Laptop Assistance

Hi guys, needing some help with my wife's laptop, if anyone is tech savvy enough to help.

It's a HP, fairly recent, with which we've had no problems up until Sunday, when it suddenly started having some serious issues, and we haven't been able to get to the bottom of it.

Basically, it started crashing a lot, wouldn't let us connect to the internet, wouldn't let us run any programmes, and was running horribly slowly.

With some persistence on our part, we've managed to run the antivirus programmes, and Spybot, which were largely unfruitful, except for one little error pointing to Firefox. We managed to uninstall it eventually (curiously, the computer let us connect to the internet, but only through Internet Explorer) and re-download it.

Things seemed to be fine, it was running quicker and quite smoothly, when suddenly it started crashing again out of the blue, and is now worse than ever.

It does seem to work better in the first few minutes when we turn it on, which made me think it could be an overheating problem leading to the computer slowing down to reduce heat output, but have no idea if this is true.

We don't know how to diagnostic the problem, is it mechanic or a virus?

Any advice about how to get this sorted would be massively appreciated. It is, of course, no longer under guarantee, and taking it somewhere to be fixed would probably cost us the price of a new computer. We also obviously don't want to lose the 18 months of photos stocked on it! 

Thanks in advance!

It does seem to work better in the first few minutes when we turn it on.

Just ran this by the wife, and apparently that isn't true, it doesn't work any better at first.

Try download SpeedFan to troubleshoot whether there is any heating issue.  SpeedFan is a freeware for accessing temperature sensor on your PC and it can control the fan speed on the components.

Link:
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

Does it come up with a Blue Screen when it crashes? If so I'll need the error code.

If not then it's definitely an overheating issue. It could be that the heat-sink attached to the CPU isn't on properly, which would explain the random crashes.

Laptops often get extremely hot, and each time you turn it on you could be damaging the CPU more and more.

I'd suggest RMA'ing it, if at all possible.

Try download SpeedFan to troubleshoot whether there is any heating issue.  SpeedFan is a freeware for accessing temperature sensor on your PC and it can control the fan speed on the components.

Link:
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

If they can't connect to the internet how are they going to download that?

Try download SpeedFan to troubleshoot whether there is any heating issue.  SpeedFan is a freeware for accessing temperature sensor on your PC and it can control the fan speed on the components.

Link:
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

Trying that now, cheers.

Does it come up with a Blue Screen when it crashes? If so I'll need the error code.

No blue screen, don't know if that's a good thing!

I'd suggest RMA'ing it, if at all possible.

What does that mean?

If they can't connect to the internet how are they going to download that?

We can, Internet Explorer seems to work reasonably well, Firefox makes the computer crash, amongst other things.

The temperatures listed by Speedfan are:

HD0: 49C
Temp1: 67C
GPU: 70C
Core: 69C

HD0: 49C

Just dropped to 0C, oddly.

EDIT: Back up to 50C, keeps changing.

Could be a ram problem, I had a similar problem and that was a faulty stick of ram.

I would first try loading the comp in safe mode with as little running as possible but with internet access..... see how that goes.

If it seems o.k. in safe mode just download memtest (it's free), install and run it. Should tell you within 30mins if thats your problem. 

http://www.memtest.org/

Could be a ram problem, I had a similar problem and that was a faulty stick of ram.

I would first try loading the comp in safe mode with as little running as possible but with internet access..... see how that goes.

If it seems o.k. in safe mode just download memtest (it's free), install and run it. Should tell you within 30mins if thats your problem. 

http://www.memtest.org/

Will download that as soon as possible, thanks mate.

The computer is actually working a lot better when Firefox is uninstalled, why would that be?

http://www.memtest.org/

Just had a look at that site, any advice which version to download, there's about a million links!

No idea mate. I just use I.E. as my computer used to run slow, I couldn't connect to the internet and it kept crashing when I used Firefox    

I would get the computer working then worry about Firefox mate.

Sorry, this is a better link just choose the first one 4.0a make sure you click on free download!
 http://www.memtest86.com/

The computer is actually working a lot better when Firefox is uninstalled, why would that be?

I'm nowhere near as tech savvy as some other people here but that'd tend to suggest a virus surely?

The computer is actually working a lot better when Firefox is uninstalled, why would that be?

Could be an add on you had with firefox, if you did have say a toolbar or an add on there prone to carry viruses or just in general slow down your computer.

I'm nowhere near as tech savvy as some other people here but that'd tend to suggest a virus surely?

Maybe, struggling to get the antivirus programmes working.

It just seems when we ask the computer to do too much, it crashes, which made me think heating/RAM, as Firefox is quite "heavy", I think.

But it could clearly be a virus as well.

