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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Computer Question
        
(Message started by: sandie99 on Mar 9^th, 2006, 4:44am)

Title: Computer Question
Post by sandie99 on Mar 9^th, 2006, 4:44am

I have a HP laptop. This morning it announced that I must run pattery optimizer thing. Does anybody know how important it is? My laptop surely doesn't like running it, it has already shut itself and restarted TWICE since I started it... And naturally that meant that the optimizer thing started all over again.

Best wishes & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Computer Question
Post by marlinsfan on Mar 9^th, 2006, 8:48am

Sorry nobody has helped. Check the HP website. If you're running Windows, check the microsoft site too. I know a lot about computers, and have never heard of what you're doing.

Sometimes when I need to run a scandisk or defrag, it's best if you start your computer in Safe mode (hlidng F6 or f8 during startup). This opens windows with minimal processes running, and system tests/processes run faster.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Computer Question
Post by Dragnlance on Mar 9^th, 2006, 9:08am

Hp seems to be the only company that does this. Some how this is supposed to extend the life of the battery. I have found that the process causes more problems than it solves. One can do the same thing manually.
Run the unit off the battery until it shuts down, recharge. Do this a couple times a week for a couple of weeks.
After that, once a month is enough to keep the battery healthy.

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions

Computer Tech Lance

Title: Re: Computer Question
Post by Opus on Mar 9^th, 2006, 9:23am

Sandie,
Sounds like spyware/adware. If it didn't come from a windows update or a HP update then that is what it probably is. They make their pop-ups look like official dialog windows to trick users.

Get Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/) or Adaware (http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/) or both and run a scan in safe mode ( reboot and keep hitting F8) to keep it from rebooting while you are trying to scan. Microsoft has a spyware scanner (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) too but I have no experience with it. If none of this works, and it isn't a virus then you probably need to do a clean reinstall.

If you don't already use Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/) or Opera (http://www.opera.com/) get them and use them as you default web browsers.

The best thing you can do is not browse the web running in an account with admin privileges. Use an account that cannot install software will make you much safer.

Hp has become very Linux friendly, and you may want to try it out. My laptop has everything working except hibernation, which didn't work in windows either. If you want help trying it let me know.

Opus/Paul

Title: Re: Computer Question
Post by Opus on Mar 9^th, 2006, 9:28am

on 03/09/06 at 09:08:31, Dragnlance wrote:

LOL I didn't know you meant battery Sandie, and I forgot that sometimes HP updates, and processes can be messed up.

Opus/Paul

Title: Re: Computer Question
Post by sandie99 on Mar 9^th, 2006, 10:23am

Thanks for advises, guys! :)

I decided to let that pattery thing run (it's almost done now) and recall not to run it the next time my laptop suggests that. In case it does indeed cause more trouble than it's worth. That wouldn't surprise me the slightest.

Best wishes & PF days,
Sanna