New user needs help; numerous issues with Windows 7

WindowsStar said:

Ann in your post with the sceen shot you only show part of the web page. If you would show the whole page or at least what is in the address bar that would be most helpful.

Could not figure out how to access the clipboard to create an image from a screen capture, so used the snipping tool as suggested. Trying again:

Cato said:

Strange, I'm getting the same window she's getting.

Thank God; I thought I was going crazy by this point.

You show a recovery partition in your screenshot. Do you have a manual that tells you how to use it? Basically, you're going to have to make some backup cd's from that recovery partition and use them to re-install. I've built my own computers so long, I can't remember how to use recovery.

Check your help files if you have no manual.

You shouldn't need to burn discs to use the recovery partition. Every manufacturer is different, but there should be directions in the manual to assist you in restoring your pc to an "out of box" state. For example, directions for my pc were to hold down the 0 key while I press the power button.

Making backup DVD's of this recovery partititon is never a bad idea though. Once again there should be directions in your manual explaining this process to you. Lot's of things can go wrong with hard drives so having this recovery partition saved to disk and tucked away somewhere is a safe backup option

Cato said:

You show a recovery partition in your screenshot. Do you have a manual that tells you how to use it? Basically, you're going to have to make some backup cd's from that recovery partition and use them to re-install. I've built my own computers so long, I can't remember how to use recovery.

Check your help files if you have no manual.

The supposed troubleshooting guide only tells how to supposedly run diagnostics (with a program that can't be found in the program files), and the Lenovo webistes and phone numbers (that I already called days ago) where you can supposedly get more information. There is apparently sommething called Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox, that seems to have information on system health, and rescue and recovery of a current system. It backs it up on the local disk, but strongly advises backing up on an external or secodary harddrive. I don't see any way to just wipe the system and clean reinstall W7 without the original disk that I am missing.

Another odd thing, I am running on AC power, and can see the little plug icon indicating that, but my battery power bar has ben reading 99% for several hours now, and after a restart, but there is a battery health status in the LTV Toolbox that says it is at 100%.

With everything reading healthy and no threats, I really am wondeirng if my problems may be more related to the fact that Mediacom broadband did not tell me that their service is not technically compatible with W7 in general until 2 days after I had i installed. I know on my Blackberry that several websites I use say in their FAQs that they are not mobile compatible, yet I can access many, but not quite all, the features on the sites through my BB. If Mediacom is not W7 compatible, maybe it is only allowing certain web functions, and is preventing a full or accurate DLs of many of these programs that have been suggested and tried, and is somehow interferring with certain functions of the PC itself as well, as the ones that have been changed and reverted or ignored by the PC are web-related (homepage reverted after having changed it; the mouse hover launching weblinks, even with the box to allow that being unchecked).

electrotune1200 said:

You shouldn't need to burn discs to use the recovery partition. Every manufacturer is different, but there should be directions in the manual to assist you in restoring your pc to an "out of box" state. For example, directions for my pc were to hold down the 0 key while I press the power button.

Making backup DVD's of this recovery partititon is never a bad idea though. Once again there should be directions in your manual explaining this process to you. Lot's of things can go wrong with hard drives so having this recovery partition saved to disk and tucked away somewhere is a safe backup option

I used the Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolox to back up on the local disk per its instructions, but I get the feeling that that saved it in its current condition. Not finding anyway to wipe and reinstall so it is like it was just out of the box, which would include more than just the W7 OS.

Cato said:

I just downloaded it and scanned it with Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes and all is well. I don't know the reason for the site looking different, perhaps they change it from time to time? I couldn't say. It's legitimate, WOT didn't give me any arguments, so....

You don't have to uninstall Malwarebytes or Threatfire. They are anti-spyware and not Anti-Virus. Microsoft Security Essentials and those anti-spyware apps are all you need, if you can even salvage anything at this point without doing a re-install. There's been a lot of changes and mistakes made that I'm not sure can be corrected at this point in a simple manner.

