Solve : No one can fix my computer! Please help!?

1.	Solve : No one can fix my computer! Please help!?
Answer» Hi, my name is Sandra and I have a big problem. I am having to use my 11-year-old Dell which is so sl-o-o-o-w because I have a problem with my 1-1/2 year old Toshiba laptop. My Toshiba is a A215 model, 1.86 GB Ram, AMD Turion 64 x 2 Processor, 32-bit, Vista. I use an Ethernet to connect to the net. My laptop has been working great until a few weeks ago and it would freeze. I was able to get it up and going each time until two week ago and nothing would work. I purchased the laptop at Micro-Center and took it in for them to see what the problem was. The tech called and said he checked the battery first and found that it was not making a connection with the contacts and fixed it. It had been running HOT and he cleaned that. He said he did not have go into the innards of the computer because booted up after fixing the battery. When I brought it home I could not get it to connect to the internet. I called the tech guy and he said all he did was to fix the battery connection. I called AT&T and their tech guy came and said their part was working okay. He also used the Ethernet to connect to the internet with his notebook and that worked. I also used my brother's modem and it connected to the old home page of AT&T but would go no further. The odd part is that my Dell will connect to the internet using the Ethernet but not the Toshiba. As of today, I have had two AT&T technicians come out and have taken it back to Mico-Center for the second time. Nothing is getting that computer on the internet. Sorry for the long post but needed to tell everything that was happening. Could someone PLEASE help me! QUOTE from: Nonnie on July 23, 2009, 09:37:54 PM When I brought it home I could not get it to connect to the internet. I called the tech guy and he said all he did was to fix the battery connection. Start with basic stuff. For example, where the ethernet cable plugs in at both ends, those connections typically have indicators that light when the cable is connected and properly signaling from both ends. Do both LEDs light? There are numerous ways to get to a Network Connections page from Control Panel, sometimes a desktop icon, or even using Windows Help. On that page are numerous communication devices include dial up connection, wireless connections, incoming connections (or infrared), etc. Find the Local Area Connection icon. Left click. If the enabled option is available, then click on it. If the disable option is available, click on it. Then left click the icon again to go back to enable it. Does that get the cable LEDs to light? Move on to Device manager (found in Control Panel or use Windows Help). Is anything in error or conflict (IE yellow exclamation point)? If so, then what? At this point, we are only looking for problems. Cures come later. Down in the right corner along with the clock is (typically) icons to indicate modem connections, Wireless connections, and local area network connections. Be aware of them and what is displayed for the Local network. When data is exchanged, they will flash. When the port is disabled, the icon indicates same usually with a red X or something equivalent. Network connectons can be disabled at many layers. Currently we are only looking at a lowest level. Confirming the simplest of hardware (PHYSICAL) layer connections. These must test good before moving up to higher level protocols. Meanwhile go to Toshiba's web site to find and download something called "PC Diagnostic Tool".Westom, thanks for your reply. Nothing is working. I'm going to switch from AT&T to Comcast and hope that will work. It is so confusing when one computer will connect and one won't. Thanks, again for your suggestions.Did you check the stuff that westom suggested? Where does it stop working? We would be more than happy to help you where you have problems, if you're up to then so are we.Quantos, yes, I did every Westom suggested and nothing worked. I go no further than connecting page and I get a message that it can't connect. I'm going out of town this coming weekend and will take it with me to see if it will connect from the motel. I will appreciate and and all suggestions and thanks. Quote from: Nonnie on July 27, 2009, 04:34:41 PM Quantos, yes, I did every Westom suggested and nothing worked. Nothing I posted was supposed to fix anything. We are not yet ready to fix anything. First the problem must be defined. Later, replies become as useful as the facts you first post. Having not reported what was discovered, you again have no useful replies. Problem solving is a two step process. First get facts. Second step is fixing something. Only thing posted was how to get facts. Later move on to fixing anything. Step one - what do those lights report at each end of the cable. That fixes nothing. Only requests information not in your first post that was necessary to even KNOW what is wrong. Fixing comes much later. your dell connects but not your laptop...!!! so you are using a router correct?? if so is your laptop connecting through wireless or through ethernet cable? are you getting an address from the router for the laptop(ipconfig /all)? if not that's a good place to start...find out why your not getting an address from the router...!!! then maybe do a winsocket fix on the laptop and try again.... because of your following statement... "My laptop has been working great until a few weeks ago and it would freeze. I was able to get it up and going each time until two week ago and nothing would work." I would suggest doing a winsocket fix first... see here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/06/18/repair-and-reset-windows-vista-tcpip-winsock-catalog-corruption/ good luck Quote from: westom on July 28, 2009, 08:56:36 AM Nothing I posted was supposed to fix anything. We are not yet ready to fix anything. First the problem must be defined. Later, replies become as useful as the facts you first post. Having not reported what was discovered, you again have no useful replies. I appreciated every reply I get. Sometimes, it takes so long to boot up the Dell and extra long time to get from page to page, I don't get on the web because of other things to do. On the LAN settings drop down box, it has two boxes to click. One - Automatically detect settings. Two - Use automatic configuration scrip. Number one was clicked. I have tried numerous ways to set or get a connection. Again, nothing worked. Everything looked good on the Device Manager. No exclamation mark. Computer icons in bottom right have a red X. I assume you suggested going to Toshiba on the laptop but, no