Could be an add on you had with firefox, if you did have say a toolbar or an add on there prone to carry viruses or just in general slow down your computer.

But the computer still messes up when Firefox is completely uninstalled.

It's weird and horribly frustrating.

Maybe, struggling to get the antivirus programmes working.

It just seems when we ask the computer to do too much, it crashes, which made me think heating/RAM, as Firefox is quite "heavy", I think.

But it could clearly be a virus as well.

Try running your anti virus at boot up or in safe mode if you still think there is a possibility it could be a virus.

Try running your anti virus at boot up or in safe mode if you still think there is a possibility it could be a virus.

Will try as well, cheers.

EDIT: If anyone can sort this, I will personally give you 100+ votes, whatever it takes!

Have you tried system restore? You could see if you have a restore point anywhere before Sunday when this started happening...

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Should come up with a recommended restore point, or underneath check the other box to select your own, and in there you might see one which was before Sunday, try restoring back to that, let the laptop do its thing then when it comes back on it could be sorted..

Unplug it from the mains, take the bettery out, put it back in, turn it on and kick it for good measure.

Rarely fails.

Unplug it from the mains, take the bettery out, put it back in, turn it on and kick it for good measure.

Rarely fails.

This.

Don't forget the kick.

But in all seriousness, all of the suggestions above are valid.

Try them sequentially.

Have you tried system restore? You could see if you have a restore point anywhere before Sunday when this started happening...

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Should come up with a recommended restore point, or underneath check the other box to select your own, and in there you might see one which was before Sunday, try restoring back to that, let the laptop do its thing then when it comes back on it could be sorted..

Good shout.

If this does not work it is 99.9% likely to be an hardware problem .

Combofix

http://www.combofix.org/

If it is a hardware problem you can check it at http://h20239.www2.hp.com/techcenter/hp_systemcheck/hp_syscheck.htm

Seems simple enough..... just one click checks.

Have you tried system restore? You could see if you have a restore point anywhere before Sunday when this started happening...

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Should come up with a recommended restore point, or underneath check the other box to select your own, and in there you might see one which was before Sunday, try restoring back to that, let the laptop do its thing then when it comes back on it could be sorted..

Doesn't give us any recommended restore point, and no option to select our own, unfortunately.

If it is a hardware problem you can check it at http://h20239.www2.hp.com/techcenter/hp_systemcheck/hp_syscheck.htm

Seems simple enough..... just one click checks.

Looks good, but when we click it says it should take max 90 seconds to give us a diagnostic, then just "thinks" forever.

Combofix

http://www.combofix.org/

Another to try, thanks.

Just don't seem to be getting anywhere, though.

Do you have your Windows 7 disc? If the laptop was already loaded with it the disc should be in the box somewhere..

With that you could try reinstalling Windows 7 completely, it will be like a brand new laptop then, your licence key for your Windows should be on a sticker on your laptop somewhere, probably underneath, you will need that if you do reinstall.. before doing this though, note it can take a while to reinstall it.

With that you could try reinstalling Windows 7 completely, it will be like a brand new laptop then

Not if it's a hardware issue, such as a poorly seated heatsink.

Doesn't give us any recommended restore point, and no option to select our own, unfortunately.

That.... sounds like a virus mate. So I would get an online virus check.

http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/scanner/online/free.html

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/WelcomePage.asp

Looks good, but when we click it says it should take max 90 seconds to give us a diagnostic, then just "thinks" forever.

Did you follow the instructions and allow active x controls?

Do you have your Windows 7 disc? If the laptop was already loaded with it the disc should be in the box somewhere..

With that you could try reinstalling Windows 7 completely, it will be like a brand new laptop then, your licence key for your Windows should be on a sticker on your laptop somewhere, probably underneath, you will need that if you do reinstall.. before doing this though, note it can take a while to reinstall it.

The final solution, the one we want to avoid.

Will try it if nothing else works.

That.... sounds like a virus mate. So I would get an online virus check.

http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/scanner/online/free.html

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/WelcomePage.asp

Hardly.

Just because a system hasn't been saving restore points, doesn't mean it's infected - just means it hasn't been setup properly.

I had a similar situation with my HP desktop.  At the end, I have to replace the motherboard.  I suspected the BIOS chip was defective.  Since yours is a laptop, if it is still under warranty, I would recommend sending it back to HP for repair. 

Remind you that before sending it back, remove any private photos/videos which you don't want to share with everyone AND clean the hard disk with some tools so people cannot recover them.

That.... sounds like a virus mate. So I would get an online virus check.

Got to agree with this, I had one in the past and couldn't get anything to recognise it, everything I done to fix it just ended up in a dead end. If everything you try the laptop has an answer to the it's a virus, a laptop won't methodically block you whereas a virus thought up by a human will.

