Computer Help?!!!

[jmack]

Ok guys I have a computer related question. I am hoping some of you guys can help me. Recently the hard drive on my computer croaked, as well as the CD Rom. Well, I had a warranty at Best Buy, so I took the thing in on Thursday and they replaced the hard drive as well as the CD-Rom. Of course the downside to this repair is the fact that I have to completely reinstall all of my old programs. I started doing this, and finally installed my MSN software for my dial up access. Well later this afternoon I went online to check my mail again. I signed onto MSN, but the main page looked like it wouldn't load at all. It was all very choppy and in the wrong font. I then clicked the 'mail' icon and after several minutes i get an error that says it has "timed Out." Then I try to open the internet explorer to see if that works. NOTHING. It wont let me go to certain sites, like hotmail, or my local sites. It is very frustrating. I have tried to use system restore to take it back to the beginning but I dont think that does any bit of good. Does anyone have any suggestions before I take the stupid thing and throw it out the window?

[Mean Green]

If you are using the system restore cd's that came with your computer when it was new then everything should work. Have you tried it on a different day? Sometimes the internet gets screwed up and no pages will work. Have you called your dialup provider? They should help you troubleshoot problems.

[Jimbo]

Not sure how best buy works .do they have a 24 hr assistance.
If they do, Call them.I have a Dell and both both cd drives wouldn't work.I called them and after about 2 hours of trying things. They sent out a guy and he replaced both of them.

[Mike-in-Orange]

Once you get this sorted out it is critically important that you have a second hard drive installed in your computer and then install a copy of either Ghost (by Symantec) or True Drive (by Acronis). Either of these will allow you to make a complete backup of your hard drive, and in the event of a hard drive failure you simply throw away the bad drive, plug a new one in, boot to a floppy and restore everything to the way it was. I do this with all 5 computers at our house, and the last time a hard drive died on my wife's machine I had her up and running in about 30 minutes, including the time it took to physically install the new drive.

Oh yeah, you have to do your backups REGULARLY too. I do them every couple of days.

[stirfry]

Go to add and remove programs and get ride of MSN mess up. Start over with either outlook, or outlook express. Your computer has outlook express as the default program. If not that set up a e-mail account with Yahoo, or Hot mail anything but msn messange. Oh and you'll be much happier with Broadband rather than dial up. well worth the $$$. my 2 cents.

[jmack]

I do not have Broadband access in my area. Also, MSN is my dial up provider. Outlook does not sync well with MSN mail (go figure)

On top of this, after I finally did get everything fixed, I forgot to install Norton and I got a virus that is so bad, Im gonna have to start all over again.

At my new job they have the PC purchase program, so screw it. Im just gonna get a new comp after I have worked there a while.

[stirfry]

Bummer! You still might check through the wizard on your computer internet Network places connection what is avalible in your area. And try another ISP before you give up on the whole thing.
[8D]

[Hooligan]

quote:Originally posted by stirfry

Bummer! You still might check through the wizard on your computer internet Network places connection what is avalible in your area. And try another ISP before you give up on the whole thing.
[8D]

stirfry & jmack:, I use NetZero with a modem and I load quite fast. I know I can't use my phone while I'm online, but that's the breaks. I have been using it for about 4 years and have been very happy with it. Best thing is I can go almost anywhere and with my laptop, I can connect almost anywhere.

[stirfry]

Thanks, that's a good option. When on the road it cost to hook up to braodband. Netzero would be great in that respect. I know their is hot zones now, but those are also controlled by the providers and usually their is a monthly fee of about $20 extra for that service. Really makes cost go up. [8D]
The beef I have about MSN is they give you that service when you buy a new computer like a dell. Free for six months. I personally only used it, maybe once or twice then got broadband and never looked back. But about 1 year later I got a call from MSN and they wanted to charge me for the last past 6 month because I never told them I didn't want their service anymore, so I'm supposed to let them know (Yea Right). They just start charging after the happy free stuff is over. They had the nerve to ask for my creit card #'s, and I was supose to have owed them about $80.00. I don't think so. They but up a good little fuss, I told them "No Act", and basicly get lost. End of story, in my book their a bunch of scamers. My 2 Cents worth.