Bad days

[fpb]

I am at the end of my tether. Both my computers are now virtually useless - the older one's CD reader drivers are shot, which means I can only reach it via floppies, the other does not acknowledge USB ports, floppy port and data CDs, allowing itself to read only audio CDs, which my damned hi-fi can do better anyway. I cannot even use the nuclear option, format the hard drive (e.g. destroy everything and start again). In the case of the old Compaq this would do no good, since without a CD port I could not re-install Windows, and in the case of the Toshiba, the software actually will not accept the order - it keeps claiming that there is another active program, even where I have switched off everything - evidence of an active virus. In fact, I have had signals of the presence of a virus called devo.BOOT, but the only discussion of what to do about it that I found on the net was in Portuguese and no good to me. I have done that search, as well as writing this, on a public library computer.

Oh, a little side note: this disaster has so far cost me over £100, which I could not afford, and resulted in nothing more useful than an argument with the repairman who gave me back the Toshiba with the bug.

Comments

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

I think there is a conspiracy - my entire UK flist has problems with the internet this past week.

http://www.itforcharities.co.uk/pcs.htm has a bunch of listings of groups who do PC refubishment for the joy of helping. Maybe they can help you? Realize IT is the only one that rings a bell, but I can't say anything about it - one imaginary friend must have mentioned it to another. Maybe they'll take the two that are broken and give you back one that works.

Good luck.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

This just might be what I needed. At any rate, it is wonderful to have friends. Whether it works or not, thank you for letting me know.