my computer is crashing!!!

[Ayla ny]

uugghhh!!! I can’t access my email, my settings are all screwy and I keep getting that damn blue screen! my music! my pictures of my boys that I haven’t backed up on CD yet! my... my STUFF!!!!!

my burner software won’t respond and every time I try to email my stuff to myself (mostly my pictures of my boys. have to save them) I lock up and have to do an illegal shut-down.

does anyone have any ideas what-so-ever before I have to go back to factory settings? there is some stuff on I here that I can never replace.

thanks

back to trying to save my stuff... shutting down... trying to save my stuff... shutting down... trying to save my stuff... shutting down...

 

[kurchatovium]

Are you using Windows XP?

 

[Ayla ny]

Windows 98 second edition.

 

[kurchatovium]

Do you have a Windows Startup disc?

 

[Ayla ny]

I thinks so... I would have to dig for it. what are you thinking?

when I start up it keep trying to load my firewall and antivirus and saying that they are not there. once I tap that away I am still doomed by that blue screen whenever I try email or use my burner.

(thank you, kurchatovium)

 

[kurchatovium]

I am not certain exactly what the problem is yet? Is the Firewall Zonealarm Pro? That program always caused me problems especially on slower computers. You might have to go into Windows Safe Mode to uninstall these things then see if the system is stable. Or see if the computer will let you uninstall those programs the way your computer is now. Then restart and see if the problem still exists.

 

[Ayla ny]

it's pretty much everything. all of a sudden. all of my settings (outlook express, ie, aol, roxio cd creator, etc... ) have gone back to default and my firewall and antivirus are just messed right up. some things have even gone back a couple of versions (yahoo messenger for expample). I’ve resigned myself to having to reformat... but I need to save some stuff before I do.

 

[TicklingDuo]

Are you able to mail to others and just not yourself? If so, feel free to send me whatever you want. I'm on cable. So, I can quickly and easily save, scan and burn it for you.

Ann

 

[Ayla ny]

thanks, Ann. I will try. I don't hold out much hope tho. it seems to freeze when I open up the thing to select the attachment I want to send. AOL is the only thing I can get to work (I have a cable modem too). my usual email is just plain gone. the one through outlook express.

 

[TicklingDuo]

You might try putting pics right in the e-mail rather than trying to attach them. It might make a difference.

Ann
([email protected])

 

[kurchatovium]

I know there are some issues with the firewall Black Ice and Blue screens of Death. I would try to get those needed files off if you can without doing anything if possible. You might be able to get the info by getting into Windows Safe Mode the link below should help you do that. This is Windows loaded with a minimum set of drivers and usually allows you to troubleshoot or get stuff off the computer hopefully. Although it may not load your cd burner drivers and you may have to load your files onto floppy if that is possible.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

The windows start up disc is a similar thing though it usually loads a minimum set of drivers in as well.

 

[kurchatovium]

If you have Netscape maybe you could email Ann through that. Sometimes Microsoft's stuff is so integrated into Windows that when it is not functioning everything associated with it gets messed up as well.

 

[Ayla ny]

Ann, AOL did the same to me when I tried to email you. I will try kurchatovium's idea of using Netscape (will have to download it again... seems to be gone.) and emailing from there.

thanks so much. I really want to save these. everything else can be replaced.

 

[Ayla ny]

my computer hates Netscape too now it seems. 🙁 had an epiphany tho. am going to try to upload them to my angelfire site. (keeping fingers crossed) only down side is... I will have to upgrade w/ them ($) to download them again lol.

where are the hackers when you need them? 🙂

Ann, can I put the pics right in the email instead of attatching it w/ AOL? (thank God I keep opting for the free time they offer when I go to cancel lol)

 

[Ayla ny]

couldn't upload them to angelfire either. I'm giving up for the night.

thanks so much for the offers of help.

 

[TicklingDuo]

Ann, can I put the pics right in the email instead of attatching it w/ AOL?

There is (or at least was) a button on the e-mail form that you can hit to insert pics. If it will let you do that, go for it. Any way you can think of to get them to me so I can save them for ya. Do you know how much space they'd take? Maybe starting a yahoo group or two and dumping them there until you clear things out would be another option if you can't mail them.

