Computer Troubleshooting/Help Master Thread

[Yammer]

You can buy a USB stick that supports it.  You can ask them to change router settings to also support g or n bands.

Im wondering if this makes sense

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2043772/laptop-detecting-wifi.html

"ur wifi adapter does not support channel of broadcast above 8 
so open ur modem configuration by connecting ur lan cable(192.168.1.1)
find channel and set its value to 1
this will surely solve ur problem."

But when I put in 192.168.1.1 nothing happens because I'm not connected to any network.

[avromie7]

Im wondering if this makes sense

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2043772/laptop-detecting-wifi.html

"ur wifi adapter does not support channel of broadcast above 8
so open ur modem configuration by connecting ur lan cable(192.168.1.1)
find channel and set its value to 1
this will surely solve ur problem."

But when I put in 192.168.1.1 nothing happens because I'm not connected to any network.

You need to plug in a cable from your computer to the router

[Yammer]

You need to plug in a cable from your computer to the router

Lol...

[Thingywingy]

Found one...

Just my experience, but I would avoid WD passport.

[Centro]

My laptop had some fatty chicken soup for supper and it's acting up now,
It powers up normally but the keyboard is acting up, the touch pad is sleepy and some windows are popping up as if I'd open them,

I already took the entire laptop apart and wiped it off (was barely wet inside as far as I saw),
I doubt waiting would help for this as it's not plain clear water,
So what's my next step?

TIA!

[Live N Learn]

My laptop had some fatty chicken soup for supper and it's acting up now,
It powers up normally but the keyboard is acting up, the touch pad is sleepy and some windows are popping up as if I'd open them,

I already took the entire laptop apart and wiped it off (was barely wet inside as far as I saw),
I doubt waiting would help for this as it's not plain clear water,
So what's my next step?

TIA!

If it doesn't get better, you might need to replace the keyboard.

[Centro]

If it doesn't get better, you might need to replace the keyboard.

Keyboard is 1 issue, what about the others?

[avromie7]

Keyboard is 1 issue, what about the others?

Seems like there is only 1 other issue - the TouchPad. All other issues sound like the effects of the week primary issues. I would try wiping the contacts from the TouchPad with a wet paper towel. I would also try washing out the keyboard by disconnecting it and washing it out in the sink and wait till it's fully dry before putting it back

[Live N Learn]

Keyboard is 1 issue, what about the others?

Most probably caused by the keyboard.

[avromie7]

Most probably caused by the keyboard.

TouchPad issue is probably not caused by the keyboard but the others are.

[Centro]

Thanks @User6669 and @avromie7

1. About how long would it take for the keyboard to dry?

2. Contacts from the TouchPad, do you mean the this strip?

3. The reason you're not telling me to rinse the pad is because it'll get ruined?

Thanks again guys.

[avromie7]

Thanks @User6669 and @avromie7

1. About how long would it take for the keyboard to dry?

2. Contacts from the TouchPad, do you mean the this strip?

3. The reason you're not telling me to rinse the pad is because it'll get ruined?

Thanks again guys.

1 I don't have an answer for that but shake it out and leave it to dry on a paper towel till it looks dry.

2 yes

3 potentially, a keyboard is a very basic peice of hardware, some water shouldn't ruin it, a TouchPad is not as basic so I can't tell you what will happen if you wash it off.

[Yammer]

Im wondering if this makes sense

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2043772/laptop-detecting-wifi.html

"ur wifi adapter does not support channel of broadcast above 8
so open ur modem configuration by connecting ur lan cable(192.168.1.1)
find channel and set its value to 1
this will surely solve ur problem."

Will this have any affect on the other users that are connected?

[Yammer]

My assumption then is that maybe its broadcasting to 5ghz, or its AC and your wifi card doesnt support that.

Yup it seems that that was the issue. When I connected through my IP address ( http://192.168.1.1 ) I saw  2 Wi-Fi connections. there was a different  name for the 2.4GHz option. Same password different username.

That one worked.

[pixi]

How can I find  my existing windows (10) activation key?  I'm about to do a fresh install and I assume that I'll have to re-activate windows (wrong?) .

[Yisroel Tech]

How can I find  my existing windows (10) activation key?  I'm about to do a fresh install and I assume that I'll have to re-activate windows (wrong?) .

You should not have to re-activate, to make sure you can always re-activate easily (if you are running the July 2016 update of Windows 10) you can simply sign in to a Microsoft Account on the activation page (Select the Start  button, select Settings>Update & security>Activation) then it'll say on the page Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, and that way when you'll reinstall Windows it'll activate once you're signing in with your MS account.

I don't know what way you plan to do the fresh install, but the easiest way is with the special Windows 10 tool for this, see here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10startfresh

[DanH]

How can I find  my existing windows (10) activation key?  I'm about to do a fresh install and I assume that I'll have to re-activate windows (wrong?) .

As Yisroel said - you don't need to know your key.  Once your machine is activated once, Microsoft will always activate an install of Windows 10 on that machine.

[Yisroel Tech]

As Yisroel said - you don't need to know your key.  Once your machine is activated once, Microsoft will always activate an install of Windows 10 on that machine.

Except in the case of a big hardware change (motherboard or CPU etc.) it might make problems unless - as said - the license is linked to the Microsoft account.

[pixi]

You should not have to re-activate, to make sure you can always re-activate easily (if you are running the July 2016 update of Windows 10) you can simply sign in to a Microsoft Account on the activation page (Select the Start  button, select Settings>Update & security>Activation) then it'll say on the page Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, and that way when you'll reinstall Windows it'll activate once you're signing in with your MS account.

I don't know what way you plan to do the fresh install, but the easiest way is with the special Windows 10 tool for this, see here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10startfresh

Thank you for the information .  I wasn't sure how to do  fresh install of windows 10 but the link you provided seems to be very simple.  (my computer got  infected with some viruses, not AVG nor avast were able to detect it so didn't malwarebyts, so I decided to do a fresh install and get over it,  maybe you have some  advice for that too)

[pixi]

Except in the case of a big hardware change (motherboard or CPU etc.) it might make problems unless - as said - the license is linked to the Microsoft account.

Thanks,  but that is not the case here.