New laptop: iTunes won't start, can't watch videos in IE or WMP, and won't shutdown..

[Chordata]

The title pretty much sums it up. Got a new laptop 2 weeks ago. Ran fine, then all of a sudden two days ago it would hang at shutdown/restart while trying to close explorer.exe (it says it was waiting for a sound).

Then yesterday, I tried to open iTunes, and it won't open. Tried to watch a .wmv file in WMP, and it wouldn't open. Tried to look at a video in IE and it wouldn't open. Had to force shut down WMP and IE each time I tried.

What's going on here?

Is it all related?

Hopefully it's a simple fix.

[Hammie]

What computer did you get?

Are you running virus software?

Are you updated with all OS patches?

Try downloading and running Spybot: Search and Destroy and AdAware Free. These can help in keeping you computer safe.

I would also check with the vendor and see if a new BIOS is available.

Other than that to start you off, good luck.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

What computer did you get?

Are you running virus software?

Are you updated with all OS patches?

Try downloading and running Spybot: Search and Destroy and AdAware Free. These can help in keeping you computer safe.

I would also check with the vendor and see if a new BIOS is available.

Other than that to start you off, good luck.

-Dell Studio 15

-Yes, McAfee

-I believe so.

-Will do!

-Will do!



Mikejet -- I've tried the force shutdown several times, reboot, and get the same old problems.

So weird.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Mikejet -- I've tried the force shutdown several times, reboot, and get the same old problems.

So weird.

Uninstall the programs giving you problems and reinstall them. Then see if there is an update for WMP.

[quirkmanly]

If you come up clean from a virus/malware perspective, considering the relative infancy of the laptop I'd be tempted to simply do a full factory restore.

Come to think of it, if you were to find a virus/malware i'd probably still do the full factory restore.

Good luck.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

If you come up clean from a virus/malware perspective, considering the relative infancy of the laptop I'd be tempted to simply do a full factory restore.

Come to think of it, if you were to find a virus/malware i'd probably still do the full factory restore.

Good luck.

What about shipping it back to Dell? I hate that it's a brand new computer with these issues already.

[brettallica]

See if you can repair iTunes. I would start there. I believe it's something like Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a Program (or something similar). Once you get to the list of installed programs, you'll see iTunes in there. From there, you will have an option to repair iTunes. It's either by right-clicking on the iTunes entry, or double-clicking and selecting "repair" (I can't quite recall).

You might also be able to do the same or something similar for IE.

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

What about shipping it back to Dell? I hate that it's a brand new computer with these issues already.

I'd certainly be considering it if it was playing me up to that degree. From what your saying it sounds like an OS issue and you shouldn't be expected to piddle about fixing a problem on such a new piece of gear. Their phone support would probably walk you through a full system restore.

[mikejet]

Just manually shut it off with the power button and restart it. Sometimes programs act stupid.