Oh dear, have I finally killed it? ?

Question

I have a Compaq laptop that's around 3 years old. My OS is vista. I've never had any real problems with it except for well, just now.

I was surfing the web (I was on livejournal and a webcomic site, using Google chrome if any of that helps) all of a sudden my browser crashed, along with yahoo messenger, then my icons disappeared and my desktop started to shut down.

I cut power manually before it had a chance to finish what it was doing, as I always do when it does something weird, never hurt anything before.
I was hoping windows was just trying to force an update or something, but when I turned the darned thing back on I was deeply disappointed.
It went to the normal 'your computer did not restart properly' screen where I elected to start windows normally.

The start up/logo screen came up and loaded fine. However, at the point my sign in screen would normally appear I was instead greeted by a black screen that started listing processes and my drivers accompanied by ratios like '24/26' or some such.
I cut power again almost immediately because well, fight or flight instinct? Lol, and because I was scared it might be eating my files or something.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this was a virus, as I've had my anti-virus find like 3 Trojans in the past few months (curse you deviantart!!) However I only yesterday ran a scan that turned up nothing.
I was also kind or wondering if it could have to do with memory/ram/whatever deficiency? I'm clueless on that point.

So I'm basically wondering:
A. What the blazes is it doing? Is it safe to start it again?

B. Can I fix this? Or do I need I to wipe the whole thing? Or is it just dead and gone?

C. Can I save my files? Please tell me I can save my files.

Answer 1

Sounds like a virus to me. Try this!



Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly, you'll get a screen saying "boot into safe mode"



you will want to select "boot into safe mode"



wait a few moments and login, you're gonna have to do either a system restore, which is the best if it'll work, with that you won't lose anything, but if not, do a complete full restore, and from Safe mode backup all your files on a USB or DVD/CD. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Looks more like a hardware issue to me, but there are malware items that mimic some of the symptoms.

Overheating as mentioned could be one thing.

Note that SCRAM shut down is not helping the hard drive health, so get a main plan ready before you re-start, and several alternate 'now what?' options for contingencies that often arise with catastrophic failures.

If all alternate attempts fail, & you've got a lot of valuable files that must be recovered, have a look @ 'SpinRite' from GRC.

Recovers data & fixes HDD errors; disk maintenance; checks cable interfaces; many deep disk checks; etc.

Self contained DOS, so functioning OS not required.

Run it once per month or so to keep the HDD at peak mechanical performance.

About $90 US;

Money back if not satisfied: no questions asked. How many software items have you seen with that?

THE industry standard.



Google for reviews.

Well worth the money.

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

or

http://www.grc.com/sr/testimonials.htm



If you decide to give this a try, read the help files on what modes do what, cause it can be a tad confusing. Whatever 'mode' you select, don't be impatient: this works slowly, but methodically, and just may pull your drive back from the brink of doom.

Does not work with newer "solid state" drives, but does work on ANY spinning type (Mac's, Tivo's, game console's, etc.).

For older systems, make sure to have plenty of ventilation in the tower as it puts extra demand on the drive mechanics, causing elevated heat in the drive.

Answer 3

First order of the day is back up your files. Yes you can but you will need a clean computer to prepare this bootable CD:

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/



The instructions on how to prepare it are all given and should be easy to follow.



The CD contains a Mini Windows XP operating system which will allow you to browse the contents of your hard drive and save your data to a USB flash drive.



After securing your files, restart the computer in safe mode with networking. Download and run these in the same order:

http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/reg/shell.reg

http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/reg/FixNCR.reg

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/anti-virus/rkill

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Answer 4

i believe Marilyn above me! that's unusual that the mum and dad left her on my own interior the room, yet i think of every physique (and that i propose you those that have not got each and all the information or the documents, and can consistent with possibility learn it slightly extra until eventually now leaping to conclusions and making grotesque statements with regard to the undesirable family individuals !!) needs to undergo in innovations that the hotel the place they are staying is meant to a be a secure environment!!! hence I understand why they left her on my own, no count number how stupid that replaced into, they for sure felt comfortable and risk-free in an environment that's meant to be risk-free, enclosed etc etc. And Portugal is a nicely-enjoyed holiday holiday spot factor, with a lot of those enclosed inns with inner maximum properties. holiday properties , familiar by way of fact they seem to be a secure environment!! or meant to be.. (so seem it up , google it, additionally paedophiles are everywhere, so the guy who thinks they are in basic terms in Portugal truly could examine the information slightly extra!) in spite of blunders the family individuals made made in an blunders of judgment i'm particular they are asking themselves that query approximately leaving her on her very own each minute of conventional and we would desire to continuously all be feeling for his or her soreness as each and on a daily basis without their baby is yet another day the place she truly won't in any respect been considered returned!

Answer 5

Maybe it's because your laptop is overheating?