My computer(s) are acting weird!

My desktop computer (a Gateway...I'll call that one Moo) has been acting weird. Locks up all the time. Well, right now, Moo has a dialogue box that wants me to insert my Windows XP SP3 disk.

Wouldnt be a problem except for the fact that Gateway (and Best Buy) did NOT give me any system disks like that when I bought the computer. They gave me blank disks (for setting up recovery disks...whoops!) but no system disks with the pre-installed software on it.

So...how do I fix whatever Moo wants me to do to the registry if I dont have the disk that it wants? I do know that it's probably somewhere on the hard drive, but if I use that to change the registry, doesnt it overwrite that particular file, and if it doesnt work, then I'm screwed...right?


Second problem, probably not as bad, but on my other computer, a laptop (a Toshiba) there's an icon on it's desktop that says "DisableDrWatson" and says it's a Registration Entry file.

What the heck does that mean, and where did it come from?? It says the date modified was June 10th of this year.. I dont remember downloading this thing. I dont know where it came from.

Why are both of my computers acting bizzaro at the same time?

They're both locking up whenever a page has any Flash or Java on it. I dont understand why they're both acting up...

Anyone here understand my little rants about these things?

Sounds like it's time for a Mac
Sorry we are all Apples here, 5 imac's, 8 ipods & 2 iphones.

I don't know how old your computer is.. but can you try and do a system restore from the computer? Start (button) -> Accessories -> System tools (system) -> system restore.. my 1 yr old computer (got at walmart) keeps crashing so I keep resetting it back to a former date, I just need it to last one more year through school.

Oh..and you should put AVG (virus) software on your computers. I know most people have McAfee or Norton but those don't work as well.. an IT guy told me. And, it's free..
http://www.grisoft.com/ww.download-trial
I hope this helps a little!

Ok. Gateway was no help. The girl really tried, but since my computer is off manufacturer's warranty (I have a 4yr warranty with Best Buy) she couldnt do anything other than try to help me find a site to buy a disk ($20) but all we could find was disks that werent even the one I need, and plus, they all cost MORE than $100...some were even over $250!!!

ARRRGH!!!

So, I tried Best Buy's 800 number. Got an ever-so-unpleasant guy is some backwoods country that they've been outsourced to. Cant understand the guy's accent. (probably has something to do with brainfog on my end) I asked if they've got someone else with less of an accent. He got all rude about it. Which, I totally understand...he probably gets that a lot.

So, they couldnt help either, since there was a language barrier. (why do places outsource to other countries anyways??)

Tried to call the Best Buy stores here in town, and both numbers put me into Telephone HELL. No one will answer the freaking phone.

I'm just going to lay on the floor in front of the computer and cry. OR, maybe I'll go get my dad's sledgehammer and beat the computer to death. I dont know which would be more satisfying.

Why do these companies make it so hard for people to get thru to someone, and then when you get thru to them, they wont help you anyways!??!

I should have just asked my dad for a new computer for my birthday, since my Gateway is apparently probably going to be doing a rather spectacular crash soon. I wish there was a way to stop the impending doom.

I think I'll go cry my tears of frustrations now, before I attempt to call anyone else, because right now I probably wouldnt be able to resist telling someone where to go and how to get there and what to do with themselves once they get there. ARgh!

erin, how often do you run the maintence programs like disk cleanup and defrag?

what anti-spyware programs do you have? virus protection?

Ah the good old days when they gave you the start up discs....



I know, I was too lazy to make a back up of mine. Even after I crashed I never did it. I never learn.


Probably why they're locking on java or flash is those need to be updated online. Can you try doing that?

Momx7 - I started with Mac. Learned on them at work. We had problems with those too. Now that I've had a Gateway, a HP, and a herd of Dells, I know you have things either way. For work, Mac is okay but for home use I prefer pc.

We were all PC's until 3-4 years ago.

I've updated everything that I can update.

I cant do any more Windows updates because I've gotten them all.

I uninstalled Flash and Java several times and reinstalled.

I uninstalled IE7 and reinstalled.

I havent uninstalled and reinstalled WindowsXP yet because I dont have the disk....and I cant get the disk because no one will give me a disk. (can you hear my frustration coming thru yet?)

I think my boyfriend is sensing an impending meltdown (on my part, not the computer) and hasnt contacted me back yet because he's at work and probably doesnt want to deal with a nutjob of a girlfriend who's freaking because the computer is having a problem.

Right now, I kind of want to borrow my boyfriend's highest caliber weapon so that I can target shoot my computer until it's really small pieces of smoldering rubble.

I'm half tempted to tell my dad to go buy his new Mac so that I can take his old Mac. (which is only like a year or two old right now) I hate Mac's but I'm pretty sure I could be talked into making the switch right now because of all the problems I've had right now just getting thru to someone at Best Buy and Gateway.

I did finally get thru to someone at one of the local stores, and he was actually really helpful with suggestions, and so was the girl I finally got thru to at Gateway, but neither of them could give me any actual help.


Maybe I'll just go Mac...

I wish I knew this about a month ago before I purchased McAfee.

Mom and Curious gave great suggestions and both of these were my 1st thought after I read your post. Give these a try before going to drastic measures. LOL.

Many times when there is a registry issue, there is a virus. I used to have Norton's and I hate it. I just got McAffee and it seems to do just fine. I also have TuneUp Utilities and it works great. I clean up my computer at least once a week if not more depending on how much surfing the net I do.

We have both a Macbook and a PC. They both have their issues.

Good luck.

Erin, Erin, Erin! You have a computer issue and you seek the advice of people who answer to "Whuh?", exchange pilot-cooking recipes, can argue for a month about the "right" way to hang toilet paper, and can miss a DM during an absence? Honey, it's not the computer that has the problem!