Roxann broke down in the van today. See I told you all it wasn't reliable.

I was right "dead" in the middle of sleep when I got the call (She was on lunch break, at Big Boy).

Well, I knew it was "1 of 3" things. Starter, solenoid, or a loose cable on the "red" part of the battery. I just put in a new "expensive" battery, so I really didn't think that. I may not have got it tight. Lites and such may work.. but if not getting full power, the motor wouldn't turn over. I figured it was the starter.

I didn't know where the "starter" was located on this van. She didn't know what they looked like. I tried to explain the best I could, but she couldn't find it. She did check the battery cables, and they were tight.

If your starter starts to go (they usually don't all at once), you can take a "screwdriver" and arc across the two points to start it. That's the first thing I wanted her to try. Yet, she couldn't find it. The second was.. put it in gear.. and try to push it a little. See, we are down to one vehicle now. So I had no way to get there to help. She tried that, didn't work. You gotta get those "worn teeth" or whatever out of the start range. So it can engage.

So we tried "calling" people. We haven't lived here long, so don't know a ton of people here. Nobody was able to come help.

I knew it was nothing major, just will cost a few hundred bucks. Also she needed to get home.

I told her to go into the "Big Boy" restaurant. They must have had cars towed from their lot before. Ask them if they knew a "small service station" that also has towing. Get it towed, have them check it. They can probably fix it in a few hours.

The guy came to check it out. He got under there and "tapped" the starter with a hammer. Damn, I knew that trick.. lol. But was still half asleep when she called. I didn't think of it. Didn't matter tho, she didn't know where it was anyway. I probably would have thought of it after awhile.

It started right up. She called me. He said it would be $219 to put a new starter in. Personally, we could have saved $100 or so on the deal if she just bought the starter and I put it in. She just wanted it "fixed" and not worry anymore. She had money in her card.. so I said "just let him do it". Really that wasn't too bad, and I didn't have to do the work. She's home now. Frustrating to her tho, as she was "stranded" a few hours.
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Nick left his "new" laptop computer here for me to try and fix. So while she was gone, I worked on that.

I've said this a "million" times, and I'll say it again. "Never Ever" buy a computer without "backup disks". Even a "simple thing" (like a Windows system file becoming corrupt) can shut you down. That appears to be his problem. Somebody didn't shut it down right, or a mild power surge. Lots could corrupt an important system file. I don't know what happened. I do know "mostly" what's wrong tho.

I tried getting his "Windows Vista" to load. Every trick I knew. I tried to "restore it from the last good configuration". I tried going into safe mode. I tried "direct" command prompt commands (this is something just programmers know), but nothing worked. I tried alot of other things also.. but that's too deep to even write here.

His BIOS is intact, and still has the settings. I seriously doubt it affected his "Hard Drive", but may still have. In safe mode, I could get many Windows system drivers to "load", so logically to me it's just some "corrupt" system file. There are multiple "thousands" of system files. I don't even know how many in "Vista". I'll just say, "without an error" message to indicate the "exact one", it's "impossible to know (even for the most advanced programmer)". Therefore, you can't just "locate" the file off the internet, and put it in.

His computer is pretty new. Out of "warranty" tho. I'd say our "first step" to this, is contact the "manufacturer". See if he can buy some "setup disks" for this particular system. Usually those cost $10-$20. However, most every company I know stops selling them (not long) after the computer is released. I'm gonna try to do that "first" for him this week sometime. He's up north for awhile, so no hurry.

After that, "if we can't get the disks", since the BIOS is still working. He would have to "purchase Vista" again. I'd actually suggest he drop down to "XP" (Because cheaper). I don't find an "incredible" difference between the two operating systems.

It is possible that something happened to the "Hard Drive", or "Motherboard". Highly "unlikely" to me after I had a chance to look this over. Still could be there tho. I'll sort it out. He trusts me. Plus, I'm the cheapest computer guy he knows (the best too.. lol). I'm "Free"!!
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I'l say this again. I know I said it "before". If anyone has a "computer problem" at least ask me first. I won't charge a penny, and I'll tell you "exact" what to try or do. Just do this first, before you go spending "money" on the thing. I know my "chit" here, I really do. I am somewhat limited because I am not able to see your computer in person. Also people that don't know much about computers aren't good at telling the problem. I'll just say, I'll do my best to help. Even if your one of those that "hates me", or I "wrote against" about something you said. I'm really not against anyone here. Yes my "second wife" irks me at times.. lol. But even if she asked for help on something like this. I wouldn't have a problem.

Take care all, Gary :)