Same Computer screen problem....

[johntywino]

Screen comes on for one second when switched on..After switching on /off about 30 times it stayed on...Just taken it next door and same thing happens,so it's definately the screen gone faulty....QUESTION:Is it repairable or too costly? (2)The computer (Compaq) is 5-6 years old and slow so is it worth spending around £80-£100 on a new screen or should I buy a new computer or a laptop??? (see previous entry for usage) John

[MarkRae]

Impossible to say whether it's repairable without knowing what's wrong with it. Same re cost of same, for same reason.

Five years old is pretty old, but probably just needs a trash and rebuild, assuming you have all of the media for the software you'll need to reinstall and, most importantly, any registration keys / activation codes...

[johntywino]

Hi Mark....Happy New Year to you....What the heck's a "trash and rebuild"????

[MarkRae]

All computers running Windows slow down over time.

Trash and rebuild is where you backup all of your documents and configuration files onto removable media, boot the machine from the Windows DVD, wipe the entire hard disk and reinstall everything again.

[johntywino]

Wouldn't know where to start! I'm a 77 year old s-l-o-w learner....I have had to set it back to factory setting a couple of times,but No idea how to clear the hard disk...I only wish I did.... John

[ChuckFickens]

Setting it back to factory settings is essentially the same as MR is describing.

[MarkRae]

Fair enough! Not knowing about computers doesn't make one a bad person. I love to drive my car and, whereas I'm more or less au fait with the theory and concept of the internal combustion engine, would never contemplate trying to do its annual service myself.

Where are you based? Have you considered joining an IT night class or somesuch? That's what my aged aunt did when she retired, and has never looked back.

Can you say at least:

1) how much memory the machine has
2) how big the hard drive is
3) what speed the processor is

[johntywino]

Thanks CF, and a Happy New Year to you too.Would YOU think it was worth getting screen repaire/buying a new screen/or ditch and buy new computer?

[johntywino]

I know the memory is 1536 as it was 512 and Chuck told me how to increase it. Available memory is now 732.73 of whatever they are..As for lessons I'm afraid I'm well past that as I forget things far too easily nowadays...I just like mucking around on the computer (buying things,booking hols, banking and thats about it> John

[rojash]

You can buy a new monitor for around 80-90 quid, or you can continue faffing around reposting your question on here every few days. Rebuilding your computer might be a good idea, but as you now know that it's the monitor that's at fault, you also know that that's not going to solve your problem.