I Need Help

BurrBurr Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9358Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">my computer, my mind is another topic...</div> Ok, heres the problem. I turned on my computer one day and instead of the start menu and destop icons showing, they were all gone, all I see is the background. I restarted and got the smae thing. I tired CTRL + ALT + DEl and in the task manager box there was nothing, no tasks/programs running. So, Instead of normally shutting down I did a hard reboot (unplugged the thing, and then plugged it back in) so scandisk could run before windows started (I have 98, so its the blue screen of scanning), after it scanned it said I had a corrupt registery and it automatically restored an old registery, but it still does the same thing. The last thing I did before this happened was I installed a original copy of Homeworld (the ORIGINAL version, from 1999 I beleive (The disk is from that year too)), and it ran fine until I turned it off for the weekend and then turned it back on....

So, is there anyway to help this, or do my fears come true and I have to do a system restore and lose 4 years of data on my computer (see kids, this is why you make regualr backup copies, unlike me, but I am an idiot)?

My specs:
AMD Athalon 700
Win 98
128MB Ram
More specs if needed....

Oh, if your wondering, Im at a college computer room, so I can't un-santafy my avatar until I get mine working again...I mean I could change it to the pre selected avatars...but its MAX!
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Comments

  • BurrBurr Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9358Members
    Oh yeah, it does the same thing in safe mode too....

    I just read something about a virus...that might be the problem....
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  • MajinMajin Join Date: 2003-05-29 Member: 16829Members, Constellation
    I had this happen to me.
    Steps to fix!

    Turn off your computer and unplug the cables.

    Pick up the case and toss it out a window!

    YOUR FUXED!

    Reformat is now your new best friend!
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  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
    Maybe place in another harddrive (with just an O/S installed on it) and set it as a master (and your original as a slave), then copy across your most needed files, then format your original then reinstall O/S and copy back files?
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  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    edited January 2004
    jimmeh has the right idea

    edit: just make sure you virus scan everything you transfer and the entire new hard drive when done
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  • NecroticNecrotic Big Girl&#39;s Blouse Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 53Members, NS1 Playtester
    I tpyed out a nicely worded response about various things you could try then accidently deleted it, therefore I am going to now instead say "stick your hard drive in a friends machine, copy off all the stuff you need, format and start again"

    Sorry if thats not much help
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  • ShadowlinexShadowlinex Join Date: 2003-08-07 Member: 19144Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Burr+Jan 8 2004, 09:01 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Burr @ Jan 8 2004, 09:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Oh yeah, it does the same thing in safe mode too....

    I just read something about a virus...that might be the problem.... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Its a virus, i got it too i think. Deleted all my Program files and **** me off.

    Format is the only option at this point. PC-cillen is a ok free virus protection software.
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  • BurrBurr Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9358Members
    <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> WAHH!!

    Oh well, I was going to do a system restore anyway eventually....just now I won't have the four years of unimportant data that I had sleeping im my HD....Im glad I had nothing TOO important.....

    At least now without my computer I get more homework done....

    Is format the same as a system restore?
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  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    From what I could find, Win98 doesn't support system restore. Formatting is probably the best way to go anyway. Formatting will completely wipe everything out of the hard drive. Make sure you have all your necessary drivers handy (if possible) or remove any peripheral hardware (modem, network card, sound card) prior to reinstalling. It's much easier to reinstall the hardware after the OS is stable.

    I had lots of practice reinstalling Win98 on my old machine. I formatted almost every 6 months <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • BurrBurr Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9358Members
    edited January 2004
    really? I thought my computer came with a restore CD.....

    Maybe I was wrong?

    edit: Actually, I think it just has all the original stuff (drivers, windows, etc...) that came with the computer originally....yay custom made gateway..
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  • BurrBurr Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9358Members
    Well, now that I am back home, I do have a system restoration CD that contains:
    *Partial backup of system software
    *Hardware Drivers
    *Windows 2000, 98, or 95 restoration program.

    I also have another CD that has "Backup of Sysytem Software" as well

    So, do I format first, then restore the system, or restore the system without formatting?
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