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Question

Computer Problems!!! Please Help!!!!

Feb 22, 2015 6:16AM PST

Hello everyone.
So my moms laptop is not working right all the sudden one morning it would not boot past the windows 7 starting up screen. I literally spent all day trying to fix it and i could not even get it into safe mode. I took the hard drive out and put it back in which seemed to fix that issue. However, once it booted up everything seemed to work fine, nothing was slow or anything, and then i realized that once you give it more than one task it started to jam up. I resorted towards system restore, however, the laptop will not load up system restore, or system backup, and it wont even let me uninstall anything. I tried to uninstall my antivirus (avast) but that doesn't work since it needs to create a restore point, and even when i found a way around that, it froze up on something else. I should add that the antivirus service is off and i cannot turn it back on error: 1068. I am very good with computers but i cannot figure this one out, the computer has no virus' and no settings were changed prior to the problem.Oh and i forgot to mention that when the computer freezes the hard drive makes the same noises over and over again and the hard drive light just blinks really fast at the same rate so i am thinking it is the hard drive failing ? But it does boot up and works fine minus the freezing when trying to do any kind of recovery task or uninstall. All answers are greatly appreciated!!

Laptop Specs:
Dell Latitude E6400
Windows 7 Professional
Service Pack 1
4.00GB Ram
Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo CPU P8700 @ 2.53GHz 2.54Ghz
64-Bit Operating System

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Do you have the restore media?
Feb 22, 2015 6:24AM PST

Also, does your mom have her files backed up. I'm guessing your mom doesn't know yet.
Dafydd.

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Answer
So this 2008 or so laptop.
Feb 22, 2015 6:31AM PST

It looks to be from 2009 so it may be time to replace a few parts. The HDD looks to be a clue.

Did you try a new HDD? Figure well under 100 for that and a drive case to make access to files you didn't backup.
Bob

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Answer
since your'e way past
Feb 22, 2015 6:56AM PST

the point of asking mom,
I wonder why you pulled the HDD out and what issue it fixed?
Are you sure you're not running 2 anti virus programs ?
You should look into your start up and see what's up
Digger

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re:
Feb 22, 2015 9:07AM PST

There is only one anti virus on there since I disabled windows defender and checked all start up items. I don't understand why the hard drive freezes up sometimes but it won't let me do anything to back up or even do a system restore. I could get a new hdd however, I do not have the os disk for the laptop because it came preloaded

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btw
Feb 22, 2015 9:11AM PST

Whenever I try to do a back up or system restore it just says system restore is starting and just loads for hours on end doing absolutely nothing.

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That's common. Dell has the OS on the web.
Feb 22, 2015 9:36AM PST
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So, I'm confused now
Feb 22, 2015 9:49AM PST

Should the HDD be tested to be sure it's good or just go for the OS ?
Digger

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This is as Bob suggested.....
Feb 22, 2015 10:01AM PST

looks like a reinstall, If that don't work, it's hdd.
Dafydd.

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I would STOP TESTING.
Feb 22, 2015 10:19AM PST

The HDD looks to be failing. Step 1 is to backup or clone it before we lose that chance. Continued testing is fine, AFTER BACKUP or clone.
Bob

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Quick save
Feb 22, 2015 10:39AM PST

A test and save is to use "clonezilla" with a working HD. Connect using USB case/adapter or mounted, etc., boot into clonezilla and allow HD to be cloned. This tests the HD if it can be completed and if it does complete you have a clone even with problems, the recovery partition is available too. Now, if the old HD is OK, then try fixing whatever s/w issue. If not or the HD is proven bad(it couldn't finish) then the new HD is available. Alas, often enough if a old bad HD, the new cloned HD if it did anything, it should have cloned the recovery partition. You can using whatever Dell instructions to install the new HD and install OS. You also have the old HD which can be mounted yet again and access data as it needn't be bootable just spinning. There are some ifs, ands and buts, it is however a good test. Dell offers recovery backup s/w, check for your model#, though it should cover most models even old ones. If you have to, Dell may still offer OS recovery discs/flash being Win 7. Your Dell if ordered with Win7 will have the sticker/decal for that also(unless worn away) sometimes located found at battery compartment or removable cover. of course, magic jellybean if the laptop boots will provide the key#.

All the others provide good info as well, this should cover all you need to know, good luck.

tada -----Willy Happy