The Geek Squad is 0 for 2

[Fishing Rhino]

Several months ago, I was having problems with this computer freezing up.  Could run programs in safe mode forever w/o a hiccup.  Start in normal operating mode, get online and it would freeze.  Sometimes in a few minutes, other times in a few hours.

Talked to the Geeks at Best Buy about it and was told my hard drive was on its way out.  OK, maybe they were correct, but then again, maybe not.

After pondering about it for a while, I was on the verge of doing a destructive restore, when a light bulb went off in my head.

Perhaps the problem was related to the hookup to the web.  Since this computer was upstairs and the modem is downstairs, I decided to go the wireless route.  Got a Linksys N router and the appropriate Linksys adapter card for the computer. 

Maybe if I take out that adapter, reinstall the card that came with the computer, then get a wireless adapter that plugs into a USB port it might just cure the problem.

It did.  No more problems of the computer freezing.  Worked better than new.

In January, I was helping our daughter by doing a lot of work with this computer.  I was on it several hours a day, and it was humming along.

Periodically I clean out the computer, and run diskcheck.  Tried to run dskchk and got an error message, "Cannot open the volume for direct access. The type of the file system is NTFS.  Window has finsihed checking the disk."

Since what I was doing was critical, I again checked with the Geeks.  I wanted to see about reinstalling Service Pack 3, since it had a fix for this problem.  It was on the computer, and my thought was that it somehow had become corrupted.

Once again they thought the hard drive was on the way out.  The computer was still working OK, but the registry has always needed to be "fixed" with dskchk.  It deletes some files, fixes others, and recovers "orphaned files" whatever they are.

I don't understand what all it does.  All I know is that after doing it the machine starts up faster and runs faster.

Without getting the registry tended to the computer would only get slower.

I googled the error message and found a tech site that suggested a fix.  It involved getting the machine to the point of running dskchk on the next restart.

I'd been that far, and on the restart, the error message would appear.

But, rather than restart at that point, the instruction told me to go to start, then run msconfig which opened  the system configuration utility.  On that I clicked on the BOOT.INI tab and checked the SAFEBOOT option, then apply, then close.

At this point it asked if I wanted to restart now.  I clicked on yes, and the disk check ran, then the computer started in safe mode.  I had to go back to the configuration utility and uncheck the box I had checked.

The computer the opened normally.  I tried the check disk by opening my computer, right clicking on the C drive, selected properties then tools then chose check disk.

Restarted the computer and it ran the program.

I printed and saved the instructions for future reference.

I wonder if the Geeks are qualified to adjust an abacus.

[VolFan]

They're not. They said the same thing about my wife's work computer. A 10 minute call to her IT support when he came back in the office fixed the problem. I would not take anything to them, or allow them to touch anything I had just bought. You and I are every bit as skilled as they are (i.e. you/I can read instructions and/or use Google).

[bilgerat]

I found a local tech when ours crashed last year. It's him and one other guy working out of a small storefront. Reasonable rates, stands behind his work, doesn't speak technobabble and doesn't try to upsell everything. He's got my business. When it's time for a new computer for us or our daughters, I'm buying from him.

[GrundleLove]

I found a local tech when ours crashed last year. It's him and one other guy working out of a small storefront. Reasonable rates, stands behind his work, doesn't speak technobabble and doesn't try to up-sell everything. He's got my business. When it's time for a new computer for us or our daughters, I'm buying from him.

LOL. Story I hear everyday at my work,

80% of our business is network consultants for small, medium, and large business (some international) but we also have a storefront where local people come in and we work on their computers.

I NEVER talk down to anyone that comes in, or try to go all nerd over their *** and make it seem like they don't know what they are doing, because its just bad business and I always wanna help anyone out.

Geek squad are a bunch of morons. They get paid 10 bucks an hour ( so under paid for tech industry its not even funny) but they charge over 200 an hour for a house call

Their goal is not to repair, but to get you to REPLACE whatever is broken...remember, they work for a RETAIL store. they are not your friend. So many of my customers are people who come from Staples tech support, or Geek Squad who mess everything up.

Tom, just from what you are saying it just sounded like there could of been a problem with the driver, or, windows system file. Good job with the check disk

Lol they told you your HDD was on its way out? Seriously what does that even mean? I would only say that to a customer if it was making sounds it shouldn't, or if I could read the drive from our sled but it wouldn't boot windows ( that just happened on Thursday in my shop)

As for the check disk and the msconfig BOOT tab, be careful.

If you really wanna do a thorough check disk but not have to deal with "on next re-boot" crap just type

"Start>run>cmd> chkdsk C: /r"

What the "/r" does is it check 5 stages, as opposed to the default 3. and automatically fixes error.

Next time you ever have comp problem just PM me ..that goes for anyone.

[Fishing Rhino]

The five stage thingy is what I normally do.  When I open my computer, I right click on the C drive and open properties, then tools, then the chkdsk program.  I also check the two boxes that automatically fix file system errors and the second, scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. 

It will run the program on the next restart.

[Stringjam]

Geek squad is terrible.

There's a GS guy in my Windows Server class. The first day of class we all grabbed a hot-swap HD for our computers (for those that don't know....you just slide these drives in a tower bay and lock them in with a little key.)

A few minutes later the GS guy was asking the teacher for drivers because his system didn't see the drive....or he thought maybe he had a bad drive.

Teacher - "Did you lock in the hard drive?"

pwned

One of them in another class actually turned about to ask me how to activate his copy of Windows.  ;D

[TopDog]

Rhino,

Here is a utility you might want to try, it works great on all the PCs I have.

http://www.glaryutilities.com/

[NateFollmer]

Geek Squad members are salesmen first, techs last...

Cleaner.com is another good utility to havr, keeps the junk files and registry issues at bay.

[WanderLust]

Geek Squad members are worthless

fixed.

Find a local kid that knows computers or use a service plan that covers 100% of issues.

[deaknh03]

Geek squad is terrible.

There's a GS guy in my Windows Server class. The first day of class we all grabbed a hot-swap HD for our computers (for those that don't know....you just slide these drives in a tower bay and lock them in with a little key.)

A few minutes later the GS guy was asking the teacher for drivers because his system didn't see the drive....or he thought maybe he had a bad drive.

Teacher - "Did you lock in the hard drive?"

pwned

One of them in another class actually turned about to ask me how to activate his copy of Windows. ;D

Dude, love the friggin yip yips!

[J. M. Richardson]

I tend not to trust to many IT guys from stores like Best Buy.

I have had similar issues with the so called "Solution Center" on my college campus. Awhile ago, I was having trouble getting a program that helped with remote connection to linux networks working (yeah, I study engineering and realize that I am kind of a nerd, but hey...). Took it into these guys and had them look at it, told them exactly what it was and was not doing, and what I needed it to do in the most explicit language (even referring to some of the computer terms) and the guy there proceeds to ask me if I had done all the stuff most people nowadays no how to do (like google the problem).

Anyway, I don't take my computer back to them now as I can get the same information and fix it for free myself.

IT can be frustrating, and I am fairly sure the Geek Squad only exists to make lives miserable for those who don't know much about computers (think teenage city girl with no knowledge of cars going to the mechanic..similar idea).

I know enough now to take care of the majority of issues I have, and now I am the go to person for installing/fixing anything technology related with my older relatives.