Help! Can't boot up my computer!

Wow, Michael.

While it was very geeky (and I'm not), it led me in a few circles to do a "system restore" (which I've never done before), and I'm back in business!

I'm still a little spooked, though, since I don't know what caused it.

In doing the "system restore", I saw that an automatic Windows update was executed today, and I fear that may have caused it (and may cause it again when Windows sees that it needs to do that update over again).

Anyway, thanks a million. For now, I'm good!

Not sure what "complete system backup" means.

1. I use Mozy for daily offsite backup ($4.95 a month and simple enough for even me). Backs up docs, photos, etc. I have it set for every 9 a.m.

2. I also have a couple "recovery disks" I made when I got my newest [Vista-based] computer a couple of years ago. Not really sure what they're for -- It was a suggested walk-through task when I set up my computer originally.

Are those what you're referring to, or is there something else I should be doing?

Now that's geeky.

Of course, ahem, I do the exact same thing. I've got an ubuntu disk right next to me, plus it's running on one of my other pc's. So I guess that makes me a geek too.

I'm shocked I tell ya.

...my wife is laughing at me right now...I don't know why.

Probably dumb question:

Does that mean that if Windows doesn't work, you can pop in the CD and Ubuntu will install without conflicting with Windows, and just start working?

If so, what happens to Windows? (This is at the far fringes of my knowledge, you understand).

I hadn't used my laptop for about 2 years. Recently I hooked it up and it automatically downloaded a bunch of updates without me even thinking about it. Once I shut down, it began installing all of them.

It corrupted the hard drive and the drive is gone. Won't restore from the original restore disk. Thanks Windows for the update ... appreciate that.

Yes, booting in safe mode bypasses the login (technically, it defaults to the Administrator login and lets you in). That's how I stumbled on the "system restore" fix that worked for me.

I hear that type of thing often enough that I believe it, but it just seems like such a whole new learning curve for an old PC user with an already ultra-busy life

By the way, a friend of mine recently had his Mac seriously hacked. He spent over 8 hours on the phone with Apple, Inc., which normally doesn't involve themselves in hacking situations, but helped him sort through file segments, while he watched files and icons disappearing before his eyes.

Apple concluded that his hard drive was ready to "melt down", whatever that means, and told him to rush it into a recommended expert's shop to try to halt it. Haven't heard the outcome yet.

I think its more of a profile issue. especially in Vista. I helped a user sort this same type of issue on their computer a few weeks back. Something to do with how windows syncs up the profile on start up, something becomes out of sync or causes the profile to load incorrectly. A full virus scan wouldn't hurt thought

Terry,
I'm with Mino on the probability of virus/trojan/worm. you can get them from email, websites or just sitting idle with the internet connection "always on".

Everybody thinks anti-virus is the "secret sauce" to prevent this malware affliction. Getting the proper tools is critical and I haven't seen any single piece of software that does a decent job of "everything".

The first line of defense is the most critical. That critical defense is the firewall. Most firewalls like AVG, Symantec, etc. are easily beaten by hackers.

Not getting techy on you, but most firewalls say they protect against stuff getting into your PC, right? But what is most important, is WHEN and IF something does get through, is that the script or malware usually HAS to "call home" to execute or retrieve data, etc. Most firewalls do little or nothing to stop this "call home". Two firewalls do prevent this, and even more important, they ask you if you want to permit something trying to get in !!!

They are Jetico (inexpensive) and Comodo, and, they have been doing this for years. Jetico is so good I don't even have an antivirus active on my PC. It asks me to allow this in or that out, which is a bit tedious at first. But it saves those permissions when you shut down. So it's front loaded with a bit of effort but peace of mind is a long tail benefit. Nothing gets in or out without my permission. Nothing!

I use the free, fast and extremely effective malware scanner, Malwarebytes, and I scan once a day or maybe every 2 days. It takes about 15 minutes to scan 700 gigabytes. I haven't had a virus/trojan for several years now! But then, when I'm on the PC, I'm doing business, not surfing.

Another 2 great free tools are Process Explorer and Hijackthis. Process Exp. tells you whats running and the CPU load, and, you can shut down a program thats hung, an internet window, or the entire OS if you need to. Hijackthis tells you what is loading at startup. Its a techie favorite. I use it shut down junk that some programmer 'knew' was necessary to run every single time at startup. Over time, you can get that PC so loaded at startup that there isn't any room to run programs ... like Hewlett Packard printers load so many programs (scanner, image processor, etc) at startup when all you really need is the frikkin printer.

So, you might try those software suggestions, but if you only try one or two, then do Jetico and Malwarebytes.

IMO, get as huge a file storage device that you can, at least a terabyte. files are huge, ridiculously huge. I remember being excited about the advent of the 256K 5 1/4" floppy disc back in the '80's. LOL

Also before you do a system restore, be sure your restore points are virus free too. You can easily restore the virus. Like I said, PC security and peace of mind are front loaded with work, but well worth it.

Think of your PC as akin to your brick and mortar store. Would you leave the door unlocked and open to the public when you went home?

I'm with you. My other (older) desktop is XP. Always problem-free.

I also use the computers at our Public Library when I'm away from the house. All 38 of them are XP, and they were upgraded long after Vista came out, by a very sharp computer guy that keeps the library running smoothly.