If possible try and get your photos off and do a new windows install, you'll probably be better doing that anyway because if it's been compromised there's a good chance that even if you get the virus out they'll leave a back door in your security to get back in.

Hardly.

Just because a system hasn't been saving restore points, doesn't mean it's infected - just means it hasn't been setup properly.

Only time I have ever lost my restore points was through a virus, would be strange not to be set up correctly as windows sets it up automatically ?

Only time I have ever lost my restore points was through a virus, would be strange not to be set up correctly as windows sets it up automatically ?

Yeah, they normally are set up automatically.

This is gonna sound pretty stupid but have you tried making a new user account and using the computer in it? My PC has shocking lag when I have an Ethernet cable connected to it ever since a Trojan got into my PC but oddly I don't have that issue on my new user account?

Just to update everyone, and again big thanks to everyone who has tried to help.

This morning the computer wouldn't start at all, and gave us an error message saying the hard disk was about to fail, and that we needed to save all the data we wanted to keep.

Obviously we gave up trying to fix it and my wife took it to a small local business that specialise in computer repair. The guy seemed to think that the problem wasn't mechanic, but a virus, just a pretty F***ing nasty one.

We're hoping he can fix it or at least save our photos and other files we wanted desperately to keep, fingers crossed it should be ok. If it is a virus, and he has to completely restore the system, we're looking at €90, which I thought wasn't too bad really, all things considered.

If it's mechanic, he'll get back to us (hope not as it would clearly be very expensive, but we have no choice if we don't want to lose our 18 months of photos).

I'll let you know how we get on, but big hugs because you're all a lovely lot!

Just to update everyone, and again big thanks to everyone who has tried to help.

This morning the computer wouldn't start at all, and gave us an error message saying the hard disk was about to fail, and that we needed to save all the data we wanted to keep.

Obviously we gave up trying to fix it and my wife took it to a small local business that specialise in computer repair. The guy seemed to think that the problem wasn't mechanic, but a virus, just a pretty F***ing nasty one.

We're hoping he can fix it or at least save our photos and other files we wanted desperately to keep, fingers crossed it should be ok. If it is a virus, and he has to completely restore the system, we're looking at €90, which I thought wasn't too bad really, all things considered.

If it's mechanic, he'll get back to us (hope not as it would clearly be very expensive, but we have no choice if we don't want to lose our 18 months of photos).

I'll let you know how we get on, but big hugs because you're all a lovely lot!

Hopefully it stops at the 90 quid.

Before you handed it over did you at least manage to get them photo's of you gimped up off? 

If you didn't I still have copies.

Hopefully it stops at the 90 quid.

Before you handed it over did you at least manage to get them photo's of you gimped up off? 

If you didn't I still have copies.

Would appreciate some help with a laptop problem if anyone can.  Hope this is an easy one to fix, one of my cats has just bloody jumped all over my keyboard which has resulted in everything on the screen looking squashed and elongated.  And the text looks like it is all bold.

I've tried Ctrl + and - to but that doesn't change anything.  I've switched it off but it's still the same.  Is there a combination of keys that I need to use to put it back to normal?

Could be a ram problem, I had a similar problem and that was a faulty stick of ram.

I would first try loading the comp in safe mode with as little running as possible but with internet access..... see how that goes.

If it seems o.k. in safe mode just download memtest (it's free), install and run it. Should tell you within 30mins if thats your problem. 

http://www.memtest.org/

Yeah...It could be a bad RAM stick.

Would appreciate some help with a laptop problem if anyone can.  Hope this is an easy one to fix, one of my cats has just bloody jumped all over my keyboard which has resulted in everything on the screen looking squashed and elongated.  And the text looks like it is all bold.

I've tried Ctrl + and - to but that doesn't change anything.  I've switched it off but it's still the same.  Is there a combination of keys that I need to use to put it back to normal?

Sounds like a resolution problem. Right click on the desktop, screen resolution and make sure it is set to the right one, usually says recommended.

Sounds like a resolution problem. Right click on the desktop, screen resolution and make sure it is set to the right one, usually says recommended.

Fixed!  Thank you mate!

Fixed!  Thank you mate!

No problem

Can anyone help me I have a problem with my laptop.

Basically it won't work unless it's plugged in and charging.

The icon on the task bar says Fully Charged 100%. But the second I unplug it it switches off?

This literally just happened this morning and I don't think here's been any drop or bang to it?

Can anyone help me I have a problem with my laptop.

Basically it won't work unless it's plugged in and charging.

The icon on the task bar says Fully Charged 100%. But the second I unplug it it switches off?

This literally just happened this morning and I don't think here's been any drop or bang to it?

