Computer Out-of-Order

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2008, 06:42:54 PM

I would just format it. It takes about 45 minutes to install xp and if you have all your stuff backed up, I'm sure that would take less than 30 minutes. I have tons of stuff and programs, and I can restore a computer entirely in less than 2 hours. Formatting is not a big deal and it will probably give you less headaches than trying to restore corrupted files and reinstall damaged programs.

Formatting is a good thing to do. You'll be amazed by the performance increase. I format at least once every 6 months.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2008, 07:09:34 PM

I found out that the duplicates that EasyCleaner erased were in the Recycle Bin so all I did was restore them (as well as recreate the autoexe file) and both Photoshop and Sony Vegas work again. I can't access a few .veg files but that seems to be the only setback.

I have been thinking of a reformat, but only when/if we get an external harddrive to store files. I don't have the say on whether or not we should reformat. My dad may not agree to it. He sees reformatting as just a last ditch effort to fix the computer.

Kor · **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2008, 07:38:19 PM

Good luck . Things on your computer working better?

DarkHououmon · **Reply #23 on:** February 06, 2008, 07:57:35 PM

The only problem I'm getting is that a couple .veg files (Sony Vegas files) don't work but I have not encountered any other problems.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #24 on:** February 06, 2008, 08:26:06 PM

I as well as many other repair techs consider formatting computer not as a last resort to fixing it (although many people let it get to that point), but as part of regular maintenance. It's not good to let your computer get cluttered. Keeping it cluttered not only makes it slow, but also makes it so your hard drive works more, shortening it's lifespan. You can get a 320gb external hard drive from target or target.com for only $99 and they occasionally go on sale for $89. Having an external hard drive is essential and everyone should have at least one of them.

Petrie. · **Reply #25 on:** February 06, 2008, 09:18:33 PM

My external is almost two years old, on all the time, and ticking away just fine.

They're more good on all the time than off.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #26 on:** February 06, 2008, 09:22:47 PM

Yes, but, when your computer is cluttered, the hard drive is accessing data more often than when it's free. I'm sure your external hard drive doesn't get a lot of use compared to your internal, even if you've installed programs onto it. Most external hard drives spin down in about 3 minutes of inactivity. Also, the external hard drives are typically the same as a desktop or laptop hard drive, but they're in cases. Even firewire can't transfer data as fast to your computer as your real hard drive can, let alone USB (which is what most people have). An external hard drive works much less hard than an internal one because of these reasons, and therefore will last much longer than an internal hard drive ever would.

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and ticking away just fine.

I hope you're not serious. A ticking hard drive pronounces its imminent death.

It should make a small sound when it's been asleep and you go to access it, but even when you're transferring files to it, it should be silent.

Petrie. · **Reply #27 on:** February 06, 2008, 09:30:05 PM

Its a figure of speech, meaning there's been no trouble at all (and its silent).

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #28 on:** February 06, 2008, 09:32:40 PM

That's good. I bought an external 500gb WD hard drive once and it started ticking. I sent it back before it could fail and they mailed me a new one and a voucher for a free 250gb internal hard drive! I was so happy. :^.^:

Kor · **Reply #29 on:** February 06, 2008, 11:32:38 PM

I'm glad things seem to have worked out.