repair CDs?

[tackdriver]

Hi guys. Yesterday I had a bad computer "crash"... It wouldn't open. I finally got it (windows 11) to operate via F 11 recovery and using System File Checker. It still isnt operating like it should.

Do you have an opinion on these "repair CDs" such as System MEchanic?
Are they worth a darn or am I just better off taking it in to some computer repair place?

thx

[bruss01]

First, if you aren't confident you know what the issue is and how to fix it, talk to a professional. They may be able to recover things that further recovery attempts on your part may scramble beyond reclamation.

Do you still have your install media? There may be an option on there to "repair Windows". That's an option if nothing on the computer is irreplaceable and/or you just can't afford to take it to an expert.

[ibanezfoo]

[tackdriver]

Thx. Im trying to run the "restore health" feature as we speak. Just not sure what the turnaround time will be if I took it in. Lord, I'd hate to lose my programs, shortcuts, dirty pix....

[sonofeugene]

Do you have a backup of all the files you have on your computer? If not, do a backup NOW!

[tackdriver]

Do you have a backup of all the files you have on your computer? If not, do a backup NOW!

Oh yeah. Ive got it. Copied all my desktop stuff too.

The dangest thing is EVERY program check I run it passes... System File, DiskCHeck, HP's support assistant,

It's like it now takes 2 hours to warm up before it starts functioning somewhat properly. The struggle continues!!

[Preston-CLB]

Since you can get Windows to run, you can try running DISM (Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management) in Powershell.

I had an issue with Win 10 acting very strange one day. After a Google search I found that DISM worked in several cases.

This link refers to Win 10, but should work for Win 11, too.

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7808-dism-repair-windows-10-image.html

Some quick questions:

1. Are all of the fans working and CPU cooler working properly. excessive heat is your enemy.
2. Is your power supply giving the correct voltages?
3. If you are using an SSD as your Windows drive, is it more than 75% full? SSD's need the free overhead for optimization.

I hope this helps and you can get things sorted out without having to pay a tech.
-P

[Preston-CLB]

Since you can get Windows to run, you can try running DISM (Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management) in Powershell.

I had an issue with Win 10 acting very strange one day. After a Google search I found that DISM worked in several cases.

This link refers to Win 10, but should work for Win 11, too.

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7808-dism-repair-windows-10-image.html

Some quick questions:

1. Are all of the fans working and CPU cooler working properly. Excessive heat is your enemy. (see link below)
2. Is your power supply giving the correct voltages?
3. If you are using an SSD as your Windows drive, is it more than 75% full? SSD's need the free overhead for optimization.

Speccy, from Piriform is a nice little program that shows lots of different info about your machine, including temperatures. It's free.

I hope this helps and you can get things sorted out without having to pay a tech.
-P

[tackdriver]

Seems if I leave the computer on for 6 hours, it starts to connect to the internet and operates somewhat "normally".
I am currently waiting to hear from a tech who I am paying to check it, online. Course he was supposed to call me at 9am and it is now 10am.... nothing yet.
Preston, I checked those issues and they "seem" to be ok. I havent looked at the tenformu/pinform yet.

Looks like Im going to go ahead a get anew computer while this one is still functioning... What's another $1000 right?
Are any of you guys familiar with computer transfer programs such as ZINSTALL or PCMOVER?
I really want something that can transfer my programs/apps but I get mixed messages on whether this is even possible. THEY say they can but internet search some say this can't be done properly..

[Preston-CLB]

Tackdriver, be careful with doing this kind of transfer. You need to make absolutely, positively, sure your drive is not corrupted in any way. If it is, you'll only move the problem to the new machine.

If the drive and data are good, you can clone the old drive to the new drive. I don't know what you are using for back-up, but some back-up apps have a cloning feature. I use the paid version of Macrium Reflect: It is one of the best out there, and it will do the clone for you.

You can do this yourself, or your tech can do it. Basically, you take the old drive and install it in an empty drive bay on the new computer and run the clone feature of whichever clone program you are using. Depending upon how much data is on the old drive, it will take a while. Bear in mind that any data on the drive you are cloning to will be lost.
-P

[ibanezfoo]

Seems if I leave the computer on for 6 hours, it starts to connect to the internet and operates somewhat "normally".
I am currently waiting to hear from a tech who I am paying to check it, online. Course he was supposed to call me at 9am and it is now 10am.... nothing yet.
Preston, I checked those issues and they "seem" to be ok. I havent looked at the tenformu/pinform yet.

Looks like Im going to go ahead a get anew computer while this one is still functioning... What's another $1000 right?
Are any of you guys familiar with computer transfer programs such as ZINSTALL or PCMOVER?
I really want something that can transfer my programs/apps but I get mixed messages on whether this is even possible. THEY say they can but internet search some say this can't be done properly..

[tackdriver]

Thanks everyone. I know ya'll have been worried and losing sleep over my situation...
As a last ditch effort I once again used the system restore feature. This time from a restore point that was from months ago. It ran for 5 hours before it finished!
When it came back on I was able to access my files but it would not connect to the internet. I left it on overnight and, low and behold, nearly everything is now working fine.
The only problem I had was with my NORTON antivirus program and had to delete and reinstall
I actually had a new computer in my COSTCO cart and was getting ready to order..
So, for now anyway, it's back to "normal"...

[Preston-CLB]

System Restore can be a lifesaver. Happy to hear you did not need to use more extreme methods to fix your issue.

Let us know how thing go in the coming days.
-P

ETA: Norton AV is a known resource hog. There are better solutions out there. Personally, I use Bit Defender Anti-Virus Plus.
-p