Sounds as if the battery is goosed.

Have you removed the battery, used the magic blowing on all the connections and replacing the battery?

How old is it?

Sounds as if the battery is goosed.

Have you removed the battery, used the magic blowing on all the connections and replacing the battery?

How old is it?

I'll give that a shot now mate.

It's only a year old?

Warrantee still valid. Battery should not fail after a year!

Should be 2 year on the battery

I downloaded Notebook Hardware Control, and the battery status comes up as this;



Any ideas? Or should I just e-mail Asus?

I'd give them a call/e.mail.  They may have a recall on them.

Good luck

Sounds as if the battery is goosed.

Have you removed the battery, used the magic blowing on all the connections and replacing the battery?

How old is it?

Battery.  Most laptops need a battery in order to run when plugged in. If the battery is shot it cant run on AC.

I'd give them a call/e.mail.  They may have a recall on them.

Good luck

Cheers mate, sent them an e-mail there. So here's hoping I can get something out of it.

Battery.  Most laptops need a battery in order to run when plugged in. If the battery is shot it cant run on AC.

That's what I'm doing with it now mate. Just annoyed it's fried after a year.

Battery.  Most laptops need a battery in order to run when plugged in. If the battery is shot it cant run on AC.

Did not know that, but I was getting at the battery may not be able to hold a charge, thus no AC, no power.

 Looking to buy a laptop personally and was just 'googling' about which company to look for. It seems for middle-range prices Dell and HP's products are the best I can find. Any advice here??

Can anyone help me I have a problem with my laptop.

Basically it won't work unless it's plugged in and charging.

The icon on the task bar says Fully Charged 100%. But the second I unplug it it switches off?

This literally just happened this morning and I don't think here's been any drop or bang to it?

Same thing happened too me a couple weeks back.. It just means the battery is defective and you need too replace it.. My one messed up after 2 years.. Pretty average If it's still in warranty contact the manufacturer or take it back to where you bought it from!

Looking to buy a laptop personally and was just 'googling' about which company to look for. It seems for middle-range prices Dell and HP's products are the best I can find. Any advice here??

I have owned a lot of Laptops. I had a Dell, Gateway, HP, Asus....Hands down the best laptops I ever owned were all Toshiba. I have friends who have Toshibas and they will never buy anything but a Toshiba. I have had 4 Toshiba laptops. I still have 2 of them and they work great. Never had 1 hardware or software failure. The batteries hold a good charge and just regular online use you can get 4-5 hrs easy. Plus they are relatively low cost. You can get a i7, 6gb Ram, 750 gb HD, Windows 7/8 for $750.00 US. or get the same w/ the i3 for $525.00 US. The only thing is too make sure you get one w/ the flat black color and not the shiny case. Fingerprints and dust show up like crazy....but thats a piss complaint anyway.

They have a great website in case you need updated drivers or programs. I will never not have a Toshiba.

Thats just my opinion but if you know anyone who has a Toshiba laptop, just ask them if they like it. I have never heard of a solid complaint against them. A few years ago some of their laptops were installed w/ a defective wifi card and they not only replaced them for free but upgraded them from wireless g to wireless n and gave people a free Toshiba Canvio external HD.

Did not know that, but I was getting at the battery may not be able to hold a charge, thus no AC, no power.

A little correction. I stated that "most" laptops....need a battery.

Its not"most" but there are some that wont run on AC if the battery is removed or if it is defective or blown. I know that some of the Lenovo/IBM laptops wouldnt work w/out a battery installed, i also read that Acer has some models that wont run either, but those are the only ones I know for sure and that was about 5-6 years ago.

Looking to buy a laptop personally and was just 'googling' about which company to look for. It seems for middle-range prices Dell and HP's products are the best I can find. Any advice here??

I've owned laptops from Toshiba, Sony, Samsung's, HP's & A crappy Asus NetBook.

And by far Sony Vaio's are excellent laptops no faults excellent customer service even though they are expensive they are excellent laptops!

Can anyone help with this problem please?  A couple of weeks ago I downloaded sopcast and something called ilivid that I needed to run sopcast.  Everything was great, I watched the match with very few problems, but the next day when I logged on (I use chrome as my browser) there was a prompt and I stupidly clicked yes without thinking.  I've only mentioned sopcast because that was the only thing I had downloaded, it may have nothing to do with the problem.

Preamble over, ever since I clicked yes, the address of every site I visit is prefixed with:

"a bookmarked page shape" chrome://newtabhttp//page address

The only site that doesn't have this prefix is twitter and that has a padlock shape before the page address.

The problem that I have, and I assume it must be related is that ever since it's messing my internet usage up, for example, I cannot access the offal at all, unless it's through twitter links, and if I try to navigate off the linked page, I either get the different page options as headers and no detail underneath or just a white page.