connection. I really do appreciate any and all help. Quote from: Nonnie on July 30, 2009, 10:27:38 AM Everything looked good on the Device Manager. No exclamation mark. Computer icons in bottom right have a red X. Quoted are the two sentences that report something useful. That red X means any one of 50 items could be defective. Trying different configurations all day and still the right combination might not be found. You cannot look at all fifty. So work through the problem one step at a time. Follow the evidence rather than wildly doing this and doing that. Does Device Manager even show the network interface? If defective, then no exclamation mark may exist on an entry that is not there (listed under Network Adapters). In Network Connections, is the Local Area Connection enabled? IOW when right clicking on the icon, is only the disable option available? But again, step one - what do those lights report at each end of the cable. That fixes nothing. Only requests information not in your first post that was necessary and is still necessary to know what is wrong. Until lowest level questions are answers, the next and many other useful suggesting cannot be posted. Numerous things that provide the best information do not require booting Windows. But first that very first question must be answered. Quote from: Nonnie on July 27, 2009, 04:34:41 PM I go no further than connecting page and I get a message that it can't connect. What "connecting page" is this? Are you talking about Internet Explorer? Quote from: westom on July 30, 2009, 10:52:17 AM That red X means any one of 50 items could be defective. 50 items?! Sandra, if you hover your mouse pointer over one of those icons, what does the pop up tooltip say? It might say something like (for example) "LAN. A network cable is unplugged." Let us know?If you have internet problems and you paid some "tech" to check your battery you should get your money back from them. Check the lights on your router and computer when the ethernet cable is plugged in. TELL us if they blink or light up or anything. If you see red Xs' that means you are not connected. You should try a new ethernet cable. Don't forget to tell us if the lights show anything.Back from weekend trip. I was able to connect to BS using the wireless connection at the motel. WesTom, on the Device Manager list, there is no listing for Network Interface. Rob, I have tried to use the "Set up a Network Connection" and I get a message saying "Network cable unplugged" and has a red x. My Ethernet cable IS plugged in. Yes, I do use IE. But, I get the message when I try to connect or to set up a connecting I get a message saying "Network connection failed to connect to Broadband". TechGeek, I don't have a router set up but have been told that using one would probably fix my internet problem. I'm puzzled that I have used the Ethernet cable, which I have replaced, for a year and a half with no problem and all of a sudden I need one. When I try to install the router, is it installed (or routed) on/from my old Dell or the laptop? There is no a place on my laptop where I plug in the cable cord with a light. On the Ethernet box down on my baseboard of my floor, there is a tiny green light. I appreciate your bearing with me. I am a novice with the inner workings of a computer. I am acceptable at navigating on the computer. Thanks again, everyone for helping. Quote from: Nonnie on August 03, 2009, 11:09:41 AM WesTom, on the Device Manager list, there is no listing for Network Interface. ... There is no a place on my laptop where I plug in the cable cord with a light. On the Ethernet box down on my baseboard of my floor, there is a tiny green light. Now we have some useful facts. If Device Manager does not see the NIC, then no drivers will load for the NIC. Why. Well the reasons why are few. Point is, now we have made progress. There probably is a light where the Ethernet cable connects to the Toshiba. But if the light is extinguished, then you would never know the light is there. The router does have a light. Either where the Ethernet cable connects of a light on its front panel. Number under the router's front panel light would correspond to a number where the Ethernet cable connects. However, since Device Manager does not see the NIC and since no driver would therefore load, we can not zero in on what is probably a hardware problem unique to the Toshiba. Notice how many suspects suddenly get eliminated with some basic facts. Better computers provide hardware diagnostics to solve this problem. For example, your Dell comes with these diagnostics on the hard drive, on a CD-Rom, and on their web site. Diagnostics would confirm an NIC failure in hardware or in Windows. Unfortunately, I know of no comprehensive hardware diagnostics for Toshiba. They may exist. But I have never had to find and use them. You have an NIC problem either in Toshiba hardware or in Windows. Maybe you could identify the NIC component manufacturer (ie Broadcom?) and download a diagnostic from them. If Windows cannot see the NIC in Device Manager, then no driver from anywhere is going to fix the problem One final suggestion. Some laptop computers must have a keyboard combination that disconnects power from the NIC. For example, hold the Fn key and press the key with what looks like a transmitting antenna. This function is how to turn off WiFi when in an airplane by literally disconnecting power. You might find and try that key – or look for details in the Toshiba web site. But this much you do know. Windows does not see the NIC hardware. Your next step is to find (if possible) comprehensive Toshiba hardware diagnostics, discover why the NIC is defective (or not powered), OR add new hardware to replace the defective NIC hardware. Notice how many actions now that the problem is limited by what they mean in CSI by ‘follow the evidence’. You may have to buy a PC Card – a peripheral card plugged in to make a new Ethernet port. Find Toshiba’s comprehensive hardware diagnostic – or one from the NIC manufacturer. Find that Fn key that powers off Wifi. Possible solutions to addressing a problem that has been limited to and identified by this fact: Windows sees no NIC hardware. My laptop is now back on the internet! I had to switch from Bell South to Comcast but it's working. I have a modem now and a router. Unfortunately, the 11-year-old Dell finally gave up on me. It couldn't take anymore! I want to thank all of you who were so patient with me and for all of the suggestions you gave. Still don't know why it wouldn't work but I can live with that as long as I can get online. Again, thanks for your help!No problems Nonnie, come back anytime.

