Having a lot of probs

[Heather Positive Thinker]

The last week or so Im getting a lot of probs with pdf printing - the page kept freezing. I reinstalled adobe and it SEEMS to be ok. But Im also getting messages when I start up that the puter didnt close down properly.

This morning I turned the puter on, went for a cup of coffee and when I came back there was a message saying that it couldnt open and asking if I wanted to attempt a repair to start up. I clicked on that and it then ran through and started up ok. But now my Kaspersky is saying its corrupted. I had that yesterday too after I had to do a system restore.

Something is not right but I dont know what is causing it. Ive run malewarebytes and antispyware and they come up clean

Could it be the latest Firefox updates or MS updates causing this?

Im very anxious about it as I have all my works stuff on here not to mention family history stuff. I did have online backup from dell but half the time it didnt seem to back up so I uninstalled that too. What would be the easiest way to back up the hard drive please.

[Elaine ..Spain]

Get yourself an external hard drive Heather - have it connected to your computer permanently and schedule it to do regular backups, e.g. daily, weekly etc.
I know they are coming down in price but I've no idea which one to recommend - I'm sure someone will be able to advise, possibly Dave Pusey.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Thanks elaine, I had a pen thing but its not big enough for all the stuff I have and to be honest, its very easy to misplace.

[dave pusey]

I would highly recommend the Western Digital MyBook series... http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136212

I have exactly that model and it has been perfect. Not a single problem. It shows up in My Computer in the same way as a USB stick, and you use it just like one too.

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Just a word of warning to stay away from the DESKTOP series of the Seagate Expansion drives. I have one, but had to remove it from the casing and fit it inside my computer for it to work properly. It would constantly freeze and make clicking sounds otherwise.

The smaller laptop series are ok - Mum has one.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Thanks dave, Ill have a look.x

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Dave, what do you think of this one please

http://www.storagedepot.co.uk/External-Hard-Drives/One-Touch-Backup/sc932/p142.aspx

or this?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=257315&C=Froogle&U=257315&T=Module

Will I be able to put all my stuff back on a puter if it went down?

[dave pusey]

http://www.storagedepot.co.uk/Extern...c932/p142.aspx

Not heard of that brand. The one i posted is the same price, but twice the capacity.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...57315&T=Module

That's from the series I said to stay away from.

Will I be able to put all my stuff back on a puter if it went down?

Yes, it's just like a giant memory stick.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Sorry dave, flapping around like a headless chicken, as usual.

Right, almost set on this one - is it the right sort please: I notice this one takes Windows 7, not that I have that yet, but may be there will be a time when I will need that.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=816

[borobabs]

Heather I dont know if you saw this one that I posted sometime last week ;;

http://www.svp.co.uk/technology/peripherals/external-hard-drive/verbatim-external-3-5-inch-usb2-hard-drive-verbati152_1tb-hard-drive-47512.html

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Thanks babs, I dont really need one that big.

Actually, I DO like this one, which is like Daves but smaller.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=698

It comes in lovely colours (yes, dave, I know ......) but the thing that attracts me is you actually see on screen that it is copying your stuff. Do you see that with the book one too?

[Guest]

I got the WD My Passport Essential one Heather its a nice size too for travelling and ever so easy to use , got a nice little carrying case for it on Ebay.

[dave pusey]

Actually, I DO like this one, which is like Daves but smaller.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=698

Yes, we have that one at work. Works very well too.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Ive been reading up on it and there are a lot of complaints about the micro connector or something?

This ones a seagate and very similar with a 5 year warranty or is that one of those you dont like dave?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/15012779/Seagate-FreeAgent-Go-Portable-500GB-External-USB-Hard-Drive-Ruby-Red-ST905003FDD2E1-RK/Product.html

[dave pusey]

Ive been reading up on it and there are a lot of complaints about the micro connector or something?

This ones a seagate and very similar with a 5 year warranty or is that one of those you dont like dave?


http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/150127...K/Product.html

It was the "Expansions" desktop model i was refering too. Not sure if it affects others.

It's not a case of i don't like it, it is that there is a design flaw in the enclosure/chassis that causes the USB connection to freeze/lock up. It a widely reported problem on the seagate forums. The only known fix at this time is to remove the drive from the chassis and use it an internal drive.

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Personally Heather, I suggest you go for one of the Western Digital models posted earlier.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Oh right dave, thanks for putting me straight

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Val, does yours have a docking thing to stand in? So you can remove it and just plug the dock in. Cos you cant turn the HD off can you?

[Guest]

no it doesnt Heather, I dont know a lot about them didnt know you could get them?

[dave pusey]

Val, does yours have a docking thing to stand in? So you can remove it and just plug the dock in. Cos you cant turn the HD off can you?

no it doesnt Heather, I dont know a lot about them didnt know you could get them?

I'm not aware of any that do that.

You can of course unplug it, to turn it off.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

I think the seagate one has the connection to the dock thing so you dont have to plug the HD into the computer.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

I just googled and the Passport Elite has the docking thing but people dont seem over pleased with it, say its loose or something. I just thought it was a good idea to have the dock permanantly plugged in and you just pushed the HD into it rather than fumbling for cords. Oh and Val, people are saying the Essential's usb cord is too short and slips out too easily because its micro?