And worse still, and the most frustrating, is that quite often I can't read threads on here, if I click on a thread from the front page, I see the top of the last page of the thread but cannot move down, or go back a page (or to any page), or do anything.  The page seems to be locked, and I can't navigate out of it, so I have to close the tab and log on again.  And it keeps happening.  I've tried accessing threads from the first post, sometimes that works but not always.  There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it.  I've tried deleting my browsing history but that didn't help.  I ran a full system scan but got no bad results.  Have I got myself another virus   Or am I being incredibly thick (fingers crossed I am!)  Can anyone suggest a solution?  Bear in mind, I am the equivalent of a doughnut when it comes to techy stuff please!

This is the address that I see for this post:

chrome://newtabhttp//www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/board,16/action,post2.html

Can anyone help with this problem please?  A couple of weeks ago I downloaded sopcast and something called ilivid that I needed to run sopcast.  Everything was great, I watched the match with very few problems, but the next day when I logged on (I use chrome as my browser) there was a prompt and I stupidly clicked yes without thinking.  I've only mentioned sopcast because that was the only thing I had downloaded, it may have nothing to do with the problem.

Preamble over, ever since I clicked yes, the address of every site I visit is prefixed with:

"a bookmarked page shape" chrome://newtabhttp//page address

The only site that doesn't have this prefix is twitter and that has a padlock shape before the page address.

The problem that I have, and I assume it must be related is that ever since it's messing my internet usage up, for example, I cannot access the offal at all, unless it's through twitter links, and if I try to navigate off the linked page, I either get the different page options as headers and no detail underneath or just a white page.

And worse still, and the most frustrating, is that quite often I can't read threads on here, if I click on a thread from the front page, I see the top of the last page of the thread but cannot move down, or go back a page (or to any page), or do anything.  The page seems to be locked, and I can't navigate out of it, so I have to close the tab and log on again.  And it keeps happening.  I've tried accessing threads from the first post, sometimes that works but not always.  There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it.  I've tried deleting my browsing history but that didn't help.  I ran a full system scan but got no bad results.  Have I got myself another virus   Or am I being incredibly thick (fingers crossed I am!)  Can anyone suggest a solution?  Bear in mind, I am the equivalent of a doughnut when it comes to techy stuff please!

This is the address that I see for this post:

chrome://newtabhttp//www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/board,16/action,post2.html

Click on the wrench at the top right of Chrome, then settings. Now click Extensions.

See if there is any you don't know and disable them, then restart Chrome.

Click on the wrench at the top right of Chrome, then settings. Now click Extensions.

See if there is any you don't know and disable them, then restart Chrome.

Thank you!!  There was a new tab extension that I binned.  It looks like it's got rid of the prefix on the address, and I got straight into this thread.  Checked the offal as well, but still have a problem with that site.

 

No problem

Whats happening with the offal, is it just not loading?

No problem

Whats happening with the offal, is it just not loading?

Yeah, I just get the header and a blank page underneath...

Hang on, after leaving it load for a bit, it's working, just really slow loading the content.

It's all working fine at the moment, I've had a good click around.  Thank you so much!

I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to technology, I kind of learn what I need to and no more.  I started a defrag earlier,last one I did was inMarch, and it said I had a 100GB of used space 40GB of unused, now it's saying I've got 77GB and 63B respectively.  That seems, to the uneducated man I am, a lot of space to regain.  Does this mean I'm not defragging often enough, have I possibly deleted stuff I need or is this just normal?

Need help please.  I left my laptop on the settee while I went to phone my mum and got back and the screen resolution is screwed up (cat must have sat on the keyboard).  Everything is squashed and fat.  Tried  <ctrl> <-> and that does nothing  apart from make it small, squashed and fat.

Can anyone help please?

Oh, and the text is all bold by the look of it, bold and blurry.

Have you tried ctrl alt del?

Have you tried ctrl alt del?

That doesn't do it Gareth, thanks for the suggestion though!

I have shut down and logged on again but it's still the same.  Can still post like, but everything looks odd.

Edit:  Sort of sorted it, not looking quite as it was but it ain't squished any more!  Went to control panel and adjusted the screen resolution from there.

A few weeks ago my laptop crashed with the error BAD_POOL_HEADER. It's an Asus laptop running windows 8.

Usually I would do some looking into the issue and see if there was anything I could do to fix it myself and learn a bit in the process. However I am going to Chile for 5 months next week (was originally supposed to leave last week) and I badly need my Laptop whilst over there for the usual keeping in touch with family, friends etc. but more importantly for work. So I just brought it to a computer repair shop.

