I have 3 monitors. 5 days ago they all blacked out. After hours of messing with my computer (desktop, 2 years old), I finally got all three on. However, now they are all blacked out again and I can't even get one on.
Here is what I did: I checked all cables. I turned everything off for an hour, to allow for cool-down. I turned on my computer and got one monitor (had only one plugged in). Re-set power management options; disabled screen saver. Updated video card driver. Shut down again, plugged 2nd monitor in, turned on my computer. Both screens came up. (At this point, there was some intermittent success -- one would black out, I'd shut down again, give it a rest, turn it on, might or might not come on with both. Finally got both. Thus this was not an entirely linear process). Shut down again, plugged the third one in. Turned it all on. No screens at all. Gave up in frustration; turned it all off. Next day, turned it all on again, with the three monitors attached. Got all three monitors back. The order of the monitors was wrong (which one was primary etc) so had to switch that around.
Today, my monitors worked all morning, for about 6 hours. (I'm a commodities trader so I am moving between them a lot.) About 2p, I was working on my taxes and just getting directions about a tax form, and my system sort of freezes and I get a box: says something like, "Stop immediately or your system will crash. You have an error in your system. This is a serious error and could corrupt your operating system. Call Microsoft Tech Support immediately at this number." I cannot x out of this box or do anything, so I call the number (yes it struck fear into my heart!).
I get a guy from pcsolutionltd.com on the other end. He talks me through stuff, convinces me to give him access to my computer (after I try to grill him, after I try looking up his firm on BBB, etc), and shows me through the remote assist that I have 149 Windows drivers that show that they are "Stopped." He says I have a trojan and need to get these uninstalled and reinstalled immediately. Says I need my OS repaired, my system optimized, and a top-drawer anti-virus security. He itemizes and tells me it will cost $500!! (I have a heart attack at that point!). I just can't go for that. Surely there is a cheaper fix!
I also have Webroot on my computer -- I re-upped this just several days before the black out, which is why it did not occur to me that it was a virus.
So, my questions:
1) Do you agree with his diagnosis?
2) Have you heard of this company and do you think he was trying to scam me?
3) How can I fix my computer if I cannot even see the monitors? What do you think I should do to try to fix it, beyond what I have done? (I would add that I have an intermediate knowledge of computers - I am no expert.) THANK YOU.
Here is what I did: I checked all cables. I turned everything off for an hour, to allow for cool-down. I turned on my computer and got one monitor (had only one plugged in). Re-set power management options; disabled screen saver. Updated video card driver. Shut down again, plugged 2nd monitor in, turned on my computer. Both screens came up. (At this point, there was some intermittent success -- one would black out, I'd shut down again, give it a rest, turn it on, might or might not come on with both. Finally got both. Thus this was not an entirely linear process). Shut down again, plugged the third one in. Turned it all on. No screens at all. Gave up in frustration; turned it all off. Next day, turned it all on again, with the three monitors attached. Got all three monitors back. The order of the monitors was wrong (which one was primary etc) so had to switch that around.
Today, my monitors worked all morning, for about 6 hours. (I'm a commodities trader so I am moving between them a lot.) About 2p, I was working on my taxes and just getting directions about a tax form, and my system sort of freezes and I get a box: says something like, "Stop immediately or your system will crash. You have an error in your system. This is a serious error and could corrupt your operating system. Call Microsoft Tech Support immediately at this number." I cannot x out of this box or do anything, so I call the number (yes it struck fear into my heart!).
I get a guy from pcsolutionltd.com on the other end. He talks me through stuff, convinces me to give him access to my computer (after I try to grill him, after I try looking up his firm on BBB, etc), and shows me through the remote assist that I have 149 Windows drivers that show that they are "Stopped." He says I have a trojan and need to get these uninstalled and reinstalled immediately. Says I need my OS repaired, my system optimized, and a top-drawer anti-virus security. He itemizes and tells me it will cost $500!! (I have a heart attack at that point!). I just can't go for that. Surely there is a cheaper fix!
I also have Webroot on my computer -- I re-upped this just several days before the black out, which is why it did not occur to me that it was a virus.
So, my questions:
1) Do you agree with his diagnosis?
2) Have you heard of this company and do you think he was trying to scam me?
3) How can I fix my computer if I cannot even see the monitors? What do you think I should do to try to fix it, beyond what I have done? (I would add that I have an intermediate knowledge of computers - I am no expert.) THANK YOU.
