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. . . You can restart it straight away and then a little while later it will shut down again. After reading on the net about others experiencing the same issues due to a virus, I decided it was time for a clean install of the operating system. I got as far as starting to format the drive and the machine cut out. Now the machine will not boot and if I try to boot from the Windows disk as soon as I get to the formatting stage the machine cuts out.

I have tried the reset button as soon as that is pressed the machine cuts out.

I also read about over heating so since the machine is well out of warranty (and having done a bit with computers) I called up an online guide to dismantling the machine. I have done this and cleaned out any dust I could find which wasn’t alot and after rebuilding the laptop tried again but the same thing continues to happen.

Any ideas? Any help would be greatly received.

Diagnosing the Problem

So, after your initial attempts at troubleshooting your system, it sounds as though the continuing problem is that you have been unable to reformat your computer. If the original problem that you had on your computer was a virus causing the system to shut down, then the virus could have already advanced quite far into your computer. Did you run a virus scan before you decided to reformat? Without knowing that it was a virus causing the shutdowns, it is difficult to diagnose the cause of the reformatting crashes.

Seek Remote Technical Assistance

Assuming for now that the problem was, and is, related to a virus, it is possible that the virus is deeply embedded in your computer and is going to be very difficult to remove. Depending on what you know about your system, you might consider seeking personalized assistance from a remote technical assistant. At Filetonic we recommend the services that are available here. A technician could help you troubleshoot the issue, gathering more specific information about the symptoms that your computer was exhibiting prior to your attempt to format the hard disk drive.

Check for Disk Corruption

As for suggestions, I might think to try another Windows disk, in case the one you are using is corrupt or damaged. If you can’t boot from a disk, you might have a damaged sector on the hard disk drive that is failing. In this case you might take your system to a technician for a hardware check-up.

Boot into Safe Mode

If you can get your computer to boot into Safe Mode, then you can try to use an anti-virus program to deal with your infection. To boot into Safe Mode with Windows XP:

1. Power down the computer normally, wait for a minute and then turn it back on.
2. As your computer is booting, press F8 and an Advanced Options Window should open. If you receive a keyboard error message, repeat the steps above.
3. Select Safe Mode and then Enter

You can now run your anti-virus software and see if you can make any headway dealing with the problems on your computer.

One of the first things that you will need to check is whether your son actually installed Adobe Reader or did he only download it? If he did install it, it is possible that the installation is not complete, especially since the numbers that you wrote are blocked. I’ll touch upon a few things first and then go into possible solutions for you.

What is Adobe Reader®?

Adobe Reader® is a software application that is used for sharing documents electronically. It is the standard used on a global basis. It’s the application that allows computer users to see, search, and print PDF files.

Reading PDF Files

If you have Adobe Reader installed, then you should be able to read PDF files. Therefore, the installation of it might not have been complete. To correct this problem, you might need to uninstall Adobe Reader and then reinstall it. First, you need to check that the application has actually been installed. Other applications are available for reading PDF files, but if you download one of them, you need to uninstall Adobe.

How to Check if You Have Adobe Reader® Installed

Before going any further, check to see if Adobe Reader has been installed on your computer. To do so, follow these directions:

1)      Click on “Start.”

2)      Click on “Run.”

3)      Type “AcroRd32.exe” into the open box.

4)      Press “Enter” If Adobe Reader has been installed on your computer, the application will open now. If it doesn’t open, then it hasn’t been installed.

Downloading Adobe Reader®

Downloading Adobe Reader is as simple as going to the Adobe website and clicking on the download. However, once the application has been downloaded to your computer, it must be installed. The application should be saved to the computer and you should take note as to the location of the saved file since you will need it.

Since you are able to view order forms, which are often PDF files, but the numbers are distorted, that is an indication that the application was not properly downloaded. The best scenario here is to uninstall and reinstall the application, hopefully solving all of your problems at the same time.

Installing Adobe Reader®

In order to install Adobe Reader, you can double click on the downloaded file. Follow the prompts and accept the defaults. The application installs itself at this point. If the application has already been installed, it is probably a faulty installation. You should uninstall and then reinstall the Adobe Reader application.

Problems with email Attachments and Filled in Forms

In all likelihood, once you install Adobe Reader correctly, your other errors should go away.

Installation CD for Dell Computers

Needing to locate a replacement CD is one of the most common problems for people that I know. Some of them simply tossed the CD that came with the computer out in the trash. Others put it away in some secure location that can no longer be remembered. Still others have experienced an unfortunate accident in which the CD has been destroyed.

Replacement Installation CDs for Dell Computers

Times have changed and fortunately, Dell has changed also. Now, Dell has set up a system by which customers can request a set of backup disks for their computer. Each customer is limited to a single set up back up disks for their machine.  The discs will contain the operating system as it was installed in the factory. They will also contain all of the device drivers that were installed at the factory.

Each person is limited to one set of back up discs for the computer system that has been purchased. Additionally, the back up discs that are requested must include the same operating system as the one that was originally installed at the factory.

What You Should Know about Replacement Installation CDs for Dell Computers

In addition to the above facts about the replacement installation CDs, there is one very important piece of information that you need to take into consideration. Due to the way that technology constantly changes, the discs that you receive will be somewhat different than the original discs that came with the computer system.

In fact, the replacement installation CDs for the Dell will include the most recent drivers and diagnostic tools available. Unfortunately, if your computer system is more than a year old, some of the drivers that you need might not be on the disc. If that happens, simple visit Dell’s website and search for the drivers that you need once you have used the installation disc and find out what else you need. You can access them at this link:

Dell Support Downloads.

