Need some computer help please.

phorsenuf

Not so New Rule author
Joined
Feb 21, 2003
Messages
19,619
I have a laptop that is a couple years old and it's been a dog lately. I want to just reform the things and start fresh.
I put all the stuff I want to back up into my documents so I can run the background program before reformatting.

I have a lot of pictures stored on the computer but I want to burn them to DVD just in case. I don't want to lose them.
Problem is my dvd drive is acting all wonky. It started at one point to copy them and about halfway through it gave me a fail message and said to restart the computer so the drive will work again (something like that).
Even after I restarted it still won't work. Keeps giving me a fail message. Any thoughts why it would keep doing this? It's very frustrating and I really want to get my pictures off of here before I reformat.
 
This won't fix your drive but how about using a flash drive? They're cheap and fit in your USB port.

Before you format, make sure you have all your drivers, especially the network card driver (NIC) or modem driver. Without that you won't be able to connect to the Internet!

Good luck! You should see a noticable difference when it's over.
 
Just reread your post - put everything you want to save on a flash drive, external harddrive, or (if you can get it working) DVD. Putting things into My Documents will not save them if you format the harddrive. Formatting your computer will ERASE all data PERMANENTLY.

You probably knew this but I wanted to be sure.
 
Just reread your post - put everything you want to save on a flash drive, external harddrive, or (if you can get it working) DVD. Putting things into My Documents will not save them if you format the harddrive. Formatting your computer will ERASE all data PERMANENTLY.

You probably knew this but I wanted to be sure.

I just tried saving my pictures to an 8 gig flash and I ran out of room. LOL
I mistyped I think in my original post. I was going to run the windows backup prior to reformatting. I moved what I wanted to save into my documents so everything would be in one place when I used the backup program. I just need to figure out what to save it on.

For right now though I'm most concerned about my pictures and why I can't utilize my dvd burner. Ugh
 

So I just checked and if I pick up another 8 gig flash than I'll be able to back up everything onto that, including my pictures.

I have the recovery and applications/drivers CD that came with the computer. I should be all set with just that, right. I can't think of any other settings/drivers I would need to save. I have wireless but it should work automatically, right?

Maybe after I do the restore my dvd burner will work properly and I can resave my pictures to the DVDs.
 
I have the recovery and applications/drivers CD that came with the computer. I should be all set with just that, right. I can't think of any other settings/drivers I would need to save. I have wireless but it should work automatically, right?

As long as you have the recovery CD that came with your computer you should be set for drivers of original equipment. The wireless NIC will need to be installed. What brand of computer are you using?
 
a lot computers do not come with a recovery cd anymore everything is on a D drive on the computer and you reformatt from there.

Have you run a virus scan? I would do that first before you reformatt just to be sure.
 
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As long as you have the recovery CD that came with your computer you should be set for drivers of original equipment. The wireless NIC will need to be installed. What brand of computer are you using?

I have a Toshiba Satellite. I don't recall having to install anything before for the wireless though.


a lot computers do not come with a recovery cd anymore everything is on a D drive on the computer and you reformatt from there.

Have you run a virus scan? I would do that first before you reformatt just to be sure.

Mine did come with a recovery cd. I have it sitting unopened next to me. Ive done virus scans, defrag, cleanups, you name it. There is just so much crap on it that its a dog lately. I want to see if this will help before deciding if I'm going to plunk down for a new one or not.
 














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