Laptop repair - Windows issue
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Laptop repair - Windows issue
Hey guys,
I've just moved to Phnom penh and on the flight over my laptop wouldn't boot properly. I need to find a place to repair it soon as I need it for work.
I've heard many horror stories about Khmer places swapping parts over etc.
Can anyone recommend anywhere reliable?
Cheers,
Connor
I've just moved to Phnom penh and on the flight over my laptop wouldn't boot properly. I need to find a place to repair it soon as I need it for work.
I've heard many horror stories about Khmer places swapping parts over etc.
Can anyone recommend anywhere reliable?
Cheers,
Connor
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I'll have to check it out, where is it located?BirdBrain wrote:PTC are ok. Not great but ok.
- hanky
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There is PTC and a similar PSC or something, they are owned by brothers. There are branches on Monivong, at Psah Thmei, Borei Keila, Sovanna and maybe others. Anana are ok too, and Pacific Computers on the smelly canal near Tuol Sleng has always done good work for me.
Last edited by hanky on Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Who Gives a Fuck?
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What does it do when you try to boot? Is there anything on the screen, nothing on screen, any beeps? And how old is the machine?
If you're getting something on screen then your problem should be fairly simple and easy to fix (although it could be a dead hard drive - easily swapped out for another one, but unless you've backed up you can effectively kiss your data goodbye or go to Bangkok and pay through the nose for data recovery). On the other hand, if the screen is completely blank your problem is more serious (if this is the case I usually recommend people just buy a new laptop rather than trying to get the old one fixed, it's often not worth it). Let me know what it's doing and I'll let you know whether you need to get it repaired, or if I can give you steps to fix it here.
And I wouldn't be too worried about local techs cannibalising your computer - laptops don't have too many removable parts, the only things they could easily nick that they'd want to are your hard drive, your RAM and your wi-fi adaptor, none of which are really worth enough to bother with, and are so easily checked that even a complete novice could bust them for it if they'd had a 2 minute pointer. I'd be more worried that they generally don't know their arse from their elbow.
If you're getting something on screen then your problem should be fairly simple and easy to fix (although it could be a dead hard drive - easily swapped out for another one, but unless you've backed up you can effectively kiss your data goodbye or go to Bangkok and pay through the nose for data recovery). On the other hand, if the screen is completely blank your problem is more serious (if this is the case I usually recommend people just buy a new laptop rather than trying to get the old one fixed, it's often not worth it). Let me know what it's doing and I'll let you know whether you need to get it repaired, or if I can give you steps to fix it here.
And I wouldn't be too worried about local techs cannibalising your computer - laptops don't have too many removable parts, the only things they could easily nick that they'd want to are your hard drive, your RAM and your wi-fi adaptor, none of which are really worth enough to bother with, and are so easily checked that even a complete novice could bust them for it if they'd had a 2 minute pointer. I'd be more worried that they generally don't know their arse from their elbow.
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hi mate,JibberJabber wrote:What does it do when you try to boot? Is there anything on the screen, nothing on screen, any beeps? And how old is the machine?
If you're getting something on screen then your problem should be fairly simple and easy to fix (although it could be a dead hard drive - easily swapped out for another one, but unless you've backed up you can effectively kiss your data goodbye or go to Bangkok and pay through the nose for data recovery). On the other hand, if the screen is completely blank your problem is more serious (if this is the case I usually recommend people just buy a new laptop rather than trying to get the old one fixed, it's often not worth it). Let me know what it's doing and I'll let you know whether you need to get it repaired, or if I can give you steps to fix it here.
And I wouldn't be too worried about local techs cannibalising your computer - laptops don't have too many removable parts, the only things they could easily nick that they'd want to are your hard drive, your RAM and your wi-fi adaptor, none of which are really worth enough to bother with, and are so easily checked that even a complete novice could bust them for it if they'd had a 2 minute pointer. I'd be more worried that they generally don't know their arse from their elbow.
it's a pretty much new top of the line hp. i7 & 8g ram etc. Running windows 7 64bit
It starts up onto the hp screen like usual then it goes to a screen saying windows error recovery and recommends startup repair - when I select this, it comes up with a screen saying loading files then it appears to open the user log in page but without the login details, it stays like this for a while (about 5 minutes) before starting up again and asking to repeat the process.
When I select start windows normally, it goes through the usual processes but the windows loading screen is on display alot longer. The login page eventually comes up but the computer restarts shorly after (before login details show up).
Thanks for your help,
Connor
Don't risk PTC with your HP.
Go to Lemon on Kampuchea Krom (see website for map)... Amazing Service, the owner is a good guy who supports local charities by doing free service and mainantance on their ICT systems..And the staff are well paid and know what they are doing...highly recommended
http://lemon-computer.com/about.php?about=1
Go to Lemon on Kampuchea Krom (see website for map)... Amazing Service, the owner is a good guy who supports local charities by doing free service and mainantance on their ICT systems..And the staff are well paid and know what they are doing...highly recommended
http://lemon-computer.com/about.php?about=1
Just looked at the website and they are using Google maps. Noticed that Monivong has been moved and now replaces part of the Russian Blvd. When did they do this?
You're right. That's odd, (Googles fault not Lemons OP) should be Confederation De La Roussie that runs parallel to Kampuchea Krom...Hope the Russians don't take offence.
Quite a recent edit I would say, the lake looks pretty full of sand.
Quite a recent edit I would say, the lake looks pretty full of sand.
