Oh, no!

[Squid]

I just got a robocall telling me that my Windows license has expired and that all functions will cease!  I have to call the 800 number to get the license reinstated.  I better get out my credit card.


These scam artists need to get out and get real jobs and stop sucking the life blood out of society!!   

[Mayhem]

 

I've received those calls before, letting me know that "there is an issue with your windows operating system".

[S1lent]

Greetings all,
This happened to my friend in Lincoln City, OR.  Unfortunately, he call the "855" number and things got worse.  They wanted his bank account number or credit card...he chose credit card.  Cost him $217 and they were remotely logged into his computer for over 2 hours.  He then called me. 

Darn don't know what is on his computer.  All I could suggest was the following.
1.  Download and run a free (for 15 days) copy of Malwarebytes.
2.  Download and run a "Free" copy of "Malwarebyes AdwCleaner".
3.  Download and run a "Free" copy of "CCleaner".

This has worked for me...but we have to all watch out for the "Rat B*stards"!!!

Be Safe...DON'T CLICK!
S1lent aka Ken # 2

[Mayhem]

Those were great suggestions, but your friend may want to consider an OS reinstall.

If they had remote access for a couple hours, who knows what happened in that time. I wouldn't chance anything.

[Squid]

My relatively new ( less than 2 yrs) Dell laptop has been experiencing Windows crashes lately, about once a week.  Turning the system off and on seems to get it loaded and running again.  Should I do a complete OS reinstall?  If I do, do I lose EVERYTHING?   UGH

[S1lent]

Greetings Mayhem, Squid and all you other PogoCheats,

The OS reinstall should get you back to "factory settings".  It has been my experience that I lost everything.  My biggest problem is waiting the 6 Months to get some new PassWords for some autos.  I have back-ups for Turbo Tax (2012 thru 2016)  and backups for all the documents.  My pictures are on an Apple MacBook Pro (2011 model) so I feel good about them.  I also have hard copies of MicroSoft Office 2010.

I really believe my friend would be in way over his head if he tried to reinstall the OS.   He sometimes gets "Click-Happy" and loves to look at the "Click-Bait".  Additionally, all Emails get his attention and thinks a Nigerian Prince really wants to send him some money.

Thanks again and do have a great day.
S1lent aka Ken # 2

[Squid]

Sorry, but I had to  at "Click bait".

[Mayhem]

My relatively new ( less than 2 yrs) Dell laptop has been experiencing Windows crashes lately, about once a week.  Turning the system off and on seems to get it loaded and running again.  Should I do a complete OS reinstall?  If I do, do I lose EVERYTHING?   UGH

What OS are you running on it? If you don't have too much installed, I would consider it.

[Squid]

Windows 10, came with the laptop, not an upgrade.  I do have a lot on it because I use it sometimes for business.  I back up some stuff but would have to do a mega back up.  If I need to, I guess I will.  Can I just say, "ugh!"?

[snap20]

Squiddy, might want to try the system file checker first...see if that solves your problem. I'm an "OS reinstall as a very last resort guy"...although I do agree with Ken that it's always something you should consider when you have issues.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

[Squid]

Thanks for all suggestions.  I haven't done anything because I'm hoping that everything will just go away and leave me alone.

[gigi]

I never click on links and I don't respond to robo calls.  If anything seems messed up I just restor to a previous date......sorry you are going through this.  Fortunately I live with a computer professional and just yell lol

[Squid]

Squiddy, might want to try the system file checker first...see if that solves your problem. I'm an "OS reinstall as a very last resort guy"...although I do agree with Ken that it's always something you should consider when you have issues.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

I successfully system checked, Snappy.  It ran for about 20 minutes and said it successfully fixed but it does not say what was wrong or corrupted.  I must say, my system is running a bit faster and I lost nothing.  I really hope it stops the windows crashes.  I really don't want to have to reinstall the OS if I don't have to.  Thanks so much, everyone. 

[snap20]

Good luck, Squid!

[essybee]

I always thank the person for calling and ask them to explain  how windows works with a Mac and they hang up. 

