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You definitely deserve a pat on the back!

You stuck with it and worked through the problem. It was a pleasure working with you and I'm glad you got the result you needed.

Enjoy your evening.

 

Well done!

And Congratulations! You are now the family and neighborhood go-to person for computer problems!

 

Ok, opinion please.

When my computer came of out sleep today, I got a message that the memory configuration had changed, and that I should change it back or that my computer may not boot up if I turned it off....

I didn't have a clue, so hit enter.

Now I am afraid to turn it off!!!

Yikes

 

That is a little odd. I think you have no choice but to exit Windows and power off the computer. I would even unplug it from the wall (or, if equipped, set the power supply master switch to off) for 10 seconds or so, then back on and boot again and see what happens. Make sure the date and time are correct too. That would not cause the error, but a failing CMOS battery might, and the battery maintains the RTC (real-time clock) when some sleep or off modes.

 

That would not cause the error, but a failing CMOS battery might, and the battery maintains the RTC (real-time clock) when some sleep or off modes.[/QUOTE]

The message said the computer might not boot up...you think I should try anyway?

What's a CMOS?

I am currently backing up my files (again) just in case.

So, you think that the memory message is unrelated to the flash?

Windows is installing updates, for the umpteenth time, and the same ones.
That started before I flashed.

 

I don't know.

Which updates? There was a problem last week with one update that kept trying to install, even though it already was installed. MS fixed the update, but some hit with the problem still had to manually fix it. The solution is to uninstall the offending update, reboot, then run WU again to install the fixed update.

CMOS stands for Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor. It is a memory device used in all sorts of electronics - not just computers. But it is most commonly associated with motherboards.

The BIOS "chip" or module contains the mini-OS programming that is used to establish communications between the major motherboard components when you first turn the computer on, and before the boot drive (where all the drivers are located) is touched.

You cannot make changes to the BIOS directly. Changes to the BIOS must be flashed. However, the BIOS by default does not know what drives, how much RAM, which CPU you are using, or the local time or date. Those are all "user settings", or custom changes to the BIOS data (typically set in the BIOS Setup Menu - accessible during boot) and those changes to the factory defaults are saved in the CMOS memory chip (IC, or integrated circuit). So the BIOS and CMOS are both part of the chipset and work together to establish communications across the motherboard.

CMOS modules have one very unique (among memory types) electrical characteristic. They almost instantly (like within one or two clock cycles) dump any stored data once the "holding" voltage is removed from the power input pins.

This makes resetting the BIOS back to the defaults simple and quick - and it should be noted if the engineers did not mean to make it simple and quick, they would NOT have used CMOS memory modules, but another type. And it because it is meant to be simple and quick, any garbage you hear about keeping the battery removed for minutes, or even hours, or pressing and hold power buttons, or moving jumpers or pressing reset buttons for minutes or hours is just that, garbage. The circuit is designed to be simple and quick to reset. There are no storage capacitors that need to be drained in that circuit.

But you cannot have your computer forget the date and time, the drives connected, or the RAM and CPU data every time you turn off, or unplug your computer. So motherboards use a small wafer battery to keep that "holding" voltage on the necessary power pins of the CMOS module to keep it "alive" while the computer is not in use.

 

The time and date are perfect.

I have a c and d drive, 500 gb, split between the 2. Asus strikes again. Don't know the reason for that, either.

So, dumb it down for me, please.

Tell me the exact steps I need to do.

And if it doesn't boot up, am I just out of a computer?

The updates are a group of 7 or 8 imp ones. Might have to look for the exact definitions.

Thx

 

For what problem?

I don't this (the update or RAM error) stopping the computer from booting. But I also don't see a way to tell, except to try and see what happens.

 

The issue about the computer is it knowing which drive to look at.
When I flashed it yesterday, I didn't check what it was pointing at.

Would the factory defaults be the C drive, as that is where the programs are installed? Or could it be recognizing the D first?

I just read again what Sach2 had said about the laptop having only one drive.
I forgot about the 2 that this crazy machine has in it.

Should I just uninstall the windows updates, reboot and hope it starts?

 

You are still confused. You don't, and you didn't flash a drive. You flashed (reprogrammed) the BIOS, which is located on the motherboard.

Again, which update or updates are having the problem?

 

Ok, am becoming less confused.
When I saw the 2nd you tube video that Sach posted the guy said something about resetting the order of the drives. That's what was confusing me.

The updates were security updates.
I just uninstalled them per your instructions.

So, am off to restart this crazy machine.

brb

Thanx for being patient with me.

 

I'm baaccckkk!!

Booted up like a charm.

Thank you so much for helping me, not to mention (but I shall) your patience with explanations.

 

Hi,

I see you guys have worked things out. I'm curious are you sure the message said your computer wouldn't boot or was it like this which describes a problem with resuming from sleep?

 

Well, my instructions said to uninstall "the offending update", not all of them. Or are you saying there were several that failed? I only know of one giving problems and that was KB2647753.

Either way, that appears to be a moot point now so that's good.

 

Ahh, that seems like it was the message!!

It scared me to death. (Well, almost).

I am continually getting the message from Windows update that there are 8
Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2732500)

Installation date: ‎8/‎20/‎2012 10:37 AM

Installation status: Failed

Error details: Code 80242016

Update type: Recommended

There are whole list of ones that have failed.

Do you know what's up with that?

I deleted them before, and then updated again.
No help.






Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2732500

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

 

Is the KB2647753 that Digerati mentioned in the list of failed updates?

If so try installing that one separately and see if that allows the others to successfully update. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29156

 

Failed updates is not the same thing as Windows wanting to install the same one over and over again. You can have a failed update that passes next time around too. So they fail every time, that's one problem. If they succeed but keep trying to install again, that's another.

In any case, you may need to deal with them one at a time but I would try this first: http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_update/

 

I would check to see if it installed successfully first. If so, uninstall it, reboot, then install it via that link.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/exe-validation.aspx?id=29156

This site says it is out of date.

I am trying to install just one update on my other computer, but it has been stuck on "preparing to configure windows" for over ten minutes.
Can I just turn the darn thing off, even tho it says not to? Looks like it is stuck.


I am on another on my notebook now, because I am afraid to turn the other one off.


The notebook I am on is having the same failed update info, and won't stop telling me to install the updates.

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2722913)

Download size: 22.8 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

Security issues have been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a system that is running Microsoft Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=255327

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2647753)

Download size: 2.0 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Recommended

Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647753

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

The above are 2 of them.

Can I drop kick MS off my balcony?

 

You want to work on one at a time.

The one that is stuck can be turned off. When you restart it, it should go ahead and try to complete the update before Windows starts.

In the one you are working on now go to Control Panel>Programs and Features. Click on View Installed Updates. Look for KB2647753 in the list. If it exists uninstall it and reboot. If it doesn't exist just close the window.

Then either way try to install that KB manually by going here and downloading and selecting Run Now. I think that installing that update separately allows the others to complete the next time they try.

Digerati is more familiar with the update problem than I am.

 

Ok, will do.

Thanks!

 

When I go to that link, and try and validate my windows,
I get this message:

This version of validation tool is no longer supported. Please download the newest versions and ensure system clock is accurate.

Is system clock dif from the one on my taskbar? Probably is, huh?

The other computer wants to install updates again....shall I wait until this computer has its' update issues solved?

My friend said that these updates messed up her computer so much that she had to have it reformatted....hopefully it was just that her tech didn't know what else to do.

 

I can't get it to run on mine either. I'll have to figure out what is wrong. I just tried the validation tool from a KB from 8/13/2012 (last week) and it says it is outdated. It won't be for a few hours.

The system clock is the same as the Windows clock. They are synchronized.