I gave it to them, and told them that I needed it back before my original fly date. They took out the Hard drive and put a new one in. A day after getting it back it broke again. Same issue, this time they said it was the motherboard. The day I went to get it back I started it in the shop and it didn't even work there. They took it back a last time, eventually hassled to get it back and to no surprise it packed it in again.

I've done a bit of my own research since I got it back as I have no faith in the shop anymore. It's a memory issue but and I don't have the Windows 8 bootable disk to reset the system. But I've noticed a few articles mentioning third party antivirus as a possible cause. I use Bitdefender and after originally getting it back from the shop I installed the 2015 version and the next day it crashed again? Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this? I have it up and running at the moment but it can crash at any moment and take a while to get back going again. Will uninstalling the antivirus work? Obviously I don't want to just do it in hope after spending quite a bit of money on the initial repairs then the new antivirus.

A few weeks ago my laptop crashed with the error BAD_POOL_HEADER. It's an Asus laptop running windows 8.

Usually I would do some looking into the issue and see if there was anything I could do to fix it myself and learn a bit in the process. However I am going to Chile for 5 months next week (was originally supposed to leave last week) and I badly need my Laptop whilst over there for the usual keeping in touch with family, friends etc. but more importantly for work. So I just brought it to a computer repair shop.

I gave it to them, and told them that I needed it back before my original fly date. They took out the Hard drive and put a new one in. A day after getting it back it broke again. Same issue, this time they said it was the motherboard. The day I went to get it back I started it in the shop and it didn't even work there. They took it back a last time, eventually hassled to get it back and to no surprise it packed it in again.

I've done a bit of my own research since I got it back as I have no faith in the shop anymore. It's a memory issue but and I don't have the Windows 8 bootable disk to reset the system. But I've noticed a few articles mentioning third party antivirus as a possible cause. I use Bitdefender and after originally getting it back from the shop I installed the 2015 version and the next day it crashed again? Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this? I have it up and running at the moment but it can crash at any moment and take a while to get back going again. Will uninstalling the antivirus work? Obviously I don't want to just do it in hope after spending quite a bit of money on the initial repairs then the new antivirus.

I use Avast Free Edition. Lightweight, no memory issues. I would toss Bitdefender for the time being and try Avast and see if that solves your issues.
Although......
If the error is a hardware issue (which it sounds like it is) I'm not sure the anti-virus has anything to do with it. I hate to suggest this but do you know FOR SURE that the computer repair shop put in a new hard drive?

Sorry I can't be of much more help. I don't deal with Windows 8 much, hate it with a passion....Windows 7 is a much better OS. Good luck.

I use Avast Free Edition. Lightweight, no memory issues. I would toss Bitdefender for the time being and try Avast and see if that solves your issues.
Although......
If the error is a hardware issue (which it sounds like it is) I'm not sure the anti-virus has anything to do with it. I hate to suggest this but do you know FOR SURE that the computer repair shop put in a new hard drive?

Sorry I can't be of much more help. I don't deal with Windows 8 much, hate it with a passion....Windows 7 is a much better OS. Good luck.

Going to scrap Bitdefender, always used free antivirus with no hassle until a year ago and this isn't the first problem I've had with Bitdefender.

Don't worry about suggesting it mate, I have plenty of doubts about them myself. They gave me back what the told me was my old hard drive, but from talking to someone with a much better knowledge of this than me, he said that a new hard drive should have worked no problem and thinks they may have put in a second hand or refurbished on and charged me full whack.

I haven't had a problem with Windows 8 until now, but it's worth bearing in mind that the computer is just over a year old, no way it should be giving me this grief.

Thanks for the input though FL.

I use the free Bitdefender anti virus, it's supposed to be one of the best free ones out there. I actually changed from Avast to that a while ago, but I know that one is good too. Doubt your anti virus would be the issue though, but an easy way for you to have checked if any newly installed or updated software caused it would have been to do a system restore to a previous date before any issues had ocurred. I'm no expert, although I actually have had a bad pool header issue myself a few years ago, but from what I understand this can be caused by a variety of hardware or software issues. So it's hard to say what's causing it for you. In my case it was a RAM memory issue, I had to replace one of my RAM sticks. It does seem more likely to me that in your case it's also that and not a hard drive issue. Ofcourse some laptops have RAM integrated on motherboards, so the whole motherboard would then have to be replaced instead of just a RAM stick, but that's not the case for all laptops.

Honestly though, I think you're better off on some tech forum where you can get some better expertise, it's what I would do. At least, after doing the uninstall, system restore, and if that fails format and reinstall of windows. Rule out software issues. And have you considered to bring it to another repair shop? Maybe one that is well reviewed online or someone you know can recommend it to you. As you say you don't have a bootable windows 8 cd, and I imagine you don't want to open the laptop yourself. So there's only so much you can do without expert help.