Another option, though I've never used it, would possibly be sending the files through AIM. I know they have some type of FTP in it now.

Ann

 

[TickledToDeath]

Sounds familiar Ayla. I had one hell of a nasty virus that slammed my email and froze my computer numerous times.
Check through all of your programs through the Add/Remove programs feature.
Get rid of Quick Time player. Look to see if you have anything relating to Presision Time and or Calander. Shut down your computer improperly then restart it and let the auto feature repair any disc errors. If you are NOT using McAffe, get it and and do a full scan for viruses with that and allow McAffe to repair those damages as well.
Also dump any program that you do not recognize and clean out your trash can and all deleted messages in your email.

This is what I had to do when I got some bad shit happening my my computer and I seem to have gotten it taken care of finally. Took me almost a month to find it all and figure it out. Also Get rid of Real One Player and if you have it loaded. You can re load it later on after all is cleaned up.
There is alot of spy programs out there that sneak in and do what is happening to you and what happened to me.
Trust me on this one Tracy!

TTD

 

[Ayla ny]

I gave up on trying to save anything and tried to use the QuickRestore that came w/ my computer. I can’t even do that! Windows won’t recognize that I have a CD drive at all! either one.

think I’m going to have to take it in. I think it’s still under warranty. that should be fun if they decide to do a little snooping... lol (uughh...)

I don’t think it’s a virus. I ran Norton 2003 firewall and anivirus. going online seems to be the only thing that IS working.

I appreciate the effort, Ed, but I can’t open “My Computer” or “Control Panel” at all. basically... my computer is toast. 🙁

 

[TummyDragon]

Corrupt Registry

Hi Ayla NY,
The symptoms you are describing could be simply a corrupt registry. When you are booting windows, hit F8 to bring up the boot menu. Go into Start DOS Prompt. or even "Safe Mode Dos Prompt". Then, change to the C:\windows\command directory and type in SCANREG /R

That should let you restore your registry with a previous copy. You may be able to choose a date prior to when all the trouble began. If this works, backup/copy all the pics and stuff you want to save immediately because something had to have corrupted the registry in the first place and chances are whatever it is, is still there. Sometimes that can happen when you install a new program, or it could be as bad as a virus. But, when everything trashes at once like that, it's often times a corrupt registry.

Good luck!

 

[luv2bt&tickled]

Yes, choosing the safe mode should help Ayla. Good luck, computers can be a pain sometimes! 🙁

 

[Ayla ny]

TummyDragon, I restored the registry to one that was a year old (it was either that or the day the trouble started. were the only choices it gave me). no go. 🙁 then I ran registry checker (scanreg/fix). it told me it was fixed. it lied.

thanks for the info tho. I was always afraid to go near registry stuff but figured in this case... I couldn't make it any worse.

 

[luv2bt&tickled]

🙁 Sorry Alya. It is hard to help someone of the computer. I wish there was something that I could do.🙁

 

[kurchatovium]

If it is still under warranty Ayla I would definitely take it in. Thats why you buy these extended service warranties so you may as well get what you paid for. They may be able to retrieve your files for you as well, although they may charge you for that. Anyway good luck, I wish I could have been of more help.

 

[JPie1]

Ayla...I don't know if this will help you but you can actually copy files the old fashion way through a command prompt (dos prompt). If you are familiar with your directory structures and where all your must keep stuff is located you can navigate to it through a dos window and do a copy onto floppys. You might need alot of floppys and it is time consuming depending on the amount of pics/files you wish to save but it can be done.

If you need help with this or want to try it please let me know and we can try to arrange a time when I can help you.


Judy... aka JPie

 

[Ayla ny]

the whole thing has given me a headache.

I’m going to have some wine, use what still works on my computer, and bring it to the pros tomorrow. I called and doubled checked. it is still under warranty. so if I have to pay a little extra to save my pictures and stuff then it shouldn’t be too bad.

now I’m just hoping that my ‘special’ folder is hidden well enough. 🙂

thank you so much for all of the offers of help. I really do appreciate it.