When Your Desktop Computer Crashes
How To Recover Your Computer Files Quickly and Cheaply
Computers are supposed to make life easier, or so it is said. No one really expects their computer will crash. They don't see a need to back up their information because they feel a computer crash is not imminent.
But like any piece of technological equipment, a computer is unpredictable and it is highly important to back up important files. It will help reduce those stress levels when the crash occurs.
There are many different problems that can cause a computer to crash, re-start continually or simply fail to turn back on. Issues such as power surges, hard drive failure, faulty motherboards, bad RAM, defective registry and viruses can easily render a computer useless and induce panic for the user.
Now, before paying cash to have the computer looked at by a technical repair shop, there are a few simple things you can do to find and potentially fix the problem if you are patient enough.
How To Recover Files From The Hard Drive
- First, turn off the computer.
- If the computer continues to restart after the Windows logo appears without giving a chance to access the desktop and a blue screen flashes for a split second, it is most likely a registry problem, virus or hard drive fail. The impending loss of important documents and files is a sickening feeling, but there is a way to recover them before reformatting the computer.
- For an affordable price, external hard drive cases can be bought at any retail outlet specializing in computers. After the case is purchased, carefully remove the hard drive from the computer by detaching the connected wires, plug the hard drive into the case and it will act as an external USB drive.
- Once this is completed, attach it to another computer and hopefully it will show up as another drive. If this works, simply drag and drop the important files onto the computer and back them up onto a USB stick or DVD disc. If this doesn't work, the hard drive has either failed or it's not connected properly.
- Now that the files are safe, it is time to reboot the computer. Ideally, when a computer is purchased, the user will make a back up disc of the operating system in case of a meltdown. If you don’t have the disc, contact the company that makes the computer and perhaps they will supply one.
Simple Tips For The Computer Owner
If the problem is a case of overheating and dust buildup inside the computer, carefully remove the side or front panel and cautiously vacuum out any dust. Make sure the cooling fan is can still spin and avoid using water or any type of spray to wipe out the dust to avoid shortages.
Sometimes, changing the power outlet can solve the problem. If there are too many cords plugged in the same socket, the computer may not be getting the power it needs to operate. It sounds too good to be true, but it may do the trick.
If the problem is a bad RAM stick, it is possible to test it by using free downloadable software easily found from a quick Google search. However, the software might need to be burned to a disc, and then used to test the RAM from start up. Any good program will tell if the stick is bad or not. RAM sticks are not expensive to replace and are straightforward to install.
When To Buy A New Computer
If the hard drive has failed or a malicious virus has taken over the computer, it is probably time to buy a new computer. However, before rushing out and buying a new unit, take it into a tech repair shop and have the professionals diagnose the machine. They may be able to salvage it.
In the end, do what you think is best. If you want to try fixing it yourself, hopefully these basic tips will help you understand your machine a little bit better.
Blue Screen of Death
|
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Technology
Latest Articles