I just installed a new keyboard in my Dell Inspiron 1501 (the old one lost a "u") and it won't work. I tried to put the old keyboard back in and it won't work either. I can't seem to find any help online. Any ideas on what I can try? Thanks.
The first is that I can't change the password D= I'm the administrator, and there's only my account. It's not that I'm mispelling the password or anything, either. I tried to change it using User Control and Ctrl+Alt+Del, but I keep on getting these "password is incorrect" and "windows can't change password" message.
I'm scared as heck to log off right now because I fear that I won't be able to get back on.
The second isssue is that I've been hearing a weird whirring/scratching noise from my computer. Sometimes it's pretty quiet, but othertimes it can be rather loud. Is there something wrong with the harddrive or something?
I don't do much with this computer. The last thing I seriously changed was the system's date/time, since it kept on giving me the wrong one.
ETA: My computer froze (hasn't done that more than once since It was given to me) so I ended up having to shut it down. The password ended up being the very first one I tried to change it to (odd, since it said I couldn't change it. Oh, and thank goodness for password hints). After logging on it was really slow (it's never that slow), so I I'm now performing a full-system scan using Avast!.
Um. I have an experied (trial) version of Malwarebytes, but haven't gone around to actually removing it from the computer b/c I could still use the scanner, but now I'm wondering if that was a bad thing. Y/N?
Thanks in advance.
INFO: This Dell computer uses Windows Vista Home Basic. I mainly use Google Chrome v. 13.0.782.220 (m). I'm not computer savvy at all, sorry to say. The problem of me not being able to change my password began about an hour ago since that's when I actively tried to change it. I've kept the password the same for months, and had no problem logging on. As for the scratching/clicking/whirring sound... that's been going on for about a month and a half. I'm using my sister's computer while my mine is getting repaired, so I don't know if it's been going on longer. What have I done so far to remedy the situation? Nothing, like I said. I'm too scared of not being able to sign back in, and I really don't want to do something to make it all worst.
Question/Problem: I was doing normal stuff on my Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop when all of a sudden the whole system froze and some weird green/pink pixelated lines appeared on my screen. I had to manually turn the computer off and on, and for about half of hour of trying it would only boot successfully in safe mode. Whenever I tried to let it boot normally, I would hear the Vista startup theme, but there was no display. Finally, it booted normally, worked as normal for a few days, and then the same deal happened again. It hasn't worked properly since then, I can't get a display at all right from the get-go. It's not a problem with the battery, as it does this running on both battery and while plugged in.
Operating System, Version and Service Pack: Windows Vista Home Premium
Web Browser and Version: Firefox 3.6
Your level of experience: Beginner/Intermediate
When did the problem start? Has it been going on constantly since then? About two weeks ago - it's not turning on at all now, no matter how much I try. As before, I HEAR the system starting up, but there's no display.
When I booted up my system in safe mode the first time I pretty much backed up everything onto my external harddrive, so I won't be crushed if this laptop is toast (it's about 4 and a half years old anyway), I just want to know what the problem is and if it's worth getting it repaired (I'm assuming it's a hardware problem) versus buying a new one completely.
I've looked around, and checked google - but I have a small question to ask. I run a few computers, all different ages and systems. However, lately I've noticed that one of them has RAM that flips between being 120 and 119 while another has fallen to 254. They're both at least five years old, bordering somewhere around ten. Is this normal for computers to do over time, or should I be worried? Mostly wondering because another at seven years old hasn't fallen a single ram since I got it.
After a lot of drama with my old laptop, I have finally gotten it back and need to hook it up to an external display to get my files off and onto my new laptop. It's a Sony Vaio (I can find the model number if necessary) running Windows XP. When I plug my monitor in (Dell), the Vaio logo show on the screen, followed by the Windows XP intro screen and progress bar. After that, the Dell monitor simply has a floating box that says, "Dell Self Test Feature Check" with red, green, blue, and white samples.
Does anyone know how I can my login screen to load, or anything to load after the intro screen? Is it a problem with incompatibility with the brands, perhaps? Should I just remove my hard drive from the Sony and put it into my desktop to obtain the files?
Web browser: Mozilla Firefox for all of my systems. Level of experience: Seasoned Duration: All problems? Since May. This particular? About an hour ago.
I've Googled what the problem could potentially be; but all I can find are Dell-centric issues. I've also seen a lot of forum posts about people having trouble with Sony laptops and external displays. Woohoo!
Hey everyone! I hope it's okay to post a question like this here, but I didn't know where else to go. I'm thinking about buying a Dell Studio 15 laptop {this one}, and I either want it in yellow or in red. However, on the original pictures taken by Dell, the colours look rather dark. I'm wondering if they actually do look that way or if it's just the light (or lack thereof). I tried google, and found pictures where the red looks almost purple, and others where it's really, really light. Same with yellow. And now I'd like to ask whether anyone can tell me what the colours actually look like (especially yellow and red, but maybe also the others). I'd also appreciate it if someone who has a Dell laptop in red or yellow could take and upload some pictures for me to look at.
worried
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