When you're back on-line, we'll still be here. I check my RSS often for your new posts. Looking forward to them. (But of course understand computer problems, as I imagine everyone does).
Or solar flares? If you can't burn your own Linux CD, BTW, you can order one via these folks, among others. It's perfectly legal, since Linux (and all those BSD Unix variants) are licensed so that people like this can distribute them. I've never had to use their services, and therefore can't vouch personally, but they are pretty well known amongst FOSS programmers and users.
Thanks for the support, eveyone. There seem to be two sets of problems. One set has to do with the sound. Currently, the system is producing no sound. The second and more serioius problem has to do with the display. The display is very corrupted. I think the problem comes down to a nvidia driver. But I'm not sure. My efforts to replace or reinstall it have gone nowhere. I'm going to consider linux.
I have refrained from offering suggestions, as I am not a techie and do not know your situation. But your 8:35 comment leads me to share something, since I also had an insoluble display problem and I have nvidia also. Tried a million things. Got disgusted and thought I would just try wiggling and reseating the video card in case of a connection gone bad. Am sufficiently incompetent that I could not even figure out how to get the case open. But when I plugged everything back up, the problem was gone. Apparently, disconnecting the power plug enabled something to fix itself that merely turning the computer off did not. I have no understanding of why this would be so, but offer the idea as something a desperate user might try. We all know and sympathize with your situation. Good luck in getting back up.
I'm probably going to need trying jiggling the card despite that I have no idea how to get the cover off, or even what the card looks like. But at this point, that seems the next reasonable move. After that, I might try installing Linux. Thatnks for the encouragement!
Sorry you are having trouble! I know so many creative people whose work is hampered by the primitive state of our computers.
My laptop has Nvidia video I think, and when I installed Ubuntu I had to tell it "go ahead and use the proprietary Nvidia drivers." Since then it's worked great. I use Windows at work - when I have to - but at home it's all Linux, all the time. And I am hardly an "expert" at Linux.
Consider doing a trial run - you can run it directly off a CD without installing it.
George, I have a theory now that something is wrong with my video card. That's my theory largely because the problem persists through reinstallation of the operating system. So, now I'm shopping around for a local computer guy to come take a look at the machine and tell me what he thinks it needs.
As for Linux, I have decided to get a CD that I can run it off of in order to see if I like it.
Yes, computer problems are annoying. I can't do anything properly on it, because I must wait a lot before a folder opens. I really don't know what's with it, but I will ask specialized help from Toronto IT support company. Their specialists take care of my work computers and I didn't have problems with them.
One problem with Windows is that updates can screw drivers up. I am totally for Linux, I use it all the time and it is rock solid. Ubuntu, a version of Linux, is very user-friendly. Also Apple is rock solid (it is a cousin of Linux) but it is not free.
Believe it or not, I have had such problems with Linux recently. The power saving features of the 2.6 kernel developed a bug awhile back, and at least in the Linux distro I'm using, it was never fixed.
Still, I'm far more confident about Linux distro updates than about Windows, by a wide margin. Plus, quite often if something is broken in a FOSS project by an update, there's a new update in short order.
My hubby insisted on taking my puter to Thailand. WELL!! It came back with all the Desktop icons gone.. Giving it over to the computer man to fix I was told someone had hacked into my REGISTER. He ran a Register Fix on it as well as AVG virus check.. Now it runs well again.Perhaps you could try that?
Yikes! Sorry.
ReplyDeleteBeginning to? You've been far more patient than I already.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're back on-line, we'll still be here. I check my RSS often for your new posts. Looking forward to them. (But of course understand computer problems, as I imagine everyone does).
ReplyDeleteThey always do. :( Hope you get it all worked out soon.
ReplyDeleteCosmic rays, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteOr solar flares? If you can't burn your own Linux CD, BTW, you can order one via these folks, among others. It's perfectly legal, since Linux (and all those BSD Unix variants) are licensed so that people like this can distribute them. I've never had to use their services, and therefore can't vouch personally, but they are pretty well known amongst FOSS programmers and users.
ReplyDeleteHope you get it worked out. I'll keep checking in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support, eveyone. There seem to be two sets of problems. One set has to do with the sound. Currently, the system is producing no sound. The second and more serioius problem has to do with the display. The display is very corrupted. I think the problem comes down to a nvidia driver. But I'm not sure. My efforts to replace or reinstall it have gone nowhere. I'm going to consider linux.
ReplyDeleteI have refrained from offering suggestions, as I am not a techie and do not know your situation. But your 8:35 comment leads me to share something, since I also had an insoluble display problem and I have nvidia also. Tried a million things. Got disgusted and thought I would just try wiggling and reseating the video card in case of a connection gone bad. Am sufficiently incompetent that I could not even figure out how to get the case open. But when I plugged everything back up, the problem was gone. Apparently, disconnecting the power plug enabled something to fix itself that merely turning the computer off did not. I have no understanding of why this would be so, but offer the idea as something a desperate user might try. We all know and sympathize with your situation. Good luck in getting back up.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably going to need trying jiggling the card despite that I have no idea how to get the cover off, or even what the card looks like. But at this point, that seems the next reasonable move. After that, I might try installing Linux. Thatnks for the encouragement!
DeleteSorry you are having trouble! I know so many creative people whose work is hampered by the primitive state of our computers.
ReplyDeleteMy laptop has Nvidia video I think, and when I installed Ubuntu I had to tell it "go ahead and use the proprietary Nvidia drivers." Since then it's worked great. I use Windows at work - when I have to - but at home it's all Linux, all the time. And I am hardly an "expert" at Linux.
Consider doing a trial run - you can run it directly off a CD without installing it.
George, I have a theory now that something is wrong with my video card. That's my theory largely because the problem persists through reinstallation of the operating system. So, now I'm shopping around for a local computer guy to come take a look at the machine and tell me what he thinks it needs.
DeleteAs for Linux, I have decided to get a CD that I can run it off of in order to see if I like it.
Yes, computer problems are annoying. I can't do anything properly on it, because I must wait a lot before a folder opens. I really don't know what's with it, but I will ask specialized help from Toronto IT support company. Their specialists take care of my work computers and I didn't have problems with them.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried kicking it really hard a couple of times?
ReplyDeleteHang in there mate !
ReplyDeleteOne problem with Windows is that updates can screw drivers up. I am totally for Linux, I use it all the time and it is rock solid. Ubuntu, a version of Linux, is very user-friendly. Also Apple is rock solid (it is a cousin of Linux) but it is not free.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I have had such problems with Linux recently. The power saving features of the 2.6 kernel developed a bug awhile back, and at least in the Linux distro I'm using, it was never fixed.
DeleteStill, I'm far more confident about Linux distro updates than about Windows, by a wide margin. Plus, quite often if something is broken in a FOSS project by an update, there's a new update in short order.
My hubby insisted on taking my puter to Thailand. WELL!! It came back with all the Desktop icons gone..
ReplyDeleteGiving it over to the computer man to fix I was told someone had hacked into my REGISTER. He ran a Register Fix on it as well as AVG virus check.. Now it runs well again.Perhaps you could try that?