Answer»

Hi, my name is Sandra and I have a big problem. I am having to use my 11-year-old Dell which is so sl-o-o-o-w because I have a problem with my 1-1/2 year old Toshiba laptop. My Toshiba is a A215 model, 1.86 GB Ram, AMD Turion 64 x 2 Processor, 32-bit, Vista. I use an Ethernet to connect to the net.

My laptop has been working great until a few weeks ago and it would freeze. I was able to get it up and going each time until two week ago and nothing would work.

I purchased the laptop at Micro-Center and took it in for them to see what the problem was. The tech called and said he checked the battery first and found that it was not making a connection with the contacts and fixed it. It had been running HOT and he cleaned that. He said he did not have go into the innards of the computer because booted up after fixing the battery.

When I brought it home I could not get it to connect to the internet. I called the tech guy and he said all he did was to fix the battery connection. I called AT&T and their tech guy came and said their part was working okay. He also used the Ethernet to connect to the internet with his notebook and that worked. I also used my brother's modem and it connected to the old home page of AT&T but would go no further. The odd part is that my Dell will connect to the internet using the Ethernet but not the Toshiba.

As of today, I have had two AT&T technicians come out and have taken it back to Mico-Center for the second time. Nothing is getting that computer on the internet.

Sorry for the long post but needed to tell everything that was happening. Could someone PLEASE help me! QUOTE from: Nonnie on July 23, 2009, 09:37:54 PM

When I brought it home I could not get it to connect to the internet. I called the tech guy and he said all he did was to fix the battery connection.

Start with basic stuff. For example, where the ethernet cable plugs in at both ends, those connections typically have indicators that light when the cable is connected and properly signaling from both ends. Do both LEDs light?

There are numerous ways to get to a Network Connections page from Control Panel, sometimes a desktop icon, or even using Windows Help. On that page are numerous communication devices include dial up connection, wireless connections, incoming connections (or infrared), etc. Find the Local Area Connection icon. Left click. If the enabled option is available, then click on it. If the disable option is available, click on it. Then left click the icon again to go back to enable it. Does that get the cable LEDs to light?

Move on to Device manager (found in Control Panel or use Windows Help). Is anything in error or conflict (IE yellow exclamation point)? If so, then what?

