Computer died. Can you confirm it's a virus, and what to do with info on the hard drive?

you can try and get your data off with an external h/d, just make sure you scan the data (on a different computer), before you take it off or use it on the newer comp. you could also try taking your h/d out of your comp and installing in a different comp as a slave and see if you can retrieve your data that way. although, if you are actually able to see your data, i'd run scans, before you pull it off.

my old gateway (1 ghz, which was windows me), is still running after a h/d change. i upgraded it to xp (from a gateway laptop of mine that died). this is my main computer (and it's not that much slower) that i use, and i have a couple newer comps.

http://software.pricegrabber.com/windows-family-os... <-- you can pick up a copy of xp for about $80 or so (i purchased one, just in case i needed it)

fyi, if your not exacly sure what's wrong, you could try (i'd call them 1st), and take it to bestbuy (or elsewhere), and have them diagnose it, then go from there. i believe most will diagnose it for free.

windows me, is/was a piece of crap. it could be possible that it got so corrupted (virus/spyware, etc.), that it's just not working anymore. however, it could be signs that your h/d (or power supply), is starting to go out. do/did you ever hear a clicking noise coming from inside the tower? anyway, g/l - sos

"Computer Crash" is a very broad term. There are many reasons why a computer may stop working, and only one of them will cause complete data loss, and that is if there is a hardware or software (read virus) problem with a harddrive. Harddrives are mechanical devices, and with all mechancial devices they wear out, and eventually stop working. Which is why "Backup systems" were invented. You can copy your sensitive (not replaceable) data to a CDROM or DVD-ROM, a backup tape, or to a second harddrive. External harddrives are not immune to a virus, and it's even possible to burn a virus to a CD/DVD or Floppy disk, flash drive or anywhere, which is why you should always have an up to date AntiVirus software running on your machine. If your computer crashes because the power supply, or a Fan, or the CPU, or memory chips stop functioning due to a power spike or brown-out, you can still recover the data by fixing the broken component, or moving the harddrive to a new machine. Also some techicians can use special hardware and software to attempt to recover data from a crashed harddrive, but this depends on the damage to the drive.

Whenever you are in this situation the very first thing you should do is backup your important data... because the machine may never reboot again.

So if you are not backing up regularly then you should probably start (the do as I say not as I do speech).

Concentrate on your files such as the My Documents folder.. your important documents, your pictures, your mp3s, etc... if you run software like quickbooks or a program that may be saving documents to another folder.. make sure you check there.

Get your email if is not webbased (such as the outlook .pst files and address book .wab)

Do not worry about your programs.. because programs cannot just be copied over in most cases they need to be reinstalled from the original install program... so hopefully you have all your installation discs kept in a nice safe place (this is the do as I do speech). like a single binder just incase.

Once you have everything fixed... for instance if you had to reformat everything and reinstall windows.. you would run windows update a million times until all security updates are installed, then install anti-virus/firewall and update that.. and then before you ever copy those documents back over to a clean setup.. you would scan them on the disk/cd/floppy FIRST.. so that you know they are safe.

Yes, it can be an external harddrive or usb flash key... but you always run a risk of reinfection with old files... but most antivirus programs will update for new viruses that come out very quickly.

No way to know what's going on with your computer without being there and testing it myself. Any number of things could be wrong... virus.. hardware... etc.. ..

But as long as that thing is up.. get your files.. because you can never count on it rebooting again.

Good luck.

the risk of transferring data is infecting it the the antivirus on that comp cant detect it

well sure it just sounds like a virus, I think you can save your data

from another computer download a live CD disturbution of linux like Ubuntu or any other live CD(you dont have to download necessarily you can buy a computer magazine

some come with linux CDs just check at the store)

once you get a linux CD pop it in your computer and restart your computer, if your computer works fine with the CD its obvious that the virus has taken over your windows...

while you are in the live CD session you can plug in a USB storage device transfer your infected data and the format your computer

if your computer cant work the CD its probably hardware failure

once you have your data transferred on the other computer you can do this...

if you dont want the data to infect your (other)computer again you can set up a Virtual Machine, through a virtual machine you can look at your files and dis infect them the situation will be controlled because viruses cant jump from a virtual machine to your real computer

email me if you are confused or have questions

Its a virus and your computer drives need to reformat. Taking risk in transferring files to another computer is big big risk, look what happen to your computer if you can take that risk it's OK just make sure your anti virus is updated, good luck!

time for an upgrade

windows ME became discontinued by microsoft as of July 2006 and will no long support with updates.

please log in the MS dos mode and type the "scanreg" they enter. and u got some date and some display of problem. u have to choose the best of the last time of ur log in when u had no problem to signed.

bony

+8801711455223

Have a computer tech take care of it. yes you will have to pay.