Are you sure you don't have a warranty on it anymore?

Anti virus- use windows defender, spam-ware use whatever... malwarebytes, but never let them run real time, or start up with your PC/laptop. Do your own scans from time to time, a lot of virus protection software that has a big reputation is a form of disruption therefore virus and can conflict with you integrated Microsoft services.
Honestly windows defender does the job, never buy nor install other stuff unless you know how to get software to uninstall it completely, like uninstaller.
My input on that situation, I have had some experience and I've tried a lot of software in my time.

A few weeks ago my laptop crashed with the error BAD_POOL_HEADER. It's an Asus laptop running windows 8.

Usually I would do some looking into the issue and see if there was anything I could do to fix it myself and learn a bit in the process. However I am going to Chile for 5 months next week (was originally supposed to leave last week) and I badly need my Laptop whilst over there for the usual keeping in touch with family, friends etc. but more importantly for work. So I just brought it to a computer repair shop.

I gave it to them, and told them that I needed it back before my original fly date. They took out the Hard drive and put a new one in. A day after getting it back it broke again. Same issue, this time they said it was the motherboard. The day I went to get it back I started it in the shop and it didn't even work there. They took it back a last time, eventually hassled to get it back and to no surprise it packed it in again.

I've done a bit of my own research since I got it back as I have no faith in the shop anymore. It's a memory issue but and I don't have the Windows 8 bootable disk to reset the system. But I've noticed a few articles mentioning third party antivirus as a possible cause. I use Bitdefender and after originally getting it back from the shop I installed the 2015 version and the next day it crashed again? Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this? I have it up and running at the moment but it can crash at any moment and take a while to get back going again. Will uninstalling the antivirus work? Obviously I don't want to just do it in hope after spending quite a bit of money on the initial repairs then the new antivirus.

Haven't you got a partition for that? I've got an Asus pc so I can find out the f key you need for recovery.

I will be emphasise this, do not buy anti virus. It's worse than what you can get for free.

Folks, I could do with a bit of advice re. laptops

I have an Acer Aspire One net book which appears to be fooked -- "hard drive not present" (f*ck knows how/why).

Not arsed about the loss of data as I backed everything up on USBs/email accounts, but I do need a laptop/notebook to type up documents, send emails etc.

I'm thinking it probably isn't worth getting it fixed (£100 at PC world or take a chance and do it myself), so I'm looking at getting a new one (a laptop that is, not an Acer) for between £250-350.

What would be good value in that range, and where is the best place to get one?

Cheers

Thanks Bier and fishpie. My travel commitments left me stuck for time to get the best quality service and I paid the price for that, figuratively and literally! Two weeks ago it crashed again, through my terrible Spanish I managed to bring it to a shop here in Chile. They fixed it in three days, for half the price and it runs better now than it did before. They also installed antivirus, and microsoft office (which I had lost the first time I got it fixed).

Folks, I could do with a bit of advice re. laptops

I have an Acer Aspire One net book which appears to be fooked -- "hard drive not present" (f*ck knows how/why).

Not arsed about the loss of data as I backed everything up on USBs/email accounts, but I do need a laptop/notebook to type up documents, send emails etc.

I'm thinking it probably isn't worth getting it fixed (£100 at PC world or take a chance and do it myself), so I'm looking at getting a new one (a laptop that is, not an Acer) for between £250-350.

What would be good value in that range, and where is the best place to get one?

Cheers

I am clearly not the person to ask in this situation, however I'm sure you'll get the help you want from much more tech savvy people than myself.

Thanks Bier and fishpie. My travel commitments left me stuck for time to get the best quality service and I paid the price for that, figuratively and literally! Two weeks ago it crashed again, through my terrible Spanish I managed to bring it to a shop here in Chile. They fixed it in three days, for half the price and it runs better now than it did before. They also installed antivirus, and microsoft office (which I had lost the first time I got it fixed).

I am clearly not the person to ask in this situation, however I'm sure you'll get the help you want from much more tech savvy people than myself.

I don't know much about computers myself, mate; hence my Acer's hard drive has disappeared or lost it's bearings or something. The word is probably "corrupted", but again I don't know how/why that happened or what the solution is except replacing it, and who's to say if I did that it wouldn't happen again?

I think the best thing is to ask someone who does have a clue about these things.

Btw, where in Chile are you? I've just returned from a 3 month trip to Uruguay/Argentina where I met a load of Chileans and I know another who I met in Barcelona and now lives in Madrid. Great people (as with the Uruguayans), great times. Now I'm sitting here in Scotland no less with my mate (the drink) watching the rugby!

