Computer crash ??

Question

My hp laptop recently kicked the bucket due to a previous virus. I've had it for several years now, about three. when I went to live on campus it contracted a virus that "fried" the hard drive. the on-campus tech guys were able to help and put in a new hard drive. Ever since then, it hasn't been the same. when I would play music it would skip and stop; the same was for video.

Now, after my brother messed with it . . . it's useless [AGAIN]. However, from a more experienced [computer] person, said that the hard drive is still intact. They also said that I "may" be able to transfer some invaluable files to another computer or external hard drive.

Is it possible that I would be able to retrieve some, if not all, that was on my computer???? If so, can I do it myself?

oh and when it's turned on there is a blue screen. I haven't touched in a month, I'm afraid I'd make it worse.

ANY info is appreciated!!

Answer 1

Sounds very, very much like a rootkit virus has indeed found it's way inside your machine.  These virus are extremely hard for your anti-virus to detect and more-so to remove.  They live in the boot (or root) sector of your computer, and so when you boot your machine it gets into your boot-up process and executes itself before you can even realize it.  You may have to get a scanner just for rootkits and very possibly buy some new RAM.  Sometimes the bug will fry your memory chips.  That's what the "blue-screen" sound like.

Good Luck...

P.S.  Your hard drive should be fine...retrieving your files should be no problem if you have the knowledge to do so.  If not, seek out the help of a pro...

Answer 2

Think of the hard drive as a storage stick. Take it out of the laptop and plug it in to your desktop usb via a external hard drive hookup. It should read as another drive on the desktop computer, take your files off through windows explorer.

Now the reason your laptop is not firing up is a case of not finding the right wake up I'm alive procedure. Starts with finding bios if it gets past that it looks for the operating system, it could hook up at either point to give you a no start.

I would put it back into the laptop and reformat the hard drive and reinstall O.S., that is providing the HP does not rely on a little hard drive partition like compaq which needs the appropriate trouble shooting disk that comes with the puter.

It's a long process finding drivers and all the rest of it, especially if you have no disks, but the net is where it all is, for your digging.

Other things to check are the little flat battery inside on the motherboard, and then maybe a bios upgrade if you can flash the bios with the appropriate update for that particular bios.

Read on.. good luck.

Answer 3

Sounds like your operating system has corrupted files.

Restart your computer and before Windows starts press the F8 key and choose Safe Mode.

Restore your computer to the date when your computer was operating.

click on Start > Programs > Accessorieses > System Tool > Restore

Also when you are in Safe Mode you can transfer (copy) files to a External Drive.

You can also try the link below to fix your computer if Restore does not work.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread....