Computers- Bah!

[catawhat75]

So I bought my new computer a little over a year ago. Old one (the one I use most) is running XP and the new one is running Vista (oh how I hate hate hate Vista!). At one point, we had them networked together just fine. Have a Linksys and was able to run the new one and get online with no problems. Then *poof*, one day, no more connection. For the life of me (and Paul) we can't figure out what the heck happened! No one touched anything, no one changed anything, it just STOPPED.

I have hated that computer from day one, I should have taken it back. This one is getting so outdated but I love it. Simple, easy, user friendly. Why Microsoft, why did you have to *upgrade*. XP was great. Freakin Vista, stupid new computer. Arrrg

Tried to have help over the phone, no go. Tried a friend who set everything up to begin with fix it and still no go. Sigh... guess I will have to pay Geek Squad or someone to come out.

Is it too much to ask that computers be user friendly? I never had issues with computers until the last couple of years. Anymore, you need a degree to understand anything above the basics.

[wilomn]

Must be something in the air, my hard drive crashed today.

Now, IF I had used HP to diagnose this, they would have provided the recovery disks I need for free. I didn't use HP, I went to the Geeks since I bought from a BestBuy. Did you know that you now need to burn your own disks when you get your computer or you get charged to get them from HP? Cool huh?

So, now I've spent about 4 hours on the phone, only a half hour dropping of my laptop to find out why it wasn't working and, in only a couple more days, because I'm paying EXTRA, I'll have my disks. Had I not paid the extra shipping charge, I'd have my disks in 7 to 10 business days.

Sigh.

[catawhat75]

That bites Wes!

Yea, I bought my HP from Circuit City and it did this just a few days out of warranty

[dc4teg]

well i love xp but the little gadgets on windows 7 spoil me 7 is a little faster imo but i knew everything on my xp, and now i have to spend 10 minutes looking for something simple.... but its worth it imo

[withonor]

Could have been an automatic update that caused the problem.

I'm still using XP on all my computers. Haven't gone anywhere near one with Vista but I am looking at getting a laptop with Windows 7 on it. Other than the way things are organized it seems like a good OS.

[Buttons]

Use system restore and choose a restore point from before you had the problem.

Geek squad charges way too much for what little they do. Find a mom & pop computer shop and have them do the work for you.

[Mindibun]

My bf's a computer tech. I read your post to him. Here's what he said:

You are having an IP address conflict between the two computers. Here's how to solve it:

1. Go to the XP machine and hit "start" then "run." Then type "cmd" in the window that pops up. A black screen will open

2. In the black screen type this exact phrase: ipconfig(space)/release

3. In the next line you type: ipconfig(space)/renew
This will give you a new IP address.

4. Now shut down both computers, shut down the router, and the DSL.

5. Restart the DSL first

6. Then the router

7. Then the XP machine

8. Then the vista machine

9. And the problem should be solved.

If that doesn't fix it, his guess is there's a problem with the router itself and he suggests you call tech support for the router.

[Hock3ymonk3y]

I have a solution: get a mac! lol

[Bleepr]

Only get a Mac if you enjoy making love to electronics. Because thats about all they're good for.

And sweet jebus, upgrade to Windows 7. By far the best OS in the market. Its like Vista and XP had a baby that turned out to be a super hero.

Oh, and listen to Mindibun. Sounds like an ip conflict, the easiest way to skirt around that is ro right click your wireless icon and run diganostics, it should prompt you to either renew your ip address, or restart the router. Try the first one first, and if that doesn't resolve it, then do it again and choose the second option. Do this on the Vista one.

The problem occurs when a computer is removed from the network then added back to it, and your router assigns the same IP to 2 different machines.

[piper]

I have a solution: get a mac! lol

Ugh..... lol