PC Saga Again!

[juan ruiz]

Well for my dear computer Gurus, I'm running Windows Vista but currently I'm only able to run on "SAFE MODE" I have run the Malwarebytes ( on safe mode) and nothing is showing up, if I start the PC for normal operation it will open fine but as soon as you hit any icon or try to open Microsoft outlook it will freeze, I also try to run the Malwarebytes under normal operation but it will freeze too.

Any suggestions?

[red-beard]

It is not a virus. I expect some significant file or driver in the operating system is corrupted. Time to re-install the OS

[juan ruiz]

I was suspecting that how that happens? bad websites or ? what do you mean by Time to re-install the OS ?

[silverc4s]

Originally Posted by juan ruiz

I was suspecting that how that happens? bad websites or ? what do you mean by Time to re-install the OS ?

He means you are about to lose a bunch of files, if you don't have them backed up.

Pretty much everything on that drive partition..

[red-beard]

Just what I said. You find the disks that came with the PC and re-install the operating system.

For your first try, let the disks try to fix the installation.

If that doesn't work, what I would do is install a second hard drive and then re-load the OS. Afterwards, stick the original drive in as a second drive so you can access all of your data on the drive.

How does it happen? Usually it is a sector going bad on the disk.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by silverc4s

He means you are about to lose a bunch of files, if you don't have them backed up.

Pretty much everything on that drive partition..

Drive seems OK, as he can boot. Something is simply corrupted. Again, try a repair first. Do not FORMAT the drive, or you lose all data.

[Por_sha911]

If you can run in safe mode then back up everything first. Then, try fix or format... I don't remember the fix ever working.

[juan ruiz]

thanks Guys, I have an external hard drive I will try to pass the files then install the OS

[red-beard]

WAIT!!!!

If you can run in safe mode, but not in regular, you have a bad driver some place. I would consider reloading drivers under safe mode. Or disabling them until you find the right one. Yes, time consuming.

[phoenix_iii]

Sometimes it better to know who to go to then try to learn what to do. No nephew/coworker who can help you out?

[Scott R]

Sounds like bad memory in the system. As soon as you execute a program and it hits that bad area it locks up.

You can get a bootable test here:

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

[slodave]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Just what I said. You find the disks that came with the PC and re-install the operating system.

For your first try, let the disks try to fix the installation.

If that doesn't work, what I would do is install a second hard drive and then re-load the OS. Afterwards, stick the original drive in as a second drive so you can access all of your data on the drive.

How does it happen? Usually it is a sector going bad on the disk.

And when one sector goes bad, the rest will follow, then the drive fails and you've wasted your time reinstalling the OS.

Spend the extra time, it's not much and test the drive first. If the drive's bad - Stop - buy a new drive and install to that.

[red-beard]

I agree

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Scott R

Sounds like bad memory in the system. As soon as you execute a program and it hits that bad area it locks up.

You can get a bootable test here:

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

You should be able to do an extended memory test from the BIOS

[Scott R]

Now that I read Dave's response I'm leaning towards the disk.

[slodave]

In my experience with Windows, if RAM is bad, usually the pc will BOSD and freeze or go into an endless reboot cycle. If the HD is bad (not 100% the case, but usually) the pc will take forever to boot, programs will take forever to load or freeze. Depending on what is going on with the drive, you may also see delayed write errors pop up or the almost fatal, that will end up fatal HD clicking - something that you can;t always hear unless you open the side up and listen to the HD carefully.

Testing the RAM is always a good idea as well. Both save you from aggravating headaches later.

SOP for me is to do both first, then troubleshoot Windows.

[juan ruiz]

Well I manage to install the OS and I was able to save all the files, the only issue right now is finding a FREE download for the Microsoft Outlook for emails and such,everything seems to be working at the moment

[RWebb]

what do you mean?

did you export and import everythng via a .pst file?

[juan ruiz]

I was able to pass all of the files to my external hard drive, I'm sure I lost all of my emails and contacts on Microsoft Outlook for the emails however I had a Round Cube email account running parallel to the outlook so is not so bad, all I need is to set up something decent for the emails but I have to be able to open them remotely