At this point, we are only looking for problems. Cures come later.

Down in the right corner along with the clock is (typically) icons to indicate modem connections, Wireless connections, and local area network connections. Be aware of them and what is displayed for the Local network. When data is exchanged, they will flash. When the port is disabled, the icon indicates same usually with a red X or something equivalent.

Network connectons can be disabled at many layers. Currently we are only looking at a lowest level. Confirming the simplest of hardware (PHYSICAL) layer connections. These must test good before moving up to higher level protocols.

Meanwhile go to Toshiba's web site to find and download something called "PC Diagnostic Tool".Westom, thanks for your reply. Nothing is working. I'm going to switch from AT&T to Comcast and hope that will work. It is so confusing when one computer will connect and one won't.

Thanks, again for your suggestions.Did you check the stuff that westom suggested?

Where does it stop working?

We would be more than happy to help you where you have problems, if you're up to then so are we.Quantos, yes, I did every Westom suggested and nothing worked. I go no further than connecting page and I get a message that it can't connect.

I'm going out of town this coming weekend and will take it with me to see if it will connect from the motel.

I will appreciate and and all suggestions and thanks. Quote from: Nonnie on July 27, 2009, 04:34:41 PM

Quantos, yes, I did every Westom suggested and nothing worked.

Nothing I posted was supposed to fix anything. We are not yet ready to fix anything. First the problem must be defined. Later, replies become as useful as the facts you first post. Having not reported what was discovered, you again have no useful replies.

Problem solving is a two step process. First get facts. Second step is fixing something. Only thing posted was how to get facts. Later move on to fixing anything.

Step one - what do those lights report at each end of the cable. That fixes nothing. Only requests information not in your first post that was necessary to even KNOW what is wrong. Fixing comes much later.
your dell connects but not your laptop...!!! so you are using a router correct??

if so is your laptop connecting through wireless or through ethernet cable?

are you getting an address from the router for the laptop(ipconfig /all)?

if not that's a good place to start...find out why your not getting an address from the router...!!!

then maybe do a winsocket fix on the laptop and try
again....

because of your following statement...

"My laptop has been working great until a few weeks ago and it would freeze. I was able to get it up and going each time until two week ago and nothing would work."

I would suggest doing a winsocket fix first...

see here:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/06/18/repair-and-reset-windows-vista-tcpip-winsock-catalog-corruption/

good luck

Quote from: westom on July 28, 2009, 08:56:36 AM

Nothing I posted was supposed to fix anything. We are not yet ready to fix anything. First the problem must be defined. Later, replies become as useful as the facts you first post. Having not reported what was discovered, you again have no useful replies.

I appreciated every reply I get. Sometimes, it takes so long to boot up the Dell and extra long time to get from page to page, I don't get on the web because of other things to do.

On the LAN settings drop down box, it has two boxes to click. One - Automatically detect settings. Two - Use automatic configuration scrip. Number one was clicked.

I have tried numerous ways to set or get a connection. Again, nothing worked.

Everything looked good on the Device Manager. No exclamation mark.

Computer icons in bottom right have a red X.

I assume you suggested going to Toshiba on the laptop but, no connection.

I really do appreciate any and all help. Quote from: Nonnie on July 30, 2009, 10:27:38 AM

Everything looked good on the Device Manager. No exclamation mark.
Computer icons in bottom right have a red X.

Quoted are the two sentences that report something useful. That red X means any one of 50 items could be defective. Trying different configurations all day and still the right combination might not be found. You cannot look at all fifty. So work through the problem one step at a time. Follow the evidence rather than wildly doing this and doing that.

Does Device Manager even show the network interface? If defective, then no exclamation mark may exist on an entry that is not there (listed under Network Adapters).

In Network Connections, is the Local Area Connection enabled? IOW when right clicking on the icon, is only the disable option available?

But again, step one - what do those lights report at each end of the cable. That fixes nothing. Only requests information not in your first post that was necessary and is still necessary to know what is wrong. Until lowest level questions are answers, the next and many other useful suggesting cannot be posted.

Numerous things that provide the best information do not require booting Windows. But first that very first question must be answered.
Quote from: Nonnie on July 27, 2009, 04:34:41 PM

I go no further than connecting page and I get a message that it can't connect.

What "connecting page" is this? Are you talking about Internet Explorer?

Quote from: westom on July 30, 2009, 10:52:17 AM

That red X means any one of 50 items could be defective.

