Computer troubles... (URGENT!)

Shadow_Link · 07-17-2003, 07:49 PM

This past month, my computer has been freezing very frequently, whether it be on shutting down, or by leaving the computer idle for a few minutes while browsing the internet. On top of that, when starting up, I am, probably 4 times out of 5, prompted to press Esc twice for the start up to continue/finish. And if that wasn't enough, my D: and E: (DVD and CD/RW drives) don't seem to be... present. The icons for them have completely dissapeared in 'My Computer', and there is no mention of the DVD or CD/RW drives in the Control Panel (Systems).

I ran a virus check (while also downloading the latest updates), but there seems to be no virus. Does anyone have any ideas as to what these problems are caused by? I also have some pretty big files I need to backup if the solution to these problems is wiping the hard drive, but I can't do that if my optical drives aren't detected!

Can anyone help?!?

Null · 07-17-2003, 07:54 PM

try a differnt virus program.

Or actually. i warn you. Some of thoes like the constant locking up. are signs of a hard drive thats going to die fairly soon...... i tell you this because not too long ago my computer would lock up a lot. freeze and just sit there. i tried many things...

finally i loaded everything onto my 2nd HD and reformated the first.

ended up the problem was my 2nd drive was dying. and yanno when it picked the exact time to actually die? yup. when i loaded everything onto it and went to reformat the main drive. this wasnt a virus. the HD actually locked up and was loud and wouldnt spin right and was unreadable thro Any OS. or even boot up programs. i lost a considerable amount.

Bond · 07-17-2003, 08:00 PM

AVG is a great Anti-Virus program. Here's a link to the free edition: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

I suppose your hard drive could be dying, like Null said. You might want to try to reinstalling Windows though, that also could be it.

Shadow_Link · 07-17-2003, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bond

AVG is a great Anti-Virus program. Here's a link to the free edition: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

I suppose your hard drive could be dying, like Null said. You might want to try to reinstalling Windows though, that also could be it.

I forgot, but doesn't reinstalling windows result in the wiping of your hard drive? (If it does, I need a way to back up my files, but I can't as my CD/W doesn't seem to be detected by my computer).

Oh, and I have Norton Anti-Virus, isn't that any good?

Yoda9864 · 07-17-2003, 09:01 PM

Well, I don't think the actually virus program matters that much, it's how updated your virus definitions are. Considering Norton updates virus definitions at least once a week, check to see if you can update them.

Otherwise, I have to go with Null on saying your harddrive is going bad. Something similar happened to me when my HD went to sh!t.

Shadow_Link · 07-17-2003, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoda9864

Considering Norton updates virus definitions at least once a week, check to see if you can update them.

"I ran a virus check (while also downloading the latest updates)".

I did that today, so i have all the latest updates. But does the hard drive problem explain why my optical drives are out of whack? I don't want to wipe the hard drive without making copes of some files, which I can't...

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the drives do open/close when I press the open button (But they don't do anything!).

Yoda9864 · 07-17-2003, 09:42 PM

[quote=Shadow_Link
I did that today, so i have all the latest updates. But does the hard drive problem explain why my optical drives are out of whack? QUOTE]
Yes, it could. HD messes up Windows, windows acts all stupid. I'd say get a new harddrive, they are that much now-a-days.