Computer Problems Solved!

[Fat Man]

OK, in my earlier topic, Upgraded My Computer - But I'm Screwed!!! at :
http://www.sportssuck.org/phpbb2/viewto ... f=7&t=4746

I tried to re-install my pirated copy of Windows XP Professional on my new hard drive, but then I could not get the audio, the modem, and the Ethernet to work, so I had no sound and no internet access.

So I formatted the C: Drive again and re-installed my new Windows 7.

This time when I reinstalled the new software for my HP Officejet J4580, I got it to work again, so I don't have to throw away a perfectly good office machine which I paid $90 dollar for.

But I hate the new MS Paint program on windows 7, and I wished I could go back to using the old MS Paint that I had on Windows XP Professional.

So, I did a Google search to see if I could download and install the old version of MS Paint. Well, I did find a download, and I installed it, but I could not get it to work.

Then I discovered that Microsoft has come out with Virtual PC and XP Mode that you can download and install on your computer, and then you can run Windows 7 in XP mode and use the older programs, and you don't have to buy new printers, copiers, scanners and FAX machines, but can use the ones you have now.

Thank God Microsoft came out with Virtual PC. I guess they finally listened to customer complaints.

But when I downloaded the Virtual PC, I could not get it to run, so I called Microsoft to get some help over the phone. The lady I talked to was really nice, and we set up my computer so that I could allow her remote access to my desktop.

Well, she noticed that the first thing I did wrong was that I should have used the Microsoft browser to download the program instead of my Mozilla Firefox browser, because it showed that Virtual PC was 470 megabytes when it's actually 469 megabytes, a discrepancy of 1 megabyte.

So, she took control of my computer, and all of a sudden I could see the mouse arrow moving by itself on my monitor screen, which looked kind of spooky.

She uninstalled the Virtual PC, deleted my downloads for it, the opened up the Microsoft browser window, and downloaded the software again.

Of course, the program still would not install and run, so she checked my system, and discovered the problem. I only had 512 megabytes of RAM and I needed an extra 512 megabytes for a full 1024 megabytes, a full gigabyte of RAM.

Well, I was going to go out that day because I needed a new video card, so I said I was going to get some more RAM to install into my computer, and then I made an appointment to have them call me back at 7:00 PM in the evening after I got home.

I got home about 3:00 PM and I opened up my computer case, took out the old video card, put in the new video card, and put in the extra 512 megabytes of RAM, then I closed the patient and I reconnected my new Synaps monitor instead of the old CRT monitor that I had been using with the old video card, then I installed the software for my new video card using the CD disk that came with my new hardware.

I had to use my old CRT monitor with my new Windows 7 because on my newer Synaps wide screen monitor the images looked squashed vertically and spread out horizontally, and I only had two screen resolution settings available while my old monitor had three setting available.

But after I put in my new video card, then I could go back to using my newer Synaps monitor, and now, I have more screen resolution setting available and much better graphics.

Then at 7:00 PM Microsoft called me back and again we set up my computer to allow them remote access to my desk top, and we finished the installation process.

So now, I am able to run my Windows 7 in XP Mode.

I love it!

The only problem is, that the XP Mode is not as fast are the original Windows XP. When I watch YouTube videos, the sound is OK, but the videos are kind of jerkey, so if I want to watch YouTube videos, I have to do it in Windows 7 mode.

But now, if I want to do my artwork using the old style MS Paint, then I go to my XP Mode for that.

I'm going to re-install my Microsoft Train Simulator which is like operating a real train on my Windows 7.

So, from now on, when I want to watch YouTube videos, or play with my Train Simulator, or check my E-mail on IndcrediMail, I'll go to my Windows 7, and when I want to do my artwork on MS Paint, and browsing on the Internet I'll go to my Windows XP Mode.

I can switch back and forth between my Windows 7 Mode and my XP Mode almost instantly.

It's like having two computers in one.

[Skul]

I can switch back and forth between my Windows 7 Mode and my XP Mode almost instantly.

It's like having two computers in one.

Wow! Cool!

Glad to hear you managed to get your computer working, again.

[Fat Man]

I can switch back and forth between my Windows 7 Mode and my XP Mode almost instantly.

It's like having two computers in one.

Wow! Cool!

Glad to hear you managed to get your computer working, again.

Thank you.

Yes, I do all my work on my own computer.

When it comes to mechanical stuff, like putting in a new mother board, a new CPU, installing more RAM, video cards and audio cards, modems and/or Ethernet cards, hard drives, and CD ROM or DVD drives, I do that all by myself.

Then of course, I prefer having my own copy of Windows to install instead of having somebody installing it for me, that way I can always re-install it again myself if and when I have to.

That's also why I like having two hard drives on my computer so I can install Windows on my Master C: Drive, and everything else on my Slave D:Drive.

That way, if Windows screws up and I have to format my C: Drive to re-instlla it again, I will not have lost anything because my favorite YouTube Videos, music, pictures and stuff that I had downloaded off the Internet goes to my D: drive.

So, when it comes to installing new hardware and installing Windows, I have no problems with that.

It's only when I can't get a program to work, when I'm having software problems that I need to seek advice and help form other people.

Otherwise, I do most of the work myself on my computer.

[i_like_1981]

Which software do you use to download YouTube videos? I would personally recommend the DVDVideoSoft range of programs. That is absolutely top-class freeware - you can not only download videos to your computer but you can also rip the audio off certain videos into MP3 tracks - say if you find a YouTube music video for a song you like, you can get a free MP3 file from that using this software. It's done me a lot of good over the last few years, but if you're already using something that can do this, just ignore what I'm saying. Good to see your computer problems are sorted, but from what I saw, you were still keeping up with the topics on this forum even before that.

Best regards,
i_like_1981

[Fat Man]

Which software do you use to download YouTube videos? I would personally recommend the DVDVideoSoft range of programs. That is absolutely top-class freeware - you can not only download videos to your computer but you can also rip the audio off certain videos into MP3 tracks - say if you find a YouTube music video for a song you like, you can get a free MP3 file from that using this software. It's done me a lot of good over the last few years, but if you're already using something that can do this, just ignore what I'm saying. Good to see your computer problems are sorted, but from what I saw, you were still keeping up with the topics on this forum even before that.

Best regards,
i_like_1981

Yes, I was able to get on line and take a few minutes to post brief comments, but I could not get my HP Officejet J4580 All-In-One to run on my new Windows 7 and the new MS Paint sucked, so I had to download Virtual PC with Windows XP Mode so that I could use the original version of MS Paint and also use my free GIF animator again which I couldn't do on Windows 7.

But I did go a couple of days without posting.

Anyway, I'm so glad I was able to fix the problems I was having.