My computer has a mind of its own - Strange problem

[Weird NJ]

Nuh uh.

Just tells me "windows is logging off" -- then "windows is shutting down" -- then skips the part where it used to tell me it was okay to shut off the computer and reboots.

This problem was fixed. Not this one..

And yes, it tells me that it's okay to shut down. If anyone can figure out how to change that, that would be swell.

so nyah! :-p

[FollowThisLogic]

Once Windows has shut down, and is waiting on the "it's now safe" screen, the power button isn't really under Windows' control.... the setting for the soft power button can be found in the BIOS. :-D But yes, there is a setting for that in APM too.

Windows Update doesn't update the BIOS. Ever.

[GonzoStyle]

whatever ftl said, I agree with.

[FollowThisLogic]

I win!!!11 :bouncer: :bouncer: :bouncer:

[Weird NJ]

Windows Update doesn't update the BIOS. Ever.

Were you talking to me? I didn't mean to elude that it did.

[FollowThisLogic]

Ahh, sorry, thought that's what you were getting at..... when else would the BIOS be updated then? It's not exactly something you can do by accident.. heh.

[Weird NJ]

when else would the BIOS be updated then? It's not exactly something you can do by accident.. heh.

It can if you forget the floppy disk in the drive right after you do update it. heh

[Sweet Angel]

Okay, you guys lost me somewhere in the middle of page one. I should just buy a new computer, right? No sense in trying to upgrade further?

[onehung]

I should just buy a new computer, right? No sense in trying to upgrade further?

Might as well. 10 or so tricks will get you a pretty decent system. :-o

[Sweet Angel]

That would be a good idea if I knew any magic tricks

[PeterDragon]

I should just buy a new computer, right?

not necessarily - it depends what you want to do with it. You can probably do fine for most things, although it probably was a mistake to put XP on it.

Try the bios thing, then if need be try and re-install windows (without formatting). If all else fails you can do the backup / format / reinstall thing.

[Sweet Angel]

PeterDragon, I didn't mean buy a new computer because of this problem...I'm thinking I should get something a little more current, larger HD, faster processor. And yes, it was definitely a mistake to switch to XP. My concern with reformatting or even getting a new computer is that all my banking and stuff is on Quicken (not online, just on the drive). I tried to burn a copy of Quicken to give to someone and it didn't work, so I'm afraid I'm gonna lose years of stuff.

[PeterDragon]

Well, at my motherboard's website (gigabyte), they had the following message:

If your system still can't be shut down after updating new BIOS for WinXP. Please reinstall WinXP to solve the problem

so yours is not a unique problem.

I use quicken all of the time - in anycase you should DEFINITELY backup often, no matter what you do.

If you are having problems re-installing quicken, e-mail me - I have a "copy" of quicken home & business 2003 that I am now using.

As for upgrading a compaq, it might not pay. You need to go to compaq's site <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.compaq.com/support/">http://www.compaq.com/support/</a><!-- m --> and see what they recommend. I had an older compaq presario, and when I went to update it, I found much of the stuff was unique to compaq, and not the easily replaceable stuff of other manufacturers. Even a faster HD was tough on that machine - they used a 5" HD (most are 3"), and they put it in a side cage. the bios wouldn't recognize more than 20 gig, but it also wouldn't boot from the maxtor ide card I used on another machine.

That doesn't mean you can't upgrade it - It just might be a pain. In addition to the above site, you can do a google search for compaq (your model) shutdown problem - look not only on web, but groups too. someone most likely had the same problem and already figured out what to do.