%#@$! I hate computers...need some help!

Ok...I've got yet another computer problem! I've gotten to the point that I'm ready to give them up & never bother with one again! But I'd miss you guys WAY TOO MUCH!

Yesterday, I got a weird error screen saying that my CD ROM is not found. So, I called Gateway & they told me that my CD ROM has burned up. I should be receiving the new one in the mail for me to install it (Yeah right...They must have lost their minds!). Also right after this CD ROM thing happened (and about 10 minutes AFTER my phone call with Gateway), my computer is freezing up constantly. It doesn't matter if I'm on the Net or what, it will lock up. I've looked on my Windows Help & in the manual, which in my opinion are worthless. Not a single thing about "freezing" or "locking" up.

Any ideas what would make this happen? I tried to defrag it & it locked up after 89% complete. I ran a scan disk & fixed the errors. Plus I've deleted all the old files & etc with Disk Cleanup. Right now I'm at a loss & I really hate to call Gateway. Yesterday it took over an hour & a half for them to tell me what was wrong...and honestly my patience is running thin with this hunk-o-junk! OH...btw I don't have a screen saver because it used to lock up my screen, so it can't be that. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks a million for listening to me rant about this & thanks for your help in advance.

I hate to tell you this, but it could be a million different things. My best guess, based on what you wrote, is that your computer may be trying to read the CD-Rom and since it isn't responding it's throwing your whole system into a quandry. Also, download Ad Aware at www.lavasoftusa.net and download the free version to scan your computer for spyware that may be gunking up your system.

Thanks Heidi! I figured it could be numerous things that could be causing this. I just did a Virus scan & it came up negative. But..it didn't lock up during it, so to me that was a plus.

I do have Spy Bot downloaded on my PC & I ran that too. There were a few red flags on there which I've fixed, but it's still locking up. I'm hoping that it's just the CDRom that's making it do this, but it gets so frustrating when I have to shut it down every hour...sometimes more. So far, it hasn't done it in over an hour...that's progress to me!

Thanks again Heidi! Do you think I should download the Ad ware thing you recommend even though I've got Spy Bot?

Shell it helps to know what operating system you are using in order to help solve problems. If I lived closer I would come and install that drive for you at no charge. find you a computer geek and sweet talk him into installing it.

Ridding your computer of adware and spyware is a good thing. But it sounds like you need to run a utility that will help get rid of unessacary link that can clog your computer, Norton System Works is a good one to use.

Thanks! I've got the Norton's Antivirus, but honestly I've never heard of Nortons System Works. I'll have to look into that.

That's sweet of you to say that you'd help me install that if you were closer...just might have to find me a computer geek around here!

BTW, I've got Windows ME...yeah, I know..it sucks!

Thankfully, I won't have to deal with this computer too much longer since I'll be moving & I've got my own. But, since it's my folks' PC I need to make sure it's up & running for them to use.

Thanks again Spidey!

Shell any time you need help you can PM me and I will try to help best I can. windows me is the most unstall operating system there is blondiecat had me got a chance to upgrade to windows xp pro has had little problem since

I've heard that XP is SOOOO much better, so I think I might buy my folks that upgrade. I'm computer stupid at times, but they're Computer Handicapped! LOL!

Thanks again & I'll PM you if I get into another bind!

BTW, do you think that this could be caused from my CD ROM taking a nose dive? I think it's ironic that it started happening about the same time.

Don't believe it is caused by the cdrom but anything is possible. does the computer even reconize the drive or what

Hey Shell. That really sucks. Like Valanhb said, it could be Windows trying to recognize your non-working cd-rom drive. I would just disconnect the computer and remove the drive, but it doesn't sound like you're comfortable with that. I have Win 98, (Win ME is similar)so if my cd drive wasn't working and I had to leave it on the computer I would:

1. Right-click on the "my computer" icon
2. Select "properties" in the drop down list
3. Click on the "Device Manager" tab in the window that opens up
4. Click the "CDROM" to highlight it
5. Click on "remove"
6. Select yes

Maybe they already got you to do this and it didn't help. I can certainly recommend Ad-aware though: www.lavasoftusa.com Spybot doesn't get everything and neither does Ad-aware. I also recommend Hijack This, which also gets rid of spy junk. www.spywareinfo.com (in downloads section) It's free and extra small, but you have to know what to delete once it scans. You can save a text log, copy it and post it in their forums, or you could even just send it to me. Once you know which things need removing you just check the corresponding boxes.

I hope it's just your cd-rom because really, it sounds like you have a trojan or wormvirus at the worst. To bad so many of us are so far apart. I'd be a good geek friend. (why does that smiley look like a vampire???)

Spidey, I really don't know. These crap is all greek to me, so I don't know if it recognizes it or not.

Ryan, I tried to follow your directions (which were something that Gateway didn't have me do) & I don't see CD ROM on that list. I've attached what the screen looks like. Also, the Tech had me go into the Bios Setup & after that panned out good, he had me open my tower. Then had me unplug the CDROM from the Motherboard, but nothing worked. So, that's why he thought it had crapped out.

What do I need to do if I've got a Trojanhorse or a wormvirus?

Thanks Guys for all your help! I really appreciate it!

After rereading your original post it is possible that you may have a hard drive that's got some damaged sectors run a surface scan on it if you haven't already it will let you know if there are any.

Originally posted by spideycat
After rereading your original post it is possible that you may have a hard drive that's got some damaged sectors run a surface scan on it if you haven't already it will let you know if there are any.

Click to expand...

Done that...at first it found several errors & had fixed them. Now that it's locking up constantly, I can't shut it down the proper way. It's locked up tighter than bark on a tree! So, I have to shut the power off of it...and then it automatically performs Scan Disk.

Look like the drive is not reconized but it does look like you have a problem with the pci card and pci ethernet controller listed under other devices need to know what there problem is.

So what do I need to do about that? Man...this crap is confusing me royally!

Ok...I checked out the PCI card & the ethernet thingie...
It said that they were uninstalled...is that a bad thing?

Damn...I'm so dumb about all this!

If you have a trogan(sp) or a virus the only thing you can do is wipe the hard drive and reinstalle the operating system.

And I can't do that until I get my new CDROM since they're on Disks.
That figures!

Whatever they asked you to do was successful in removing the cd-rom from your hardware profiles. That's evidence that Windows isn't trying to recognize it. I've tried some anti-trojan software before. They never found anything, but they were able to run on my computer. Goto http://download.com.com/3120-20-0.ht...jan&tg=dl-2001 and try downloading Anti-trojan 5.5.407. As for a worm-virus, Norton should take care of that. I have to ask you a dumb question. Have you downloaded a Norton update lately?

you can go to settings then control panel and find add new hardware and run that it should reinstall those items it will require a reboot to work right. try doing it just before you log off for the night.