 

Won't do anything until I hear back from you.

ty once again

 

I haven't figured it out how it worked. I got it to download in IE9 after going to the download page clicking on continue. Then on the yellow information bar saying the browser wanted to run the validation program. Then restarting IE9 and going back to the download page and clicking Continue again and this time it took me to the file.

I guess you can try that and see how it goes. I attached the file if you want to just try that. Unzip and double-click it to run. See if it installs.

 

I just installed the hotfix on my little computer, and then installed 2 of the updates separately.

So far so good.
Off to finish the updates on this computer, then I will work on the other one.

Will report back.

Thanks for attaching it.

bbs

 

I think I'm all good now.

Both computers updated just fine.

That hot fix worked perfectly.

Happy Dancing Again!!

 

Great! Those problem updates are a pain to figure out which one is causing the trouble. Thanks to Digerati for pointing to the troublemaker. :major

I don't know what is up with the validation tool not working. I'm going to work on that over the next week or so and try to figure it out. (I only installed Win7 on this machine 2 mos. ago so haven't needed to download individually from Win Update but I may in the future.) I got mine working in IE but I think I need the tool to run in order to use Firefox.

Let us know if you have any more problems with resuming from Sleep. I saw a couple of hotfixes for that but one seemed related to another error so I think it best to wait to see if it happens again. The error is saying that it may not be able to resume all the applications that were open before going to sleep so that would really only effect unsaved documents or projects. Just make sure you save anything important before putting the laptop into sleep until we know if it was just a fluke.

 

Between you and Digerati both my systems are running well now.

Hoping they stay that way.

But, if not, I will be back to ask for your help.

I'm going to look around here some more. I'm sure I'll learn a lot.

Be interesting to find out what is wrong with the validation tool.

I run FF most of the time, but am still with an old version, 7.0.1.
I had problems with one of the upgrades, so have happily stayed with this version.

And for now, I'm not messin' with anything else that might be a problem with my computer.

The main thing I don't like about Win 7 is the inability to double click on a font so you can open it without installing it. In Win 7, the only option is to install it.
So, I now use Font Expert to open the font on a temp basis. A much longer process, but the only way is to use a font management program.

Why they decided to try and fix something that wasn't broken reminds me of what Corel does to Paint Shop Pro.

I am so happy about everything being fixed, and without your and Digerati's help it wouldn't have happened.

Thanks for everything.

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

 

I am not following you. Where is this font you are double-clicking on? Do you mean in the Font Control Panel applet? My Windows 7 works this way where I double-click to open, and to install, I must then press the Install button.

If I right-click on the font file, I am given a preview option.

Also note that too many installed fonts has a history of causing problems for Windows. You should weed out any you installed you don't use.

 

Here is the way it worked in Vista, and why I miss this function:

I do a lot of work in paint shop pro. When I am working on say, a tutorial that calls for a particular font, I used to be able to use it (I don't install any) by just double-clicking on it and it opened for use.

In Win 7, the double click will not open the font. You get only an option to install it. Or you can right click and choose install.
So in order to use the font without installing it, I have to use a font program to temporarily activate it. Then I have to un-activate it.
A real pain when I'm doing a sig and want use a particular font.

I now have my computer set to activate the font with Font Expert.

Does that explain it better?

 

Yes. Thanks. I never migrated to Vista, and don't have a Vista machine nearby to check it out. At any rate, I don't use fonts like you do, so I don't see the issue as a problem. But I do see where many other users use 3rd party font managers too. And that's fine. Windows is an OS, not a font manager. I am glad you found one that meets your needs.

 

I don't know why in Win 7 they made 2 ways of installing a font, but took away the option just to open one.

Does one of those people from Asus work over there? Probably the same one who designed my keyboard functions....

 

lol Yeah, maybe. But I think really it is just because most people are happy with the fonts provided with Windows 7, or those that are installed with their apps. The need for a more advanced font manger is just as much anymore.