You may have noticed that I haven't been on AF recently, that's because of some major technical difficulties. Here's my story:

1: My computer is running perfectly, I turn it off.
2: When I turn it back on, I get a message. In short, all it says is that Windows was interuppted during a startup, would you like to run Windows anyway, run it in the last configuration that worked, or in safe mode?
3: I tried all of these options, and they all came to the same ending. Windows would start to load, and then the computer would reboot.

So I call tech support, they said that it's probably a hard drive problem (thanks a lot, I figured that out already...).

1: So I take it to Circuit City to have the data migrated to another hard drive.
2: Circuit City loses power in a thunderstorm... for a week.

*one week later*

1: Circuit City says that I'll have to pay a fortune because they don't work with warranties.

2: I go to Best Buy.
3: They say that I need a receipt, which I don't have, to use the warranty.
4: I got back home.
5: I try one last thing, chdisk (it wasn't easy getting it to run).
6: An hour later, it fixes a few security problems, and... Windows boots!!!

So, is this the end to my pain? Of course not.
1: I begin to notice various minor problems.
a: When I minimize a program, nothing comes up in the taskbar.
b: I can't run Windows installer.
c: I can't get into the E drive (so I can back stuff up on a CD).

then it gets worse:
a: My problematic taskbar decides to vanish.

So what the heck should I do? I tried a system restore, just got an error. Should I format the hard drive?

P.S. Please excuse my past and future absence.

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If I was you:

If I had all my stuff (files,drivers,programs,etc.) backed up i would reformat and install a new fresh windows install on it.

If it still acts up its your harddisk, get a replacement and reinstall windows.

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boomshockalacka

First of all, your post is missing valuable and key information for us to properly render aid.

What type of windows do you have? What are your computer specs? How long have you had this computer? Has it been upgraded recently? When was the last time it was upgraded? Does this happen after it's been on for a while, or even a cold boot? Have you tried dropping it from a 10 story building?

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I went to Vegas, and all I got was this Blister. - true story!

Class!

It sounds like either something has completely corrupt, or the HDD Is on its way out (Sorry if that was obvious)

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...and yet you failed to notice my first sentence...
Please answer my questions

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I went to Vegas, and all I got was this Blister. - true story!

OK, sorry about that, I was a bit angry at the moment. I'm running Windows XP Media Center Edition, I have 512MB of memory, a 200GB western digital hard drive. I've had the computer for under a year. No upgrades and I've never had this problem before.

<sarcasm>I did however, drop it off a ten story building, maybe that's the problem </sarcasm>

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The Nerd Council
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Who Will Live and Who Will Die? Debate it now!

Sorry... I never knew anyone that ran XPmce. I assume it's like XPpro.

It may in fact, be your HDD. If you have important documents, I suggest you try to salvage them. If you are most-likely to get a (new) hard drive, I say uninstall the old one first.

Then, put the new one in, and load the OS onto it. You may want to skip that and just use a win98 Boot disk. Once your computer works with the boot disk, shut down and add your original HDD as a slave to the new one. Then boot to win98 disk and COPY *.* everything of value to the newer disk.

Hopefully, you have a good copy of your documents. Important, though, DO NOT try to copy your windows directory, or any installed software. You should have the installation CD's to everything you have, and if not, well, you might need to copy the .EXE files, but not the /program files directory (folder).

anyhoo, once you know you got the goods, wipe your old HDD (format quick) and then transfer all the files from the new one, to the old one. Then disconnect the old one, and install the OS to the new one (if not already done) and then reboot one more time than suggested.

Then, and only then, shut down, re-slave your old one, and reboot. Copy your precious files to the new drive and wipe your old one again, slow format. Sell it, or toss it.

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I went to Vegas, and all I got was this Blister. - true story!

Sounds overcomplicated. I'm using the "messed up" computer right now, it just doesn't work as it should, so I could skip the steps, backup my important files now, and then replace the hard drive.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know of some good firee file hosting sites? I don't want backup services like Mozy, because they don't seem to work on this computer.

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The Nerd Council
Nerd Log: Bringing you the Latest in Science and Technology
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Who Will Live and Who Will Die? Debate it now!

Well, you said you didn't have a working burner. I was only trying to help.
Serves me right.

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I went to Vegas, and all I got was this Blister. - true story!

If you can track that its defintly not a virus, you should be able to purchaase a new HDD, shove it in with your old one, (Presuming you have enough space insside the PC, plus cables, and your PSU can provide enough for another HDD. Partition the new HDD, so you have a partiton for the old filess, and a partition for Windows, Without doing this Windows might decide to delete your backed up files. Transfer only the file you want, DO NOT TRANSFER ALL DATA TO THE NEW HDD OR IMAGE BACKUP ONTO THE NEW HDD. Doing so will also transfer corrupt files. Only transfer what you need. If you have a old PC That runs slowly it might take a while. fter you have done, Disconnect the new HDD, and store it a Anti Static Bag, (the one it came in wil do for now) attempt any recovery you want to the old HDD, once your successfully peeved off with it, or fixed it, put your new one in, and Wholla. Re-Install Windows / Linux whatever you use.

Any More help just ask.

Captain Kirk.

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