Any Computer Geniuses on here?

[chooksandeggs-Aus]

Your problem sounds more like a simple software failure.
Your operating system is the most likely problem.
If you are running Windows XP then it should be a simple fix that will take about an hour.
You need to use your System disk, the one that came with the computer if you have it, a borrowed one if you don't, to run a "System Repair". If you have to borrow a disk ask for the key for that disk.
If you can't get the original key use this one FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8 it usually works.
You can always change the key back to yours using "Jellybean" a simple key changing program you'll find with a Google search.
Your computer will have a sticker on the bottom with the 20(?) digit Windows "key" on it. You'll need that.
Turn your computer on and put the disk in the drive, restart the computer.
If it is happy to boot from the cd it will give you a black screen with "Boot from cd? at the top.
Hit enter if it does.
If it doesn't you'll need to change the boot priority in bios setup.
I don't know the key combination to press on a Gateway to enter bios bot your post screen should tell you.
When you get into setup change the boot priority from hdd1 to cd rom.
Restart.
Hopefully you now have the black "boot from cd?" screen happening.
Hit enter.
The screen will go blue and do it's Windows is now checking your setup thing then ask you if you want to install windows....you want to do.
About this time it will ask you to accept terms and conditions by hitting f8...do it.
The next screen should check for existing copies of windows and find your damaged one.
It will ask if you want to repair it using the repair console or install a new copy... you want to install a new copy.
The next screen should ask if you want to overwrite the existing copy or do an automatic repair....you want to do the repair.
If it won't do the repair let it install a new copy in a new folder.
Do Not under any circumstances allow windows to format the partition or drive. You Will lose your stuff if you do.
.
From here on it's pretty much the same as installing a new OS...you'll be asked for the "key"...type that in and away you go.
The rest is pretty much common sense when it comes to asking you to make choices.
This repair process will leave all your files intact and you'll lose nothing.

If Windows says it can't repair the OS you'll need to do a clean install into a different folder to the one your existing OS is in.
DO NOT allow the process to format your drive or the partition your OS is in!

If all of the above works when your computer reboots for the first time you will have 2 operating systems to choose from at startup, the new one will be the bottom one.

Assuming you get your pc running again, turn it off and go to your nearest electronics/pc store and buy some usb drives to backup your photo's etc to.
If you're not running an antivirus get one and do it. AVG free is the best of the free ones. Norton is right up there with the bought ones.

If the Windows key doesn't work email me at [email protected] and I will give you one that will.
I hope it all goes well.
Rob.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and input. I do have Malware installed and I just put in a new Norton Anti-Virus not too long ago (couple months). The computer has been acting up a lot within this past year, maybe it's just time to replace it. Hoping I can get my photos and documents.

No, it will not start in Safe Mode either...

Do you think it could still be a virus with the Malware and Norton?

Rob--thanks for the info, I will try that (if I'm brave enough!)

Thanks again all!!

 

[fuzziebutt]

You can use a Ubuntu program to get your pictures and documents. I don't remember exactly what program it is, but I have a bootleg CD that says Ununtu on it, and I have used it for a friend's computer, and I got all her stuff with it. Maybe turn the laptop off for a few hours or overnight. It may have just gotten hot and shut off. They do that as they get older.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
if it Ubuntu it isn't bootleg at all. Ubuntu is Open Source, free for all. You are thinking of a LIVE cd.

 

[Chinchilla2]

Cycling like it is could be either hardware or software. How far does it get into the start-up when you crank it over? If it makes it past the system check and does the Window's splash, it is probably software. Any cycling before this screen appears is probably hardware.

Disconnect any devices attached such as a portable mouse, printer, etc. Disconnect the power cord. Turn the computer off and close lid (even when a laptop is off, an open lid has the monitor in "on" status due to the way the switch works). Wait 10 minutes to 1 hour. Turn the computer back on. If it still cycles BEFORE the Windows splash, the HD has a boot sector malfunction, the BIOS has a software update malfunction, the memory chip or memory "card" may have jostled loose or is going out, etc. Any of a number of things here.

If it is and continues to cycle at or AFTER the Windows splash, if you have an install disc try what Chooksandeggs suggested as the ini file may be corrupted in some way (and the reasons are countless). Reinstalling the OS could repair the problem. However, please note that there is a slight possibility that SOME of your files will go POOF and a good portion of any added on programs may need to be reinstalled. If you get the option to FORMAT the hard drive, DO NOT DO IT. This WILL make everything go poof.

Now, that is XP with an actual install disc. If you have XP, Vista, or 7 and they have it stuck on a partition of the hard drive, you'll have to go dig up your paperwork on the puter and go from there. If it was a Vista machine... either upgrade the thing to 7 or get with Best Buy. They usually have some good deals and a "We'll move yer data" service.

 

[call ducks]

Quote:
Try to remove bolded program, and contuine to use free melware