computer problems
 

My laptop won't boot up. Starts to open Windows and then stops and gives a pop up message saying windows explorer has a problem.
I tried rebooting in safe mode. when I've rebooted in safe mode in the past, I've been able to choose a date and reboot in that configuration but I'm getting a choice to reboot in the last known good configuration. When I do that, the same message comes up. Anyone out there have any ideas on what I might try. I'm pretty computer ignorant.

I'm not a windows guy, but do you have a way to boot it from the operating system CD/DVD and accessing some diagnostic tools? It will be tough to do anything if you can't even get it running.

I don't have the operating discs, I bought it used. Message says, "WIndows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." Then all I get is my wallpaper on the screen with no taskbar or icons.

I'll assume this is windows XP?

If it will not boot safe mode your best bet is an environment boot-disc like hiron....it is likely that it needs to be reloaded or the hard drive has failed/is failing. How old is the thing? Any clicking/bad sounds?

Bought it used so I'm not sure how old. No odd sounds. I get the same message in safe mode.

You can try a system disc based restore if you have the original disc. Otherwise you might be out of luck....

No disc.

Again, I'm not a windows guy, but you can probably buy a utility disk that you can boot from and run some diagnostics. Of course, if you don't have a clean backup or a system disc you may not be able to fix the problem yourself. The other option is to bring it to someone who has the tools to diagnose and repair the disk (assuming it's not a hardware problem). I'm assuming you have data you don't want to lose on this disc?

Hopefully you have any critical data backed up on some media other than that PC. I'm typing this from a laptop that had XP and eventually after much deterioration gave up the ghost. I downloaded a flavor of Ubuntu Linux called GOS and loaded that on it. It's was resurrected and has been fantastic ever since. That would be my suggestion in your case. Of course your hard drive might be on the way out, if so a replacement would be in order but frankly I'd still go the Linux route if it is.

- Peter.

That's over my head.
Using the task manager, I've been able to open some documents in Microsoft Word and get into my Malwarbytes and am running a scan right now. I don't know why those features work while I still have no icons or taskbar.

If the software is able to access the hard-drive, hopefully you don't have a hardware issue with the drive. If it's just a software problem, it's fixable. Once you get this sorted out... back up your data.

I did a backup sometime this past year so if I can't get it to work, I won't have lost everything. I've got that backup on a zipdrive somewhere. It must be at work because I don't see it around the house. Will the laptop boot up from a zipdrive backup?

I honestly don't know for a windows machine, it probably depends how the drive is configured. Do you have a complete backup, including the operating system?

It's been so long since I backed up that I don't know for sure but I thought I was backing up everything including the operating system.

At least you should have a way to reinstall everything if necessary. You can try booting from the other drive, it can't hurt to try. If nothing else works, do you have a computer "shop" that you trust? All my stuff goes to the apple store if it breaks, so I'm not going to be much help.