[Squid]

Windows CRASHED again and got caught up in a loop of errors.  I had trouble getting out of it.  I finally got out of it and did a FULL system check at Dell which took 40 minutes.  Anyone have any ideas short of reinstalling Windows?  TYVM

My system:  Dell Inspiron 5565 laptop
                   8 GB RAM
                   1 TB HD
                   Windows 10


SCAN RESULTS:

Diagnostics Completed   Everything PASSED
Hardware
Battery
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method BatteryBattery Life Test Passed
Bluetooth Device
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
Qualcomm QCA9377 Bluetooth 4.1USB Status Test Passed
Camera
CMOS
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
CMOSPattern Test Passed
CPU
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)Register Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)Level 2 Cache Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)Math Register Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)MMX Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)SSE Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)SSE2 Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)SSE3 Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)SSSE3 Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)SSE4.1 Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)SSE4A Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)SSE4.2 Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)AVX Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)Prime Number Generation Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)Floating Point Unit Test Passed
AMD A12-9700P RADEON R7, 10 COMPUTE CORES 4C+6G (CPU:0)Stress Test Passed
DVD-RW Drive
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GU90NDRAM Test Passed
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GU90NFlash ROM Test Passed
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GU90NMain IC Test Passed
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GU90NOPU Test Passed
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GU90NTray Out Test Passed
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GU90NSpindle Test Passed
Hard Drive
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100SMART Status Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100Targeted Read Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100Random Seek Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100Funnel Seek Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100Linear Read Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100Linear Read Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100SMART Short Self Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100Random Seek Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100SMART Thresholds Test Passed
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100SMART Thresholds Test Passed
HD Audio Controller
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
High Definition Audio ControllerPCI Express Status Test Passed
Hub
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
USB HubUSB Status Test Passed
USB HubUSB Status Test Passed
USB HubUSB Status Test Passed
Memory
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
System MemoryPattern Test Passed
System MemoryWalking Ones Left Test Passed
System MemoryWalking Ones Right Test Passed
System MemoryAuxiliary Pattern Test Passed
System MemoryBit Low Test Passed
System MemoryBit High Test Passed
System MemoryNibble Move Test Passed
System MemoryCheckerboard Test Passed
System MemoryMoving Inversion Test Passed
System MemoryModulo20 Test Passed
System MemoryAddress Test Passed
System MemoryWindows Memory Test Passed
System MemoryAdvanced Pattern Test Passed
Mouse
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
USB Optical MouseUSB Status Test Passed
Network Card
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
Realtek PCIe FE Family ControllerPCI Express Status Test Passed
Realtek PCIe FE Family ControllerTCP/IP Internal Loopback Test Passed
Network Card
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
Qualcomm QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless AdapterPCI Express Status Test Passed
Qualcomm QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless AdapterTCP/IP Internal Loopback Test Passed
PCI Bus
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
PCI SubsystemConfiguration Test Passed
PCI Bridge
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
PCI Express Root PortPCI Express Status Test Passed
PCI Express Root PortPCI Express Status Test Passed
PCI Express Root PortPCI Express Status Test Passed
System Board
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
System BoardRTC Accuracy Test Passed
USB
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
KindleUSB Status Test Passed
USB
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
Realtek USB 2.0 Card ReaderUSB Status Test Passed
USB Composite
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
IBM USB HUB KEYBOARDUSB Status Test Passed
USB Composite
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
USB Composite DeviceUSB Status Test Passed
USB Controllers
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
AMD USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 1.0 (Microsoft)PCI Express Status Test Passed
Video Card
Hardware TypeDiagnostic NameResult
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsGPU Pipeline Data Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsShader Rendering Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsFixed Transformation and Lighting Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsWireframe Line Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsWireframe Shader Rendering Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsShader Rendering DX10 Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsShader Rendering DX11 Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsMultiple Rendering DX9 Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsPCI Express Status Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsPrimary Surface Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsTransformation and Lighting Stress Test Passed
AMD Radeon(TM) R7 GraphicsVideo Memory Test Passed


ETA:  I ran another Administrator command prompt (System File Checker) on the system and it states that no integrity violations were found.

[Mayhem]

Windows CRASHED again and got caught up in a loop of errors.  I had trouble getting out of it.

Do you remember what the errors were? Have you tried updating your video and sound drivers?

[Squid]

No to the drivers.  When it crashes, it does not give errors.  I just get the blue screen of death.

[Squid]

Windows updated.  Sound driver updated.  Video driver states I have the current, best driver.  Thank you.  Cross your fingers!

[Mayhem]

In my experience, the BSOD is almost always a driver issue. Hopefully this will solve your issue!