(no subject)

[luciazephyr]

In desperate need of computer help.

I own a Inspiron 6000 laptop. Lately, I've only been able to stay online for about 10 minutes before the WiFi connection kicked out. It tells me it can't connect to the network and I have to restart before it decided to work again. Also, laptop freezes randomly. Sometimes, it freezes several times a day, other times only once. I have no idea why it's running. It's not adware or anything like that and it's not any new programs I have.

Someone, if you can, please help. Until this gets fixed, I can't do my college apps or my AP Politics homework and that is really bad. And by "bad", I mean I'm starting to cry every time I crashes.

-Luce

Comments

[alanddizzy.livejournal.com]

I'm no expert, all I can guess is that you have a program that is incompatable with your computer, like maybe a Windows update that doesn't mesh with your firewall or anti-virus.

[darkecology.livejournal.com]

I don't know what you've tried and haven't, but here's what I would try for starters:

1. Scan your hard drive for errors
2. Defragment the hard drive
3. Install Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en)
4. Remove malicious software (http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx)

Have you been getting any error messages? What happens exactly? What programs are you using when it happens?

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

I don't get error messages outside the little bubble that pops up on the bottom right of the screen to tell me the computer can't connect to the internet.

There's no ceremony. I drop. That's the extent of it. I drop and can't get back on until I restart. If I try to connect, it endlessly tries to connect to the network.

Usually? Firefox. But sometimes it drops me when I'm not actually doing anything either.

And I'm 99% sure it's not spyware or anything like that.

[darkecology.livejournal.com]

Okay, wait, I'm confused. Is the computer freezing - i.e. cursor won't move and you can do nothing until you turn the computer off - or is it just an internet problem?

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

I was describing the internet problem. But it applies to the freezing too. The freezing is insane- I could have literally no extraneous programs running and it'll still randomly freeze- no cursor movement, won't respond to any commands including changing the brightness of the screen.

[darkecology.livejournal.com]

Well, I would try the above for the freezing. As for the internet - what OS are you using?

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

I just did. Ran a scan with Defender. Came up with nothing. :kicks things:

I'm still on XP.

[darkecology.livejournal.com]

For the freezing: you've scanned and defragged? Do you have a program (like Norton Systemworks) than scans for missing Windows files?

For the internet: Do you use wireless or not? Do you have specific software from your ISP? Have you reinstalled it? Also, have you tried updating the driver for your network card?

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Freezing: Have indeed. And I've uninstalled all the Norton things that came standard as they were causing more harm than good, so no.

Internet: Wireless connection to the router in the other room. No, no software. Have tried updating- no newer updates on the drivers.

[darkecology.livejournal.com]

Freezing: you might have some Windows files that are missing or corrupt. There should be a way to check this using the XP help center. You might also try searching the support pages of Dell to see if other people had the same problem with that model.

Internet: Is your signal poor, or do you pick up a lot of signals from your neighbors? Have you tried connecting to the router with a cable to see if you still lose the connection?

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Freezing: Will look into a file restore of some sort. No one seems to have had my exact problem on Dell.

Internet: My signal is great, as I'm literally 15-20 feet from the router most times. Have not tried that, but as WiFi connection and cable connection are handled totally different with laptop, not sure it will matter. Will try anyway.

[darkecology.livejournal.com]

Connecting by cable should give you an idea of whether it's actually the computer that is the problem or if it is the router. Sometimes interference from other wireless signals can mess up your connection and you have to change the router's "channel". We have trouble with our router because our house has plaster walls - so the signal can't pass through them well.

Another very real possibility is that your hard drive is going bad (which could cause the freezing). My last computer was a Dell and I had two hard drives go bad. If you start getting system errors, that's probably what it is. I would back up your work to be on the safe side.