Driver Genius is a tool that allows you to backup your existing drivers and restore them later. You can download the trial version and backup your drivers for free. Just make sure to back the drivers up to CD or USB stick. 

How to Obtain a Replacement Installation CD for Dell Computers

In order to request the replacement installation CDs for your Dell computer, please click this link: Support Dell Replacements Discs. This will take you to a form that you will need to complete in order to receive the discs. You must complete all of the items with a red asterisk. The form can be submitted directly from that page.

Locating unambiguous fonts is not an easy task when it comes to computers. This is primarily because most fonts do not provide a clear visible distinction between certain characters. In general, serif fonts are typically easier to read, especially when it comes to larger blocks of text. I find the best way to select a font that will portray my text clearly on any given occasion is to highlight the text and click though the available options within the application that I am using. However, I have offered some options below for you along with a description between two popular types of fonts to help you in your search.

Serif versus Sans Serif

Serif fonts are those that use the small finishing lines at the end of letters. Sans Serif fonts avoid the use of these small finishing lines at the end of letters, although they typically will appear with numbers. Although opinions are varied on this point, using sans serif fonts such as Arial and Arial Black fonts will eliminate the confusion between ‘l’ and ‘1.’

Arial Font

In general, using Arial font will provide a clear distinction among many of the characters used when typing. In particular, the lower case “L” and the number one (‘l’ and ‘1′) and the ‘rn’ and ‘ m’ characters are quite clearly defined. The lowercase letter “L” will be a single, straight line as opposed to a line that includes a small top piece typically used for the number one. Plus, the space between the “r” and “m” provides clarity. The letter ‘O’ and the number zero appear similar to their appearance in Times New Roman with a slightly rounder letter and a narrower number.

Arial Black Font

This font is bold and dark in appearance. It does, however, provide a clear distinction between ‘l’ and ‘1′ and ‘rn’ and ‘m.’ The letter ‘l’ will be a single, straight line while the number one character will have a small, top line that points downward on the left. The space between the “r” and the “m” is sufficiently wide enough to allow clarity.

Calisto MT

Calisto MT is another of the sans serif fonts that offers a decent distinction among the characters that are often confused in certain fonts.

Courier New Font

Courier New Font provides a clear distinction for the characters we’ve been discussing. For example, the number “0″ is clearly taller and narrower than the letter “O.” The letter “l” has a straight line at the top and bottom while the number “1″ has a line that slants downward at the top.

PDF Files

You’re asking a difficult question. A PDF or Portable Document Format file allows you to view the file exactly as it was created complete with graphics and formatting. There are two types of PDF files - scanned files and application-generated.

Types of PDF Files

Application-generated PDF files can be copied and pasted into a Word doc pretty easily, providing that the author didn’t restrict copying. If no copying restrictions are in place, you can covert a paragraph in Adobe by opening the PDF and holding down the CTRL key while using the column select or text select tools. Select what you want to convert, copy the selection. Open a Word document and past in the selected text. You can save an entire PDF file by opening it and then saving it with the .doc extension on the file name.

Scanned files are much harder to convert and can’t be edited in PDF format. You can convert them to text using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software. There are different programs available at different prices - some of the most popular are ABBYY PDF Transformer, Textbridge and Omnipage . These programs recognize text in the PDF file and convert it to a text files such as Word.

OCR Programs

You need an OCR program that will read and convert in Arabic. From researching in various Arab-language forums, I did come up with one program that promises to do it, but it isn’t cheap and the success isn’t guaranteed. The Sakhr Automatic Reader promises to preserve the document’s original layout while converting the Arabic language text to a text file. You can also convert Farsi, Javi, Pashto and Urdu for an additional cost. You must first be able to enable your Windows to accept Arabic as the default language. It costs about $1,400 and there is no free trial and it looks like there is no support. From browsing some of the forums, many users have questioned the product’s reliability and the developer’s ethics, so I’m pointing you to this option as information rather than as a recommendation.

Depending on the workload in the PDF files, you may do better retyping the text into a Word file and then using a language conversion program to translate the text if you need it in English or another language.

Removing Norton Antivirus Software

Norton Antivirus Security software programs are well known for being difficult to remove. Fortunately, there is a removal tool made by Symantec that makes quick work of getting rid of these files. These steps begin with how to use the Windows Add/Remove utility, and then progress to the removal tool.

Remove Norton with Windows Add/Remove

1. Open your Start Menu, in the lower left hand corner of the screen, and then select the Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, select Add or Remove Programs
3. A list of all your programs will open, find the Norton folder and select Remove

Troubleshooting Norton Software Removal

In a perfect world, this simple step would remove the Norton folder, but since the security software in built to last, it is especially difficult to remove. This feature works in your favor most of the time, and prevents remote hackers and viruses from removing your antivirus security, but it can be a hassle when you choose to delete the program. There is a good chance that not all the files will be properly deleted, even if they are no longer present in the programs list. As a result, there is an option designed by the manufacturer that will remove the program completely.

Norton Software Removal Tool by Symantec

1. Find the name and the year of manufacture of your Norton program.
2. Follow this link to the Symantec removal tool
3. Find the year that corresponds to your Norton product and download the removal tool
4. The tool will load an icon on your desktop, click it twice to launch
5. Follow the instructions that are presented to remove the program
6. If instructed, restart your computer
7. Remove the icon by dragging it to your recycle bin
8. Re-open your Start Menu, and look for any remaining Norton files in your All Programs list, and delete any that remain.

This should do it, and you should be clean of the Norton program. If you are still having issues, if the program persists, or if these steps don’t address your problem, you can contact a remote technical assistance specialist. At Filetonic, we recommend and support the remote services offered here. These technicians will work with you to determine the exact nature of your problem, and guide you through resolving it.