I don't know much about computers myself, mate; hence my Acer's hard drive has disappeared or lost it's bearings or something. The word is probably "corrupted", but again I don't know how/why that happened or what the solution is except replacing it, and who's to say if I did that it wouldn't happen again?

I think the best thing is to ask someone who does have a clue about these things.

Btw, where in Chile are you? I've just returned from a 3 month trip to Uruguay/Argentina where I met a load of Chileans and I know another who I met in Barcelona and now lives in Madrid. Great people (as with the Uruguayans), great times. Now I'm sitting here in Scotland no less with my mate (the drink) watching the rugby!

Sounds very similar to my situation, if you do go down the route of fixing your existing laptop my advice is take your time choosing who/where you get it fixed. As I said earlier in this thread, I rushed my decision and had nothing but trouble until it finally went again. After getting it fixed here in Chile it's as good as a new laptop.

As for a new one, I'm sure someone will drop in with some great suggestions but as Bier advised me earlier, tech forums will be a better place to get an answer.

I'm just outside Linares. I was supposed to go to Buenos Aires for a weekend recently but due to work commitments I couldn't go. Gutted! Loving South America so far anyway. I'll be back in Ireland to drown my sorrows in no time myself!

Folks, I could do with a bit of advice re. laptops

I have an Acer Aspire One net book which appears to be fooked -- "hard drive not present" (f*ck knows how/why).

Not arsed about the loss of data as I backed everything up on USBs/email accounts, but I do need a laptop/notebook to type up documents, send emails etc.

I'm thinking it probably isn't worth getting it fixed (£100 at PC world or take a chance and do it myself), so I'm looking at getting a new one (a laptop that is, not an Acer) for between £250-350.

What would be good value in that range, and where is the best place to get one?

Cheers

Tell me about what you mostly use your laptop for.

Tell me about what you mostly use your laptop for.

Mostly work, for typing up Microsoft Office documents, checking news & doing research on the web. Also for sending long emails. Cheers

Mostly work, for typing up Microsoft Office documents, checking news & doing research on the web. Also for sending long emails. Cheers

Your ideal laptop would be a sub-£350 laptop from ebuyer.com, dabs.com or amazon.co.uk.

You'll be wanting between 500GB - 1TB of disk space and at least 4GB RAM.

Your ideal laptop would be a sub-£350 laptop from ebuyer.com, dabs.com or amazon.co.uk.

You'll be wanting between 500GB - 1TB of disk space and at least 4GB RAM.

Which one do you work for? 

Cheers for the pointers. Are there are any particular makes/models which you could recommend? Or brands to avoid perhaps...?

Which one do you work for? 

Cheers for the pointers. Are there are any particular makes/models which you could recommend? Or brands to avoid perhaps...?

I'd recommend ASUS and MSI due to reliability. I'd stay away from Acer - poor quality components.

I work for none of the above - just Vodafone

I'd recommend ASUS and MSI due to reliability. I'd stay away from Acer - poor quality components.

I work for none of the above - just Vodafone

Nice swan

If you use your laptop a lot then it's well worth getting a MacBook.

Comes with all word processing, spreadsheet, presentation etc all built in. Has an antivirus that's better than anything on the market built in too. Pay £60 a month for mine until it's fully covered. They are expensive but I found I was burning through laptops at one every 2 years. These last for 5-8 years before they start to go bad.

Couldn't praise it highly enough and hate my work laptop now as it's a crappy HP with Windows which is endlessly crashing.

I am back online after nearly 10 days, " dropped" my laptop, after getting frustrated about the arrow freezing, if you get my drift. Proved  costly to have a new screen. Cost me 65 quid to have a new one fitted.

Had problems with arrow, keeps freezing, usually use touchpad, bought a new mouse, seems to be working, okay for now anyway. Anyone else had similar problem

Had problems with arrow, keeps freezing, usually use touchpad, bought a new mouse, seems to be working, okay for now anyway. Anyone else had similar problem

May want to update the driver for your track pad, have you done any other updates? Have you upgraded to Windows 10 for instance?

Had problems with arrow, keeps freezing, usually use touchpad, bought a new mouse, seems to be working, okay for now anyway. Anyone else had similar problem

When you're using the touchpad is there any chance your tapping in the top left corner of it? You could be turning your touchpad off without realizing hence the freezing of the arrow.

Had problems with arrow, keeps freezing, usually use touchpad, bought a new mouse, seems to be working, okay for now anyway. Anyone else had similar problem

 You might have turned it off i startup services, try and find a new driver for it maybe.

Thanks for your suggestions, have upgraded to Windows 10, bought a new mouse as a backup, seems to be working fine at the moment, thanks anyway.