Computer problems

[Frani_54]

Okay I went delete happy and think I've messed up my computer...ever since last week when I tried cleaning out some programs and files I don't use anymore, my computer has been acting crappy...freezing up all the time, getting error messages when we shutdown such as (can not end prorgram because ...blah blah blah) so we just hit end program and it shuts down....when I start up I get messages such as (windows install can't be found....gee didn't know I lost it)....It also doesn't help that the kids are home and messing with stuff, although they said they haven't .....yeah right!

So anyway yesterday I burned some CD's saving some pictures and it worked fine, last night I was going to continue burning CD's, trying to backup pictures and scrapping stuff and I couldn't even find my E drive.....trouble trouble trouble....so I just gave up and had this sick feeling I was going to have to get my computer into the shop.....NOOOOOOOOOOOO, I can't live without my puter....

Anyway this morning I ran a "Restore" from last week on....got my "E" drive back, but it was still freezing up this morning....did another "Restore" to the first of the Month, hoping whatever I did would fix itself (not computer literate here)....well it seems to have worked I couldn't test fully, but I was able to burn some more CD's just fine....

Any suggestions on anything else I may need to do???? Need detail instructions....

Desperately asking for advise....
Fran

[Debb Cozzi]

First, make sure you have EVERYTHING backed up! Don't wait on that and don't do any more restores or anything until you have it all backed up.

Have you updated your spyware and virus programs and run a scan? You can also try running a disk cleanup and then defrag your computer. If you are still running into problems I would definitely take it into the shop because your hard drive could be going bad. This sounds very much like what happened to my computer a couple of years ago, however, I did not have everything backed up and I lost so many things...so whatever you do backup my friend...a hard drive can easily be replaced but the data is priceless.

[Sandersmr]

Yes, back it up!!! I had no warning and hadn't backed up in several months - ouch!!! Fortunately most of my photos (but not all I'm finding out) were on my EHD.

I have that stuff on a EHD to keep from bogging down my laptop, and I have now backed everything up to an online service and will back up to a second EHD just to be safe - I have too much stuff to back up to CD anymore and DVDs aren't as reliable.

[Frani_54]

thanks for all the input....I'm slowly backing up everything and I've run all the defrags unfrags and more frags...LOL.....I did all the scans too....so I have my fingers crossed all holds till I get everything backed up....

[Sandersmr]

You do realize that once you get everything backed up, your computer will probably settlde down and run normally, right? They are contrary that way :)