While DLing MSE, I got a printed warning saying to make sure that I had deleted all othe A/Vs and anti-spyware beforehand...too late now *need an emoticom denoting fear*

anna, no offence but reading through almost 10 pages of "numerous issues with win7" should infact read as "numerous problems with anna" since every problem is your own fault due to serious lack of computer knowledge. first impression of your post title leaves one to believe that this is windows sevens fault when in actuality it is the USERS fault with all the problems you're having. what I think you really need is a computer savy friend who knows a bit about windows seven and teach you some pointers. sorry if I come across as rude(not my intention) also you need to stop relying on your cable company a little less (they are idiots anyways) and start relying on YOUR computer savy freind to install antivirus/email and make recovery disk for ya. of course we are always here to help ya but I feel that this is hard to do when you dont know what your talking about and dont know what you're doing...good luck with ya and hope it works out

If I were you I'd take it back to the factory image.
Restoring the factory contents from the service partition
1. If possible, save all your files and shut down your operating system.
2. Turn off the computer, and then turn it on again.
3. When the ThinkPad logo comes up, immediately press the ThinkVantage
button. The Rescue and Recovery workspace opens.
4. Click Full Restore and follow the instructions on the screen.

Then, I'd uninstall any of the crap that IBM might have preinstalled. Download Avast antivirus and install it. No one ever mentioned if this came with a trial version of whatever..... usually Norton.

Never had any problem setting up my family on Medicom without having them come out and install whatever crap they do. And never any problem setting up email with either win live or thunderbird. I don't use isp email anyway and use either yahoo or gmail for the fact no matter who my isp is always have the same email address.

Annastasia said:

With everything reading healthy and no threats, I really am wondeirng if my problems may be more related to the fact that Mediacom broadband did not tell me that their service is not technically compatible with W7 in general until 2 days after I had i installed. I know on my Blackberry that several websites I use say in their FAQs that they are not mobile compatible, yet I can access many, but not quite all, the features on the sites through my BB. If Mediacom is not W7 compatible, maybe it is only allowing certain web functions, and is preventing a full or accurate DLs of many of these programs that have been suggested and tried, and is somehow interferring with certain functions of the PC itself as well, as the ones that have been changed and reverted or ignored by the PC are web-related (homepage reverted after having changed it; the mouse hover launching weblinks, even with the box to allow that being unchecked).

As beman36 stated - with no offence intended - my conclusion is that the problem is NOT Win7, but what we IT folks call "user ed". Meaning you need to have a better understanding of what you are doing. I've read this entire thread, and item after item you have written about - like the battery meter [normal behavior] - merely bolsters my conclusion. User education required. That is also what I was implying in my initial post about making sure that you are downloading the correct versions of "free" software. Again, no offence intended, merely an observation. Like one commercial states "An educated customer is our best customer".

Mediacom (or any other ISP) couldn't care less if you are running Win98SE, win2k, XP, Vista, Win7, Open Solaris, BSD, Ubuntu, Fedora or any other OS [Operating System] on your computer - as long as you are not violating their AUP. I run multiple OS'es on multiple machines behind my firewall at home. without issue, 'cus [for the most part] I know what I'm doing, and do not need to go to my ISP for help [they wouldn't be any use anyway]. Mediacom (likely) only says Win7 is not supported because their tool sets -- that are designed to be installed on customer desktops to aid with remote problem resolution -- do not work on win7, as its too new and their tools have not been upgraded yet.

I second beman36's recommendation about getting a tech savvy friend to help out. Reverting to re-imaging the HDD seems a drastic step to me - given that many here build and maintain there own PC's and wouldn't think twice about doing that. It's a major event for a regular "user" like yourself -especially when you do not appear to have the skills to resolve the current problem, let alone any issues that may arise if the recovery fails mid-process. Seriously tho', do not do a recovery until after you find a local tech friend to resolve your issues.