50 items?!

Sandra, if you hover your mouse pointer over one of those icons, what does the pop up tooltip say? It might say something like (for example) "LAN. A network cable is unplugged." Let us know?If you have internet problems and you paid some "tech" to check your battery you should get your money back from them.

Check the lights on your router and computer when the ethernet cable is plugged in. TELL us if they blink or light up or anything. If you see red Xs' that means you are not connected. You should try a new ethernet cable. Don't forget to tell us if the lights show anything.Back from weekend trip. I was able to connect to BS using the wireless connection at the motel.

WesTom, on the Device Manager list, there is no listing for Network Interface.

Rob, I have tried to use the "Set up a Network Connection" and I get a message saying "Network cable unplugged" and has a red x. My Ethernet cable IS plugged in.

Yes, I do use IE. But, I get the message when I try to connect or to set up a connecting I get a message saying "Network connection failed to connect to Broadband".

TechGeek, I don't have a router set up but have been told that using one would probably fix my internet problem. I'm puzzled that I have used the Ethernet cable, which I have replaced, for a year and a half with no problem and all of a sudden I need one. When I try to install the router, is it installed (or routed) on/from my old Dell or the laptop?

There is no a place on my laptop where I plug in the cable cord with a light. On the Ethernet box down on my baseboard of my floor, there is a tiny green light.

I appreciate your bearing with me. I am a novice with the inner workings of a computer. I am acceptable at navigating on the computer.

Thanks again, everyone for helping. Quote from: Nonnie on August 03, 2009, 11:09:41 AM

WesTom, on the Device Manager list, there is no listing for Network Interface.
...
There is no a place on my laptop where I plug in the cable cord with a light. On the Ethernet box down on my baseboard of my floor, there is a tiny green light.

Now we have some useful facts. If Device Manager does not see the NIC, then no drivers will load for the NIC. Why. Well the reasons why are few. Point is, now we have made progress.

There probably is a light where the Ethernet cable connects to the Toshiba. But if the light is extinguished, then you would never know the light is there. The router does have a light. Either where the Ethernet cable connects of a light on its front panel. Number under the router's front panel light would correspond to a number where the Ethernet cable connects.

However, since Device Manager does not see the NIC and since no driver would therefore load, we can not zero in on what is probably a hardware problem unique to the Toshiba. Notice how many suspects suddenly get eliminated with some basic facts.

Better computers provide hardware diagnostics to solve this problem. For example, your Dell comes with these diagnostics on the hard drive, on a CD-Rom, and on their web site. Diagnostics would confirm an NIC failure in hardware or in Windows.

Unfortunately, I know of no comprehensive hardware diagnostics for Toshiba. They may exist. But I have never had to find and use them.

You have an NIC problem either in Toshiba hardware or in Windows. Maybe you could identify the NIC component manufacturer (ie Broadcom?) and download a diagnostic from them. If Windows cannot see the NIC in Device Manager, then no driver from anywhere is going to fix the problem

One final suggestion. Some laptop computers must have a keyboard combination that disconnects power from the NIC. For example, hold the Fn key and press the key with what looks like a transmitting antenna. This function is how to turn off WiFi when in an airplane by literally disconnecting power. You might find and try that key – or look for details in the Toshiba web site. But this much you do know. Windows does not see the NIC hardware. Your next step is to find (if possible) comprehensive Toshiba hardware diagnostics, discover why the NIC is defective (or not powered), OR add new hardware to replace the defective NIC hardware. Notice how many actions now that the problem is limited by what they mean in CSI by ‘follow the evidence’.

You may have to buy a PC Card – a peripheral card plugged in to make a new Ethernet port. Find Toshiba’s comprehensive hardware diagnostic – or one from the NIC manufacturer. Find that Fn key that powers off Wifi. Possible solutions to addressing a problem that has been limited to and identified by this fact: Windows sees no NIC hardware.
My laptop is now back on the internet! I had to switch from Bell South to Comcast but it's working. I have a modem now and a router. Unfortunately, the 11-year-old Dell finally gave up on me. It couldn't take anymore!

I want to thank all of you who were so patient with me and for all of the suggestions you gave. Still don't know why it wouldn't work but I can live with that as long as I can get online.

Again, thanks for your help!No problems Nonnie, come back anytime.

Solve : No one can fix my computer! Please help!?

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