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Okay, it doesn't seem like it's anything too serious then - at best it'll take a Windows repair, at worst a reinstall. Your hardware should be fine.Aus Rascal wrote: hi mate,
it's a pretty much new top of the line hp. i7 & 8g ram etc. Running windows 7 64bit
It starts up onto the hp screen like usual then it goes to a screen saying windows error recovery and recommends startup repair - when I select this, it comes up with a screen saying loading files then it appears to open the user log in page but without the login details, it stays like this for a while (about 5 minutes) before starting up again and asking to repeat the process.
When I select start windows normally, it goes through the usual processes but the windows loading screen is on display alot longer. The login page eventually comes up but the computer restarts shorly after (before login details show up).
You'll need a Windows 7 x64 installation DVD (a clean, unmodified one). If you happen to have one all well and good, but I'm assuming you don't. Any chance you have access to another PC and know how to use BitTorrent, or know anyone who does? If you do you can get a clean DVD from here (- Torrent link removed -) (just make sure and only select the x64 folder when choosing which files to download. It's 3GB in size, so it'll probably take a while. The serial key on the bottom of your laptop will work with it fine). If you're able to do that you should be okay repairing the installation yourself, it doesn't require too much nerd.
If you don't you'll need help. The main problem you'll have getting it sorted locally is you don't know what kind of Windows installation they're using - if it's a copy from one of the markets or CD shops, or they're not very good at sourcing clean downloads, there's a good chance it'll come flooded with viruses, rootkits and other nasty shite. There's a chance one or two of the shops mentioned above might have an OEM installation DVD kicking about, and if they can show you a nice, shiny, genuine Windows disk then fine. Otherwise I don't know if I would personally trust them.
If you find yourself totally stuck I may be able to meet up in a cafe or bar somewhere and quickly attempt to repair it for the cost of a few beers. If that doesn't work though, it'll need a full reinstall, which I wouldn't want to do from anywhere other than the comfort of my own sofa. And I don't recommend people hand their laptop over to random strangers.
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Aus rascal - I had exactly the same issue with my HP last month. It required reinstallation of Windows 7 - an easy job but the muppet who did it also pointlessly reformatted my C drive, losing a bunch of stuff. I won't recommend THAT place, but do be careful to insist they leave/back up your files first. Wish I'd come across jibberjabber earlier!
I came, I argued, I'm out
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After leaving the computer on Startup repair whilst I went out for dinner, I came back to find it on the login screen. It logged on fine last night and I thought the problem was over. I shut down like normal and went to bed. When I turned it on this morning - same problem. I am currently running startup repair again and once/if it starts i'll run all the updates possible and google the problem. I think your right in saying I may need to reinstall windows. I have a friend downloading it over the next couple of days for me.
Cheers,
Connor
Cheers,
Connor
Google making minor mistakes in their maps! The best one so far had a central american country invade another one because Google had the borders slightly wrong. Planning your invasion based of GM's, how lazy can people get.unperson wrote:You're right. That's odd, (Googles fault not Lemons OP) should be Confederation De La Roussie that runs parallel to Kampuchea Krom...Hope the Russians don't take offence.
Quite a recent edit I would say, the lake looks pretty full of sand.
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Aye, repairing from a recovery partition (where you're getting your repair files from) often doesn't work. The installation disc usually does a better job, but it's still not fantastic.Aus Rascal wrote:After leaving the computer on Startup repair whilst I went out for dinner, I came back to find it on the login screen. It logged on fine last night and I thought the problem was over. I shut down like normal and went to bed. When I turned it on this morning - same problem. I am currently running startup repair again and once/if it starts i'll run all the updates possible and google the problem. I think your right in saying I may need to reinstall windows. I have a friend downloading it over the next couple of days for me.
Cheers,
Connor
If you manage to login and get it working normally for a wee bit again I'd advise taking the opportunity to backup any files you might want to keep, it'll mean less hassle later if you need to do a full reinstall. Rack your brain well, I almost always forget a few things every time I do a wipe. Unlikely, but if you don't use webmail (Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail etc.) make sure to backup your locally saved emails as they're often forgotten about until it's too late.
Small tip - with every new PC I get I make sure I create a new partition on the hard drive (100GB is more than large enough for the average C: drive), making Windows act like I have two hard disks. I then keep everything important on the D: drive - photos, documents, downloads, music, porn, frustratingly half-written literary masterpieces, anything I want to keep. That way, should anything go tits up again, when I reformat and reinstall Windows onto the C: drive all my shit is still in place.
Once you've got the download, either burn it to a bootable DVD or, ideally a USB stick (USB will install much, much faster - highly recommend it. Instructions on how to make Windows installable from USB here). You'll maybe need to change the settings in your BIOS to allow you to boot from a DVD, unless you get a message that says 'Press any key to boot from CD' when you boot up the laptop, and you definitely will if you're using a USB stick. This should help you out there, just remember and change it back after you've done the repair/reinstall.
If you need to do a full reinstall you'll have a bit more on your plate, so give me a shout if there's no joy repairing from disc.
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It's still going through the system repair. I might give lemon a call and see if they have a genuine windows disk, my mates download will probably take a week or so. I'm starting to get sick of browsing on an iPhone.
If it starts up again I'll take your advise and back up everything I can. I only use hotmail for this reason (safety and security) it's mainly just all my personal docs, some photos and music on the hdd but a bit of it has sentimental value.
I'll keep you posted JJ, thanks heaps for your help.
Connor
If it starts up again I'll take your advise and back up everything I can. I only use hotmail for this reason (safety and security) it's mainly just all my personal docs, some photos and music on the hdd but a bit of it has sentimental value.
I'll keep you posted JJ, thanks heaps for your help.
Connor
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