaalite.tk)

as for getting a new machine, what helps the most is if you convince yer parents that you can't even do your homework on it anymore... then show them some of the deals for under $500 - I want to get one of the Shuttle minicomputers (http://us.shuttle.com/) some of which retail for under $300 (and they are sooo cute!!!