Fun with Windows 8

I had some fun cleaning up a Windows 8 computer that was taken over by some malware. The interesting thing is that after the malware cleanup the sound would not work and the control panel would not open even though the machine scanned clean.

The reason the sound wouldn’t work is the Windows Audio Service wouldn’t start and had the error when starting of “Endpoint is a duplicate” WTF is that crap?

The control panel would open but would just get a white background but technically wasn’t frozen. Just nothing there.

After a couple hours of head scratching and almost giving up I found this post. But I did debate using this tool pictured to the right.

Windows 8/8.1 No Audio – Endpoint is a duplicate

and that post had a link to his Part 1 which had the fix for the control panel problem

Windows 8/8.1 Control Panel Hangs/Freezes

Thank to Josh who wrote those posts. If I hadn’t found them I was going to rebuild that darned machine with a 50lb sledge hammer.

When to fix or when to replace

A client called today and asked if they should have me fix their computer or should they replace it. The computer in question was a 4 year old Toshiba laptop.

I said replace it.

Why?

The question is how much money will it cost to “fix” it when even the fix might not give you much benefit. If the laptop was mine and I didn’t have to pay to have this done I would replace the hard drive with an SSD drive and re-install windows and all programs.

The average price for doing what I would do wouldn’t be worth it for most (all) people. I can do it because it doesn’t cost me anything except the hard drive. If I did it for them they would have to pay labor plus hard drive and then still need to do final setup in office. For that price they might as well buy a new laptop.

Diet Exercise Log:
Calories Consumed = 1906
Breakfast = 3 scrambled eggs
Lunch = 2 Kale-Mozerella Chicken patties from Amylu (patties only)
Snack = 2 cookies
Dinner = Chipotle Chicken Fresh Mex Bowl from Chili’s (meh, review coming tomorrow)
Exercise = 50min at approx 4mph
Distance = 3 miles
Net calories after exercise = 1509

Found this funny but I bet there are some women out there who would order it.

Fullips Lip Plumping Enhancer Combo (Pack of 2-Different Sizes)