Several problems..

I guess Ill describe how they all started first..

I have a 5 year old Gateway running Windows98 and things were basically going fine with it until about 2 weeks ago. Granted, I didnt really do the normal matienence your supposed to run on PCs every so often, but it was working fine for almost 5 years.

Anyway, about 3 weeks ago, I started getting more and more occasions where explorer would crash and i'd get the error about kernel32.dll causing errors or whatever, but it didnt happen very often until about 3 weeks ago and then it just started happening repeatedly, but I dealt with it and IE would eventaully work without explorer crashing. By a week later, everytime I tried to run IE, explorer would crash and I just left the PC alone for a week since I didnt really need to get on it anyway.

Earlier tonight, I tried to start it up to see if I could attempt to fix it by going on Netscape(which was still working fine) and try to find a fix to the explorer problem, but when it started up, it took extra long to get into Windows and I started hearing a clicking noise, almost as if there was a broken fan maybe? The noise was on and off. Then, before I could even attempt to open up IE to see if the problem was still happening, I got an error that said AIM had caused a fault in kernel32.dll and after I said ok to that, I got an error message saying that it couldnt find the C: drive anymore. Only way I could get out of it was to restart. When I restarted, it took extra long for anything to happen and then it asked me to insert a boot disk in the a: drive. Restarted a few more times and got the same thing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Even if all you can tell me is my computer is shot, thatd be better than nothing. If thats the case, I just would want to know if I can take the hard drive out of here and put it in my new computer so I dont lose all that stuff on it. Thanks in advance.

 

Hi Alex, It seems you have a failing hard disk. 5 years is time enough to
replace them.
regards

 

I agree with Merlin. A clicking sound is the classic sign of a failing harddrive.

Sometimes it will work again long enough to retrieve data, sometimes it won't. The only thing you can do is try putting the harddrive into another computer as a slave drive and see.

 

Ok, that would make sense, so basically youre saying that theres nothing wrong with the rest of it probably and its the hard drive thats causing all the problems?

Heh, figures, thats probably the worst case scenario, because not only is it not worth buying a new hard drive for such an old machine, but all I really wanted was the stuff on it, so Im probably doubly ******* now. :-/

Well, thanks for the input anyway, if anyone else wants to chime in, Id appreicate that too.

 

Theres a "good" chance that the drive has failed enought ***** up Windows but not so much that its totally un-readable

Find a friend (or even an enemy to make peace with if the data is important enough ) who will put your drive in their machine as a slave and see if you can get to your data.

You may be pleasantly surprised !

PS Be extra careful with your drive - if its failing already then any bangs on the case etc whilst removing it will NOT be a good thing.

 

Well, thats not a problem as I have another computer myself, but I just wouldnt know how to physically take it out and put it in the other and then make it a slave drive, so I guess Im stuck

 

There's a good tutorial on installing a slave drive on this site.

A Google search for "install slave drive" will give you lots of links if the one I posted doesn't do it for you.

It's not difficult. If you can use a screwdriver and don't get in a hurry, you'll be amazed at how easy it actually is.

 

Cool, Ill look into it.

 

Glad I found this thread, I may have a similar problem..................

My kids' computer has begun to act up and I wonder if the HD could be going bad, as well. It is a PowerSpec (MicroCenter's house brand), Pentium 3, Win 98SE, 7.85 GB capacity with 2.16 GB used and 191 MB of RAM with 86% free.

First off, it takes an very long time to boot up...3-4 minutes even though I have disabled a lot of the start-up items that are unnecessary thru msconfig. It has begun to lock up whenever a program is launched. I can't even run a Scan Disk (prompts user for a thorough, rather than standard scan.....locks up about ½ way thru the surface scan each time I try), Defrag, Virus Scan, etc. Cookies and temp internet files and recycle bin are empty. When it locks up, I cannot restart either from Start Menus or C+A+D. I must turn off, then back on computer by using the button on the box. Naturally, this prompts a Scan Disk which if allowed to run thru the thorough test, locks it up again. I can bail out of this scan during the standard portion of the scan and can get the Win 98 to load eventually. Sometimes, during the booting, there is a clicking noise coming from the box, although it is intermittant for now.

As a side note, this computer has a cable connection (wireless) networked with my computer, which is hard wired to the cable. The 'puters are not networked, just the cable internet connection. They have AOL (I know, I know) which they use for email, music, etc. that will not load past the sign in screen before the computer locks up.

I have not added or installed any software, except for some Win98 updates, which we were behind in installing. Not sure if this has anything to do with the problems, but they started occuring about the same time I installed those updates.

I would be very grateful for any ideas that y'all could offer before I schlep it into the shop. I have about a medium level of literacy with computers, so be gentle, please : )

One other quick thing, please. If the HD is going bad, would a new one be the way to go, or does it make more sense (practically and economically) to get a new system? This one is about 3-4 years old and was a budget model when we bought it. If a new hard drive is the way to go, what should I look for? I have had a computer apart before, to upgrade memory and to remove a disk drive to repair........is replacing the HD a do-it-yourself project, or better left to the pros?

Sorry for the long winded post and thanks in advance for all the help I can get!

 

Hi Martino,
Your kid seems to have a good PC basis - except for the HDD.
The HDD symptoms you describe say "I am old, weary and defective "
I would think about how to replace it.
regards
PS It is unlikely you will find anything less tha 40 gigs nowadays.
choose a min 7200 transfer rate, I have been happy with Segate.

 

Its easy to replace a drive.I would just like to add that before you attempt to replace your HDD make sure you discharge yourself on a ground. To prevent any static jumps.

You can get some 30 gigs at some comp stores like compusa. Maxtor is also a make to look into. Search on the web too there are loads of direct warehouse sites that sell cheap to the public One I can think of is newegg.com

Also the first problem could also be a bad IDE cable between the MB and HDD. I had the same sort of problem with my old system and I replaced the IDE and it worked fine.

Get into BIOS and see if the HDD is being read properly. You can get in there pressing DEL as your comp starts up.

 

Hello!

Sorry to step on Alexei79nyi's thread, but I just wanted to mention that it is the hard drive in the midst of failure and the shop is putting in a new one. My DIY comfort level is a bit lacking.

They said that due to limitations of the motherboard, a 30 gig HDD was maximum size for this 'puter, which will be an improvement over the 8 gig that puked.

Thanks for your help!