Right now i'm ready just to get my computer back up and running. I use this computer for everything and use my laptop when i'm on the go. So i really need this one up. I have school projects on it and everything that i need. So let me know what do to so i can go though and get this thing working.

Prepare to Re-install Windows

Well, if you need it up and running guaranteed, then a Windows "in-place" re-installation is the best route to go.

A quick note before we get started. You mentioned you depend on your computer for school. I push my customers who depend on their computers for school or work, to get an image backup utility. These utilities take what are called "disk images" which basically means you take a "snapshot" of the entire hard drive. The snapshot is everything (Windows, programs, personal files, the file system, ... EVERYTHING!) I call it "disk cloning". You then save the image somewhere. In the event something like this happens, you restore a previous disk image when everything worked and PRESTO you're back in action like nothing ever happened! And it's fast, takes less than an hour. The one I recommend is Acronis True Image. In fact, we should "image" your hard drive before we do anyting to ensure you don't lose any information.

Before we get started, here's everything you need:

• Windows Vista Home Premium (or Basic) Installation DVD
• CDs/DVDs for all Important Programs You Use
• Acronis True Image 2009 (or 2010 if the store has it now)
• Blank DVDs or an External Hard Drive

Acronis True Image can be bought at any computer franchise store (Staples, BestBuy, ... ) It's $60. We will first image your hard drive. Then we will re-install Windows "in-place". Then re-install all your programs. Then we will complete settings. Then we will setup Acronis so you can take weekly images.

Get back when you have everything.

-- Andy

I was going to go out this weekend and get the external hard drive. Do you think we can just re-install windows first and then set up that up when i get everything. I put the disk in and told my computer to boot from disk and it just shows a black screen with the loading bar at the bottom. It just says there.

I was hoping to image you hard drive first so that if you *uck up on the Windows re-install and erase all your files, there's a backup.

This computer is for school and you have valuable files on it. They need to be backed up first.

-- Andy

Is there a way to back up my computer onto my laptop? That way i can just put the info on here until i get a back up of it.

To backup your compuer to your laptop you will need to remove the internal drive and use a USB to PCI connector to mount it on your laptop. This means you need to buy another piece of equipment.

It's best you buy the Acronis True Image and the external backup now and do a proper image backup now. Plus, you need to do this on a regular basis to avoid this catastrophy in the future.

You're backed into a corner now. You can't afford to lose your files. I service computers for a living and I've seen many horror stories. You're one chapter away from that. Let's play it safe and image your hard drive before trying a Windows -reinstall so you don't lose all your school work.

Buy Acronis True IMage and a 250 GB external HDD now. Borrow the money if you need to.

-- Andy

P.S. What am I saying! As I wrote that last post, I'm imaging a customer's computer. They got swamped with spyware to the point they can't boot. I can't save their installation now. So I'm imaging their hard drive so they don't lose personal files.

I do this all the time! You will just have to trust me fshogan07.

-- Andy

I trust you. I am going to go out and get a hard drive. I'm already looking online to download it from the website so i can use it and get it faster. Now i'm wondering if i can use this program in safe mode because i'm having trouble again with normal mode. I tried to load it up and just see what kind of dent i made in trying to do anything and it's back to square one. I started my computer the last time i posted and just checked it and it's still thinking. So I cut it off and im going to go out and get the stuff that i need.

Actaully, buy it from the store. It has a CD you can boot from and run Acronis alone (outside Windows) This gets around your Windows stability issue.

Just buy Acronis and an external ahrd drive and post back.

-- Andy