How to do you fix a computer when there are no restore points?
(Just a note before I start: this pc is using windows vista basic)
I have a computer that i need to fix and it is so screwed up that the C drive decided to make itself offline. Therefore i cannot do a system restore since there are no restore points. When i do try to make the C drive online it wants me to format it. I know that formatting that will delete everything off of it (everything!!!!). So first is there any suggestion so i don't have to format it? Second if i do format it, do the drivers reinstall themselves (the internal hardware to the computer)? Third when i got my computer formatted all my files were saved to a folders called "windows old"..... is it possibly that this will happen again?
If anyone can help thanks ---Cyimtyler----
Chris_His_Servant_72009-04-17T14:47:47Z
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Hi Cy, sometimes a virus can hide in temp files and other things. I wounld suggest doing this operation as much as possible first.
RECOMMENDED TO DO EVERY WEEK The following are purely the steps to take; this is not a detailed outline of what to do. Due to never having used a Mac these options may be slightly different.
Cookies Go into Control panel, then click on Internet options, Temporary Internet Files, Delete cookies, and then Delete Files, and Clear History depending on your Internet Options program due to differences in Internet Explorer 6 & 7 this may change if it does do the following instead.
If you go into Internet Options & see a Browsing History button click on it, click on the delete all button, another box will come up and make sure to checkmark the box that says also “delete files and settings stored by add-ons” and click on Yes.
Disk Cleanup Click on Start at bottom of screen, then go to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Disk Cleanup
Disk Defragmenter Click on Start at bottom of screen, then go to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Disk Defragmenter
SEARCH FILES & FOLDERS Click on Start, then Search, All files & folders, type in *.tmp in the “all or part of a file name” box, then in the “look in” box make sure to click on the down arrow button and click on the C:\ drive or if you have more than one local hard drive, you can click for both of them & click on search button
*.tmp (application temporary files; delete any more than 1 day old) don’t delete ones that have to do with your printer this will mess up the settings for your printer. The .tmp files for your printer will show the brand name for your printer.
DON’T FORGET to clear out RECYCLE BIN!
ALSO SCAN &/or UPDATE FOLLOWING:
Ad-aware, Spyware Windows Updates
Anti-Virus Program & any other pertinent updates or scans
DISK CHECK Click on Start button at bottom of screen, go to My Computer, local disk (C:) – right click & go to Properties, Tools Tab, Error checking – check now, Click both boxes to have check marks. Start, yes, and the next time you turn on the computer, it checks and fixes bad sectors. This takes a while to do.
After you have done this process make sure you have your virus scanner check all your document files specifically. Then back all your files to a flash drive or disk.
Then I would suggesting you go to a free website and use it's scanner to check your puter for virus activity. I suggest the one on trend micro's site. http://us.trendmicro.com/us/products/personal/free-tools-and-services/index.html?WT.mc_id=2008HP_Home_FreeTools_9292008 Use the housecall scanner. Then and only then do a complete reinstall of your operating system. I would suggest for a better virus scanner you get trend micro internet securities, it is better than norton and mcafee and has kept us from getting a virus. we have been using it since 2002
Umm, I don't know what you mean by "..the C: Drive offline.." but I would just go ahead and get all the old files you can off of it and format the drive IF YOU HAVE THE WINDOWS REINSTALL DISK, if you use Windows, that is. This is what most computer engineers would recommend/do anyway. Yes, it will erase all your drivers for your hardware (such as Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Video Card, Motherboard, CD/Optical Drives, Cameras, USB, Sound Card, Ram, etc., and possibly the Hard Drives too) As for this "windows old", I have no idea what that is for. It is possible. There could be other alternatives--could you shed some light on the computer problem for us? We might be able to fix it easier..
ok to start off if you still have your old reboot disc that will help.. the one you got when you first got your computer.... yeah your file called windows.old.. when you do it again it will be called windows.old.000. if u format it all your data will be saved... assuming you know that some of your files are not full of viruses then you can click and drag to your desktop where they are at your disposal... this happened to me once and i had to totally rerestore my computer... i had a totally new laptop and i got a virus.. i reinstalled it using my disc.. it should say somehting like PC RESTORE OPERATING SYSTEM VISTA (or whatever your operating systme is......)
ok you can reformat it and it will load all the drivers for the stuff on your motherboard except for some vid cards and other things you have added and the folder called windows old someone just reinstalled windows over the old if you was to total reformat it this will not happen and what you mean your c drive offline its either installed or not
Boot from the install disc and go to Startup Repair. It might repair the boot record so the drive can boot again. http://vistasupport.mvps.org/windows_vista_repair_options.htm