Tech Questions & Answers Archives - Page 210 of 211

Q&A: Why is my Windows Update not working in Windows XP?

Posted on February 10, 2013

Question from Jennifer K.: Hi Rick! I have an older Dell desktop PC running Windows XP that I absolutely love, but due to a virus I had to re-install Windows from scratch. Now when I try to use Windows Update it fails and I get this error message:

“The website has encountered a problem and cannot display the page you are trying to view.”

I’m stuck at Service Pack 2 and I get any updates to download at all. I can’t even get Bitdefender to install because it says I need Service Pack 3, so the computer is currently running without anti-virus protection. Can I fix this or should I just recycle the computer and use my laptop for everything (NOT my first choice!)? [Read more…]

Q&A: Is it safe to run my Sony Vaio Z laptop with a bad fan?

Posted on February 10, 2013

Question from Camille: I have a 2 year old Sony Vaio Z laptop that works great but I recently noticed that the fan never comes on anymore. It does seem to get hotter than usual but it never gets too hot to touch. Since it’s over 2 years old I hate to spend a lot of money on getting it fixed. Do you think it’ll be ok to run it with a bad fan?

Rick’s answer: Camille, if I were you I’d spring for the repair bill and have the fan checked out and replaced if it indeed turns out to be defective. My guess is that it is, but there are other problems besides just a bad fan that can cause it to stop spinning. [Read more…]

Q&A: If I upgrade to Windows 8 will I be able to go back to Windows 7?

Posted on February 10, 2013

Question from Elizabeth A.: I’m thinking about upgrading my computer to Windows 8 but I have a question first. If I try Windows 8 for a while and don’t like it will I be able to go back to Windows 7 without losing my files?

Rick’s Answer: Elizabeth, the short answer is yes, but you’ll have to prepare for the potential downgrade from Win 8 to Win 7 before you install the upgrade by creating a System Repair Disc and Backup Image for your current Windows 7 installation (click the link for instructions).

You should create this backup set right before starting the Windows 8 upgrade process to ensure that none of your user-created data files will be lost if you end up deciding to downgrade back to Windows 7 later. [Read more…]

Q&A: Why won’t my HP laptop turn on?

Posted on February 5, 2013

Question from Sean W.: I have an HP laptop running Windows Vista. Now all of a sudden it won’t turn on. When I press the power button some of the LEDs light up then go right back out and the system is dead. Do you think my computer is fried? Or maybe the power adaptor?

Rick’s answer: Sean, I don’t think anything is “fried”. I believe a hard reset to the machine will probably get you back up and running. Try this: [Read more…]

Q&A: Is there any way to retrieve the files from my old floppy disks?

Posted on February 4, 2013

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Anna G.: Hi Rick. I read your post the other day about playing old games on new computers and it reminded me that I have a ton of old 3.5″ floppy disks filled with stuff that I’d like to check out and possibly copy onto my hard disk.

The problem is my laptop doesn’t have a floppy disk drive. Any ideas?

Rick’s answer: You’re in luck Anna. All you need to do is buy an external USB 3.5″ floppy drive and plug it into your laptop’s USB port. You’ll be able to view the files on your floppy disks and copy them onto your PC’s hard drive, onto blank DVDs or even onto a USB thumb drive.

There are a couple of things to be aware of however: [Read more…]