Extremely Agitated

[zaireeka]

Someone please help me I have exhausted all of the resources I know, and my only option is to say ****it I am getting a new computer or have some guy fix it for 100/hr.

My OS is XP Pro

Out of no where my computer stoped working on me here is what it is doing:

When it boots into Windows I get the "blue screen of death", anyone actually tell me what this screens says it moves way to fast for me to pause it, and it resets.

I can't boot into any safe mode or get into a command prompt.

My Hard Drive makes clicking sounds that sound like my computer is going to shut off which it eventually does but clucks for a few times before it totally quits.

Is this a hardware problem or do I have a virus?

I just bought an external drive to back everything up and this happens

If there was some way I could get in long enough so I can transfer my files over to my external I would be happy with that. I don't want to lose the data, but I don't mind replacing the OS if I had to

Somebody help me

Gracias

[The Real Bingo]

Sounds like a dying hard drive.

Have you backed everything up?

[zaireeka]

no that was the whole point of me buying the external

do you know what is wrong

[The Real Bingo]

How old is the hard drive; size; make?

[zaireeka]

I believe it is a Western Digital
It is 60 gigs
And I have had the computer for almost two years

[Tekk]

Any clicking noise as you described it coming from the harddrive is a horrible horrible sign. What you "might" be able to do is take out the afflicted HDD and connect it to another computer in your house (or at work or a friends comp) as a slave drive. Then boot up into windows and try to backup as much data as possible. I've managed to backup some data this way but depending upon the severity of the problem your mileage will vary.

Going out after 2 years is a downer but it happens. Dont know the warranty rules for WD but maybe you can RMA it.

[zaireeka]

Tekk
is this my only option?
what is RMA?

[Tekk]

RMA = return it. I honestly have never really thought about what it stands for but its just a term used when returning something. From my experience, its like an ID number given to you so when you send it to the manufacturer they know which customer this returned unit belongs to.

I suppose there are other options but as you said there is a loud clicking noise on the HDD and I've never had an experience where HDD was noticeably clicking/ticking (outside its normal noises of course) and I didn't have to replace it.

As far as backing up data...well there is a trick where you can leave it in the fridge overnight and then try to access it quickly. Something about the cold but I cant remember the specifics. Someone else would know what Im talkin about. You can also take it to data recovery centers but unless you are willing to give an arm and a leg then its not worth it. Otherwise I'd say try to slave it on another computer and see what you can extract. No harm in trying

[jp22382]

RMA is return to manufacturer authorization i do believe.... but dont hold me to that