DELL HELL - need help with PC power outage

[Mrs. Tuberski]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
A virus does not cause anything like that.

I said that to tuber last night before i went to bed glad to know i am not comlpetely off my rocker
Keep in mind i did say not completely

[Atahualpa]

So your talking about Poly in bed?

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Kassiopeia
"It had a virus" is what I say to people when I've fixed their computer up and it had a rather technical problem that I don't think they will understand.

Sorry boys, you're wrong, I was there when the tech did the diagnostics - I saw the trojan myself. I probably got it off a linker to a newspaper.

The system is usually cramped with spyware anyway, so it's not too far from the truth. On one hand, detailing the problem may make you come off as brainy, on the other hand, they may think you're pulling their leg.

Not mine - it was crammed with spybot destroyers.

That, or the tech plugged it in, it booted normally, and he formatted it and made up the virus story to charge you for an extra hour.

He charged me $120 and worked on it off and on most of the day - I went to shop 3 times - it was the only job he had that day - not bad value I thought. He also gave the system a tune up and removed all that crap they load when you buy a comp

[mrmitchell]

i dont know what to tell you but i dont think the light is always on at dell...i just saw a commercial for dell laptops, and theyre showing how awesome the laptop is, and then the announcer guy says

"Do you want exciting, entertaining experiences in your lap?"

roflroflroflroflrofl

[Mrs. Tuberski]

Originally posted by Atahualpa
So your talking about Poly in bed?

No I was in bed going to sleep. he was sitting at his desk playng a game. It happens so that his desk and pc is right next to my bed.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
Sorry boys, you're wrong, I was there when the tech did the diagnostics - I saw the trojan myself. I probably got it off a linker to a newspaper.

I can't think of a possible way that any malware can interfere with normal booting. It simply will not be active at that stage.

Granted, you may also had something, but there is no link between the two.

[Alexander's Horse]

well whatever - it wasn't malware - if we're talking about the same thing - it was a virus and comp went down cold - I saw it in the diagnostics and that's why we went for a rebuild. Not a virus I've seen before, nasty.

The comp would start and then the fan would just go into overdrive like the system was overheating - of course it wasn't. No boot screens either. That's why the boys panicked.

The power outage and surge protection on Dells are a prize pain in the butt. No reset button and if you look at the docs they don't tell you up front how to fix it with a hard boot.

But you're right - there is no direct evidence the virus was the cause - it may have been sleeping on the machine.

[:) Smiley]

You ought to play some Starcraft every now and then. Helps keeps computers happy over around that part of the world.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


I can't think of a possible way that any malware can interfere with normal booting. It simply will not be active at that stage.

Granted, you may also had something, but there is no link between the two.

what about a bios virus?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
well whatever - it wasn't malware - if we're talking about the same thing - it was a virus and comp went down cold - I saw it in the diagnostics and that's why we went for a rebuild. Not a virus I've seen before, nasty.

Horsie, malware is the collective term for things such as viruses, worms, trojan horses and the like. Things that are intended to do evil things to your computer.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by SpencerH
what about a bios virus?

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think you can write to the BIOS when the CPU is in protected mode. That's why you need to boot to DOS to flash your BIOS.

Besides, Horsie said only the HDD was rebuilt, which indicated the BIOS was not affected.

[Alexander's Horse]

the hard drive was fine - it was the software that had to be completely reloaded

[Kassiopeia]

That's what UR was referring to - that apparently the techie only did something to things that are on the HDD, not on the BIOS chip.

[Mr. Harley]

Mrs. Tuberski.

It happens so that his desk and pc is right next to my bed.

I didn't know that you folks were into THAT!.