electricpete
Technical User
I have an e-machines computer with 633mhz processor, 15gb hard drive, 128mb memory, running Windows ME.
I had some kind of problem emerging suddenly which resulted in computer crashes occurring more and more frequently over a period of about 3 days. First only on the internet, then browsing file explorer, then when the computer went into standby mode, then during hd disk-scan upon computer bootup following power-down (only way to get out of locked-up mode). Near the end I did manage to run Norton anti-virus and a new threat there was Adware.gator which appears to have been installed only within the last week (I have had Adware.hotbar for a year also).
At this point I cannot get the computer running. It is already frozen up during reboot when I am given a choice for options to get me into safe mode or other setup options. I did manage to get it into safe mode a few times and it still crached. Startup from my Norton emergency floopy disk, my Norton CD and my OEM (e-machines) bootable CD are all unsuccessful.... lock up early on.
I am not sure if the new virus is related to my lockup problem. On one hand, it does seem like an awfully big coincidence that it showed up at the time my computer died. On the other hand, I would think a virus would not affect my early bootup options, would it?
I am planning to take my computer to a professional for help but I am not sure what to ask for.
My objectives are (in order):
1 - I would like to recover the data on my hard drive.
2 - I would like a working computer if possible. Also I would not mind buying a new hard-drive since I was almost out of hard-drive space on the original hard drive (had used 12 GB out of 15GB).
I see I an get a new computer far exceeding the original computer for $300 - $500 so I don't want to spend too much on trying to fix my dinosaur, but the data is important.
What kind of repair options would you recommend I ask for or consider?
What kind of options are available for getting my hard drive data onto a new computer?
I had some kind of problem emerging suddenly which resulted in computer crashes occurring more and more frequently over a period of about 3 days. First only on the internet, then browsing file explorer, then when the computer went into standby mode, then during hd disk-scan upon computer bootup following power-down (only way to get out of locked-up mode). Near the end I did manage to run Norton anti-virus and a new threat there was Adware.gator which appears to have been installed only within the last week (I have had Adware.hotbar for a year also).
At this point I cannot get the computer running. It is already frozen up during reboot when I am given a choice for options to get me into safe mode or other setup options. I did manage to get it into safe mode a few times and it still crached. Startup from my Norton emergency floopy disk, my Norton CD and my OEM (e-machines) bootable CD are all unsuccessful.... lock up early on.
I am not sure if the new virus is related to my lockup problem. On one hand, it does seem like an awfully big coincidence that it showed up at the time my computer died. On the other hand, I would think a virus would not affect my early bootup options, would it?
I am planning to take my computer to a professional for help but I am not sure what to ask for.
My objectives are (in order):
1 - I would like to recover the data on my hard drive.
2 - I would like a working computer if possible. Also I would not mind buying a new hard-drive since I was almost out of hard-drive space on the original hard drive (had used 12 GB out of 15GB).
I see I an get a new computer far exceeding the original computer for $300 - $500 so I don't want to spend too much on trying to fix my dinosaur, but the data is important.
What kind of repair options would you recommend I ask for or consider?
What kind of options are available for getting my hard drive data onto a new computer?
