Need Help on Computer Malfunction-Again

[lonewolf]

Once again, I am certain someone here can advise how to fix this:
I was playing a series of DVDs. Two played and ejected perfectly. Inserted the third and it will neither play or eject, just makes a very slow revolving dull clicking noise. Tried rebooting. No help. Does not seem to affect computer function but is annoying .. and I might want to use that drive again someday.
I am hesitant to take a hammer or pliers to it.
Anyone?

[guru]

There should be a small hole on your CD drive door. Gently stick a paper clip or other small wire into the hole until you feel resistance. That should pop the door at least enough for you to pull it open if it doesn;t open fully on it's own.

[El Toro]

If the above method doesn't work easily, then google "manually eject cd-rom" and you should get some videos that will show you more "vigourous" processes.

[lonewolf]

Thanks, guys, the paper clip worked... finally. .. had to poke pretty hard.

[Marlow]

My new vexation is a redirection spam/virus that takes me to a commercial shopping site whenever I click on a google hit. How do I get rid of it?

[guru]

My new vexation is a redirection spam/virus that takes me to a commercial shopping site whenever I click on a google hit. How do I get rid of it?

Almost certainly malware. Run your anti-spyware program, and if that doesn't do it run a full Onecare sweep(may take a couple hours) - http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/article/slowpc.htm

[lonewolf]

My puter guy installed some sort of firewall and a frequently recurring virus sweep that, with a router, had me virtually spam and pop-up free for many months.
About two weeks ago, I could not get online. My internet provider (cox) blamed the router (cisco) the router balmed cox. I was finally able to get online by disconnecting the router. I am now seeing an increasing amount of spam and pop-ups. Gotta go rag on cisco again.

[jazzcyclist]

By hitting "CTRL+ALT+DELETE" and then clicking on the processes tab, shouldn't you be able find whatever spyware program is running on your computer?

[rasb]

My computer needs a damn good clean-up, I suspect I am carrying all sorts of little bugs.
Someone recommended spy-bot to me, and said it was free.
So I downloaded that, and ran it, and it told me I had lots of "detections",
and then wanted me to produce my credit card.
Does anyone know how to get rid of this stuff for free?
P.S. Speak slowly, I am not a computer guy at all...

[bad hammy]

I've made a pretty good living working with computers over the past 25 years or so, but it always pisses me off when something goes wrong with them. Long ago I lost the geeky 'Oh gee a new puzzle to solve' factor that leads many folks to these kinds of careers. I just want the fuckers to work right so I can concentrate on better things.

Last night at home the printer stopped printing. Didn't have time to screw with it then. Just got done with the diagnostics - a print server device that allows me to share this printer with all the computers in the house just decided to stop working. Power is there and the network connection is there and the config software sees it, but it is seen as apparently permanently offline. Tried all the usual tricks (unplug for a while, hit the reset, etc.) The fly-by-night company that made it doesn't have a single reference to it on their web site and no phone support. Now I have to drive 20 miles to Fry's to spend a few bucks on a new one.

Such is life . . .

:x

[guru]

Does anyone know how to get rid of this stuff for free?
P.S. Speak slowly, I am not a computer guy at all...

As noted above to marlow - if you run Windows this will do it all for you.

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/article/slowpc.htm

It likely will take a couple hours. Click "Full Scan" and follow the prompts.

[tandfman]

Last night at home the printer stopped printing. . . . Tried all the usual tricks (unplug for a while, hit the reset, etc.)

For the past three months or so, most of the time, one of my printers does not work unless I turn it off (with the on-off switch on the printer) and then turn it back on. It only takes a few seconds, but if I haven't recently done that, it just won't print. Oddly, it occasionally will be fine for 4-5 days at a time, but then it goes back to requiring an on-off to work.

This is way down on the list of life's annoyances, but it's there.

[Marlow]

Does anyone know how to get rid of this stuff for free?
P.S. Speak slowly, I am not a computer guy at all...

As noted above to marlow - if you run Windows this will do it all for you.
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/article/slowpc.htm
It likely will take a couple hours. Click "Full Scan" and follow the prompts.

I am in the middle of that scan now - been running over 2 hours already. This DAMN anti-virus virus keeps reinstalling itself!!! I've sopped in the the processes tab, I've deleted it's executable file and it keep coming back! :evil: :evil: It's called "Windows Anti-virus Pro and shuts down virtually everything until you buy the $49.99 anti-virus program!! :evil: :evil: I REFUSE!!

[Pego]

Does anyone know how to get rid of this stuff for free?
P.S. Speak slowly, I am not a computer guy at all...

As noted above to marlow - if you run Windows this will do it all for you.
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/article/slowpc.htm
It likely will take a couple hours. Click "Full Scan" and follow the prompts.

I am in the middle of that scan now - been running over 2 hours already. This DAMN anti-virus virus keeps reinstalling itself!!! I've sopped in the the processes tab, I've deleted it's executable file and it keep coming back! :evil: :evil: It's called "Windows Anti-virus Pro and shuts down virtually everything until you buy the $49.99 anti-virus program!! :evil: :evil: I REFUSE!!

I had the same problem a few weeks ago. A Trojan malware installed itself on my desktop. It would open a new spam window every few minutes. Highly annoying. Norton said it blocked it, but it didn't. Scanning it with Norton, Windows Defender or Guru's clean-up utility did not get rid of it. Desperate, I installed a Stopzilla and scanned the system. It found a shitload of spyware. To get rid of it, they wanted $10 for a year, $60 lifetime. I said, what the hell, gave them $10 and had no spyware problems since.

[lonewolf]

Kind of a relief to know that I am not the only amateur plagued with computer/printer problems. My puter guy says don't buy spybot or anything that pops up demanding money to get rid of itself. Of course, his solution is for me to call him and he fixes it. So, WTF, he has kids to raise. Sometimes, since I am such a good customer, he can fix it over the phone