Windows XP difficulties

[Jim Catron]

I am very frustrated right now! I purchased Windows XP
upgrade for my desktop and I have had nothing but
problems ever since. First, windows worked for one day
until I attempted to access AOL. When I tried to access
AOL, for some reason some of the files were eliminated
from the computer, so I had to re-load some of the
files. After that, the computer locked up and would not
fully load windows. I called Gateway and the tech
support personell said that the grafics card may not
support Windows XP. One of the frustrating things about
this issue is, no where on the box did it say ANYHING
about grafics. Out of all the important things that I
should know about, it would be the grafics card! I was
able to temporarily fix this problem enough to attempt
again to access AOL. To my dismay, I found that somehow
I picked up viruses which I did not have before I
upgraded windows and I have not been able to access the
internet since the upgrade. So how did I obtain the
viruses if I did not access the internet? And to top it
all off, my sound does not work and I had to re-configure
the internet conection properties. I thought this was an
upgrad, not a "completely change and screw up your
computer" upgrade.

The other frustration is when I was attempting to e-mail
Microsoft about this problem. It took me ten minutes to
find a way to e-mail Microsoft due to the complexity of
the website.

I don't understand how such intelligant human beings can
build a machine to do the things that a computer can do
and write programs that can do the most complex things,
and they cannot write programs and build computers for
the "computers for idiots" population. That statement
sums up my frustration. All of this started with
a "simple" Windows upgrade.

 

[Phil]

I am very frustrated right now! I purchased Windows XP
upgrade for my desktop and I have had nothing but
problems ever since. First, windows worked for one day
until I attempted to access AOL. When I tried to access
AOL, for some reason some of the files were eliminated
from the computer, so I had to re-load some of the
files.

Your first problem is installing and using AOL. I've seen aol ruin more
systems than it actually works on. What files were missing, what was the
exact problem/error.

After that, the computer locked up and would not
fully load windows. I called Gateway and the tech
support personell said that the grafics card may not
support Windows XP. One of the frustrating things about
this issue is, no where on the box did it say ANYHING
about grafics. Out of all the important things that I
should know about, it would be the grafics card!

On the box? Not sure what your talking about. There would not be any
documentation about which specific hardware works with xp on the box. That
is what the upgrade advisor tool is for. It's a download or on the xp cd.
This tool wouild identify problem hardware and software and tell you what
you should do with it. Did you run the upgrade advisor? Some old machines
just aren't capable of running xp and need to be upgraded as well.
But, that said, I doubt your graphics card was the problem from what you
describe.

I was
able to temporarily fix this problem enough to attempt
again to access AOL. To my dismay, I found that somehow
I picked up viruses which I did not have before I
upgraded windows and I have not been able to access the
internet since the upgrade. So how did I obtain the
viruses if I did not access the internet?

They either had to be already on the machine(very likely), or you did infact
get connected to the internet and did not have a firewall up and running.
Another possibility is an infected file on a backup cd or floppy.

And to top it
all off, my sound does not work and I had to re-configure
the internet conection properties. I thought this was an
upgrad, not a "completely change and screw up your
computer" upgrade.

Again, did you run the upgrade advisor? Most likely you just need to update
your sound drivers to xp compatable drivers.

The other frustration is when I was attempting to e-mail
Microsoft about this problem. It took me ten minutes to
find a way to e-mail Microsoft due to the complexity of
the website.

No need to email MS and most likely you'll get a script answer that has
nothing to do with your question. It's best to try to call MS or post your
problems here.

I don't understand how such intelligant human beings can
build a machine to do the things that a computer can do
and write programs that can do the most complex things,
and they cannot write programs and build computers for
the "computers for idiots" population. That statement
sums up my frustration. All of this started with
a "simple" Windows upgrade.

This is because(imo) computers aren't for idiots. I am a firm believer that
if you buy a computer, YOU have to learn to use it correctly. Take a class,
spend and hour a week studying, look up stuff on the internet, inform
yourself of security and how to protect your computer, and learn to maintain
the computer. If you can't, don't want to, are not capable of doing this,
then pay someone regularly to do these things for you. If you can take the
time to learn to drive and operate a car, you can take some time to learn to
use the computer correctly or pay someone else to do it for you. Maintaining
and securing your computer is a fact of computing life, so eventually you
have to learn this stuff. A computer is an expensive tool, not a toy. Learn
to use your expensive tools correctly or they will breakdown eventually.

 

[Ghostrider]

Jim Catron wrote:

I don't understand how such intelligant human beings can
build a machine to do the things that a computer can do
and write programs that can do the most complex things,
and they cannot write programs and build computers for
the "computers for idiots" population. That statement
sums up my frustration. All of this started with
a "simple" Windows upgrade.

Actually, the computer did everything that was asked of it
until someone decided to upgrade it beyond its original
design and conceptualization. In other words, it worked fine
with its existing operating system until an unknowing person
tried to install an operating system that might well have
exceeded the original machine design limits.

The standard caveat behind any upgrading, be it software
or hardware, requires that one knows what he/she is doing,
intelligently. And IMHO, anybody who does an upgrade on a
restrictive, OEM-manufacturered machine and who also uses
AOL, should seek professional assistance in the project...
the knowledge base just might not be there. But also take
heart that many experienced users, including gurus, went
through the same frustrations.

 

[Guest]

Did you bother to run the XP compatiability wizard before
you installed?

Bother to read the warnings about compatiability?

