Help me save my files - computer crashing

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Guest

My computer has been locking up or halting almost all the time now.
Sometimes I can't even restart. I'm trying to save my C drive files. I'm
running Windows XP Home Edition and I'm connected to a home network setup. I
want to backup as many folders and files as I can. I can't use the move
feature because too many files are in use. If I use the copy command I lose
the original dates on the new computer. I think in order to get all the
files with original attributes I have to use a backup program, right?

I need suggestions on what to use and how to do it. The windows Restore
feature is not going to cut it. I don't know what the problem is that is
causing the system to freeze or halt. It might be the C drive is bad, or the
motherboard. I can't get the system to start up in safe mode to find out. I
don't have a backup program (yet) and I'm not even sure if I could get
through a program installation at this point. My C drive is internal.

I know I'm in serious trouble, so please help.
 
--
It is a poor student who does not surpass his master


klbkrissy said:
My computer has been locking up or halting almost all the time now.
Sometimes I can't even restart. I'm trying to save my C drive files. I'm
running Windows XP Home Edition and I'm connected to a home network setup. I
want to backup as many folders and files as I can. I can't use the move
feature because too many files are in use. If I use the copy command I lose
the original dates on the new computer. I think in order to get all the
files with original attributes I have to use a backup program, right?

I need suggestions on what to use and how to do it. The windows Restore
feature is not going to cut it. I don't know what the problem is that is
causing the system to freeze or halt. It might be the C drive is bad, or the
motherboard. I can't get the system to start up in safe mode to find out. I
don't have a backup program (yet) and I'm not even sure if I could get
through a program installation at this point. My C drive is internal.

I know I'm in serious trouble, so please help.
Click to expand...

You will need to access the hard drive when it is not booted which means you
will need to use a harddrive enclosure and attach the drive via enclosure to
another computer which is already booted into windows xp
 
You should concentrate only on backing up data files. What media are you
backing up to? Floppy, CD or other? Forget about Moving you should Copy.
File dates are not important and should not be changed by copying. They
are changed by Saving.

A backup program may be better but it is not necessary. Just use the
copy command in Windows Explorer.

If you are getting Blue Screens of Death a copy of the Stop Error Report
would assist discovering what is wrong with your computer.

You mention problems booting in Safe Mode. Are your keyboard and mouse
wired or wireless? Can you boot in Normal Mode or is that when it
crashes or does it crash sometime after displaying the Desktop?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Answers for Gerry:

I'm trying to back up everything (I can't stay on the system long enough to
be picky) to another computer on our network. I think this would be the best
way to copy about 12G of data.

I know I can't use the move command, too many files are in use.

File dates are fine and not changing, it's the folder dates that are.
(Microsoft says it's by design.) For the majority of folders this is okay,
but I have a few where the original creation date helps me identify multiple
similar data. I will change this in the future, but for now this is why it
concerns me.

I only get the System Halt (blue screen of death) about 5% of the time.
Mostly the system will freeze or hang (the cursor stops moving and not even
task manager will open) while I'm logged on and desktop is running, OR more
recently right after a restart with or without the disc check in the Windows
XP logon Welcome screen. I will find the stop error report if I get the
opportunity. Thanks.

I have a wireless Mouse, hard wired keyboard. I will research this idea as
soon as I can. I know others writing to this forum have also stated they
can't boot in safe mode.

Also, just so everyone knows, I am not using my computer right now. I'm on
another. I only turn mine on when I'm trying to save files. So far I have
been able to copy a few files at a time, before it freezes.
 
klbkrissy said:
My computer has been locking up or halting almost all the time now.
Sometimes I can't even restart. I'm trying to save my C drive files. I'm
running Windows XP Home Edition and I'm connected to a home network setup.
I
want to backup as many folders and files as I can. I can't use the move
feature because too many files are in use. If I use the copy command I
lose
the original dates on the new computer. I think in order to get all the
files with original attributes I have to use a backup program, right?

I need suggestions on what to use and how to do it. The windows Restore
feature is not going to cut it. I don't know what the problem is that is
causing the system to freeze or halt. It might be the C drive is bad, or
the
motherboard. I can't get the system to start up in safe mode to find out.
I
don't have a backup program (yet) and I'm not even sure if I could get
through a program installation at this point. My C drive is internal.

I know I'm in serious trouble, so please help.
Click to expand...

Don't waste time trying to boot that machine. Remove the drive, attach it
to another system, and copy your files. If you use an imaging program,
such as the Acronis TrueImage trial version, you'll be done inside of an
hour.

HTH
-pk
 
To get into Safe Mode try using a wired mouse and keyboard instead of
using a wireless mouse and keyboard. The function keys are most not
likely not working. On my keyboard you need to press the F Lock key to
get the Function keys to work and you need to get to to the Desktop
before the F Lock key works:

You can also get into Safe Mode from Normal Mode by selecting Start,
Run, type msconfig, click on OK, check Diagnostic Start-Up on the
General tab and restart the computer.

Disable automatic restart on system failure. This should help by
allowing time to write down the STOP code properly. Right click on
the My Computer icon on the Desktop and select Properties, Advanced,
Start-Up and Recovery, System Failure and uncheck box before
Automatically Restart.

Do not re-enable automatic restart on system failure even after you have
solved the problem as it's better disabled. Check for variants of the
Stop Error message.

Post a copy of the full stop error message.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry, thank you so much for all the fix-it suggestions. I will certainly
use them to try and find my problem. I'm going to remove my hard drive and
get it backed up first. As it is, right now the longest I've been able to
stay on the system is about 10 minutes (if I'm lucky) after logging on from
the user screen. I realize I might be able to stay on longer if I can get it
to boot into safe mode. (I need to get a different keyboard and stuff like
that.)

So I'm going to end this post. If I need you when I try all you've
suggested, I will post again. I'm not sure how to let you know if I post
again, so I'll put your name in the Subject line. Is that permissible?
Cross your fingers!
 
Yes, this is what I'm going to do to save my files. I can worry about
finding the problem (if possible) or start from scratch later. Thank you for
suggesting a backup program for the whole disk.
 
Just post again to the this thread / conversation. It will be mid
September before I archive.

Good luck.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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