Is my laptop on the way out ?

[smurfchops]

As you can tell from previous posts I have had a lot of problems recently with my emachines laptop. Model E430. I have had it around three/four years I suppose. I had a new hard drive a couple of months ago as it wasn't opening/closing down etc. Now I have problems with typing - letters jump to other part of the text or disappear altogether. If I leave the 'arrow' on something, the laptop jumps to whatever it is, even though I haven't clicked on it. The laptop gets very hot very quickly. So ..... is it getting old, like a car, lots of things wrong with it .. am i due for a new one?? If so I will be going to John Lewis. What do you recommend? I am not using it for work, just general messing about on the internet and some typing. At the moment I have downloaded OpenOffice and saved to a memory stick as I don't have Word on this laptop. Help please! I am not technical either if you are going to give me advice as to why the flipping thing keeps jumping about. I don't have a mouse, just a touchpad, and Windows 7. Thanks all !

[smurfchops]

Oh and also, I now can't get into ebay with Mozilla, I never had this problem until a few days ago - since the new hard drive. I keep getting a page where they ask if they can call me back with a PIN. I have rung them, they say they have unblocked whatever they have to unblock, but it keeps happening although it seems OK with Google Chrome. But why suddenly this as well ?? Thanks.

[wildwood]

Pity you've not had expert advice. I've heard of this letters jumping around before but have no idea what causes it, even with a mouse.

The overheating could cause all sorts of problem. Has the fan ever been cleaned? This is a fairly easy job for someone who is careful.

[hc4361]

If you can't solve your problems then desperate measures should get your laptop running at full speed and properly.

If you don't know how to do any of these steps, ask before you start.
Clean the fan.
Back up all your files, music, photos, videos (you should be doing this any way).
Restore laptop to factory settings. There will be a manual on your hard drive (Start - all programs) probably under 'emachines'.

This will put your laptop to the state it was when you bought it, so be prepared to spend several hours updating Windows and other pre-installed software, and reinstalling your own software and personal files.

I do this every three years at least with all my pcs and it really does give them a new lease of life.
Before doing anything I print off screenshots of all my programs, settings, bookmarks (favourites) etc for my own reference.

[smurfchops]

hc, I dont have any CDs, how do I update everything from factory settings? Will this work automatically ?? Thanks x

[hc4361]

You don't need any cds. Everything essential will update automatically but could take a while.
This gives clear instructions on how to restore to factory settings:
http://www.ehow.co.uk...factory-settings.html

This is perfectly safe but I can't stress enough this is time consuming, exactly as setting up a new laptop to suit you would be.

What internet browser do you use?

[hc4361]

Oh! Unless you use something like LastPass that keeps all your passwords in cyberspace print out all your passwords too before anything else.

[smurfchops]

I have BT Broadband and tend to use Mozilla Firefox . Do you think if I restore to factory settings these problems will stop? Overheating, typing jumping about...

[bibblebub]

Since it's overheating, have you tried turning off the laptop and using a vacuum cleaner to suck any dust from the fan via the grille on the underside of the base?

[hc4361]

I said clean the fan first of all.

Should do the trick

[smurfchops]

I had a new hard drive a couple of weeks ago and apparently it was all cleaned then.

[hc4361]

Have you tried it, Smurf?

[smurfchops]

hc, I haven't myself but I was told that it was very dusty inside when the man changed the hard drive, he said he cleaned it out. If I go back to factory settings, is it easy to download my BT Broadband again? i can't remember how I did it the first time ! Thanks all.

[hc4361]

I meant have you reset to factory settings. As long as you have the username and password for your broadband connection there will be no problem.
I'm not on BT but I can't see there would be any problems. After all, if you bought a new laptop it would connect. No difference.