 

[Ron Martell]

I am very frustrated right now! I purchased Windows XP
upgrade for my desktop and I have had nothing but
problems ever since. First, windows worked for one day
until I attempted to access AOL. When I tried to access
AOL, for some reason some of the files were eliminated
from the computer, so I had to re-load some of the
files. After that, the computer locked up and would not
fully load windows. I called Gateway and the tech
support personell said that the grafics card may not
support Windows XP. One of the frustrating things about
this issue is, no where on the box did it say ANYHING
about grafics. Out of all the important things that I
should know about, it would be the grafics card! I was
able to temporarily fix this problem enough to attempt
again to access AOL. To my dismay, I found that somehow
I picked up viruses which I did not have before I
upgraded windows and I have not been able to access the
internet since the upgrade. So how did I obtain the
viruses if I did not access the internet? And to top it
all off, my sound does not work and I had to re-configure
the internet conection properties. I thought this was an
upgrad, not a "completely change and screw up your
computer" upgrade.

The other frustration is when I was attempting to e-mail
Microsoft about this problem. It took me ten minutes to
find a way to e-mail Microsoft due to the complexity of
the website.

I don't understand how such intelligant human beings can
build a machine to do the things that a computer can do
and write programs that can do the most complex things,
and they cannot write programs and build computers for
the "computers for idiots" population. That statement
sums up my frustration. All of this started with
a "simple" Windows upgrade.

First of all, did you run the Windows XP compatibility check before
you installed the upgrade? The installation process advises you to do
so.

That should have informed you in advance of the graphics driver
problem with your computer.

What is the model of your Gateway computer and what is the make and
model of the graphics card it has installed?


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Dick Kistler]

I am very frustrated right now! I purchased Windows XP
upgrade for my desktop and I have had nothing but
problems ever since. First, windows worked for one day
until I attempted to access AOL. When I tried to access
AOL, for some reason some of the files were eliminated
from the computer, so I had to re-load some of the
files. After that, the computer locked up and would not
fully load windows. I called Gateway and the tech
support personell said that the grafics card may not
support Windows XP. One of the frustrating things about
this issue is, no where on the box did it say ANYHING
about grafics. Out of all the important things that I
should know about, it would be the grafics card! I was
able to temporarily fix this problem enough to attempt
again to access AOL. To my dismay, I found that somehow
I picked up viruses which I did not have before I
upgraded windows and I have not been able to access the
internet since the upgrade. So how did I obtain the
viruses if I did not access the internet? And to top it
all off, my sound does not work and I had to re-configure
the internet conection properties. I thought this was an
upgrad, not a "completely change and screw up your
computer" upgrade.

The other frustration is when I was attempting to e-mail
Microsoft about this problem. It took me ten minutes to
find a way to e-mail Microsoft due to the complexity of
the website.

I don't understand how such intelligant human beings can
build a machine to do the things that a computer can do
and write programs that can do the most complex things,
and they cannot write programs and build computers for
the "computers for idiots" population. That statement
sums up my frustration. All of this started with
a "simple" Windows upgrade.

There is no such thing as a "simple" upgrade of an operating system.
In your case, it is likely that all the drivers for all of your hardware
need to be upgraded(almost no drivers for Windows 95, 98, ME
work in XP). This means drivers for your graphics card, sound card,
modem, network card, printers, and anything else that requires a driver.

It is not possible to write programs and build computers for the
"computers for idiots" population. It is not possible to build cars
for idiots either. If you are going to use a computer, you must
learn how to make it work, or you must pay someone to do it
for you. It is simple to do this.

Google your problem.

For instance: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=98+xp+upgrade

The first entry in this search is:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_9xupgrade.asp

Looks like a good place to start. Start learning.

Stop using AOL. It uses non-standard(for windows) communications
techniques. This causes problems such as you had. There are lots of other
ISP's out there. Use one of them first. Come back to AOL later if you have
desires or needs for their service.

Quit complaining that others should designed computer systems so that you
don't have to think. There is no way that
they can do this. They have made them so almost all problems can be solved
by a reasonably intelligent person who helps himself . You can't ask for
more than that. There is also a network of people(on the internet) who can
help you solve your problems if you make the effort to help yourself. So
start learning and help yourself.

Hope this helps.

Dick Kistler

 

[Al Smith]

I was

able to temporarily fix this problem enough to attempt
again to access AOL. To my dismay, I found that somehow
I picked up viruses which I did not have before I
upgraded windows and I have not been able to access the
internet since the upgrade. So how did I obtain the
viruses if I did not access the internet? And to top it
all off, my sound does not work and I had to re-configure
the internet conection properties. I thought this was an
upgrad, not a "completely change and screw up your
computer" upgrade.

Ah, the AOL users, we pity the poor AOL users, we shake our heads,
then we try to help them.

Upgrading with Windows XP is an iffy proposition at best. You
should save your data to CD or other removeable media, and do a
clean install of XP.

If your video card is too old for XP ... time to buy a new video
card! They are cheap, and easy to install. It ain't rocket
science, guy.

If you got viruses, you must have been connected to the Internet,
even if briefly and imperfectly. One test done at a major
university revealed that a computer loaded with Windows XP,
running it its default configuration, got a virus within *11
seconds* of being connected to the Internet. No other action was
taken.

Here's what you do. Install Windows XP on a clean hard drive. The
Windows XP CD will take you through the process -- just be sure to
back up your data elsewhere first.

After Windows XP is up and running, install an antivirus program
such as AVG (it's free) and get it running, then install a
firewall such as ZoneAlarm (it's free) and get it running. Then,
*and only then* dare you venture onto the Internet.

Your computer will still be unsafe, because the default
configuration of XP is dangerous. Read up on the Internet about
castrating XP, so that it isn't so prone to automatically accept
viruses and trojans, and configure XP to be safer.