Disk Consistency/Corrupt File/Virus Scan problems

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

A couple of weeks ago I got a popup blurb that windows mail was corrupted. The message disappeared before I could finish reading it. On my next startup I got the black screen that said one of my disks needed to be checked for consistency problems. It then went thru some diagnostics. I didn't get the corrupted mail file message after that. The same things have now happened 3 times over the last 2 weeks. My computer is about 2 1/2 yrs old. Is it getting ready to crash?

I'm also having trouble getting McAfee to do a full scan. A quick scan works but a full scan gets hung up after about 60 or so files. What can I do about that?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

YOur hard drive might be failing, Start backing up stuff you do not want to lose.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

The DW had problems not being able to get good scans and calls me in to offer my advice (aka-Sweetie, my computer isn't working right, can you fix it?). Her drive was so full, it could not work within the file structure. It couldn't defrage, scan the disk, etc. Once I got her to put pictures onto her backup drive and clean up her computer drive, the defrag worked fine, and Norton went through reg cleanup and scan without problems. Zoom-worked much better.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

The DW had problems not being able to get good scans and calls me in to offer my advice (aka-Sweetie, my computer isn't working right, can you fix it?). Her drive was so full, it could not work within the file structure. It couldn't defrage, scan the disk, etc. Once I got her to put pictures onto her backup drive and clean up her computer drive, the defrag worked fine, and Norton went through reg cleanup and scan without problems. Zoom-worked much better.

My scan disk and defrag work fine. I have it scheduled for once a week as is virus scan. How do I get rid of all the junk?

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I can only make references to what I have seen on my or my wife's computer. Registry clean up seems to find and remove a lot of problems. I like Norton and it comes free with comcast. I don't like comcast, but that is another subject all together. Norton comes with several cleanup or computer improvement tools that I use. I know you have McAfee and don't know what they have, but if you can find a registry cleanup program, that may help your computer run better.

And then again, since I am just shooting from the hip, I don't know what may make the computer run smoothly again.

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

Start by deleting all of the largest garbage data files, and uninstall all of your unused software.

Get to most bang for your buck.

Go to Mozy.com for automated remote backup services only $4.95 per month. I get my machine backed up 2x per day automatically!

Save your most important data files. Photos, financial, music, etc.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Start by deleting all of the largest garbage data files, and uninstall all of your unused software.

Get to most bang for your buck.

Go to Mozy.com for automated remote backup services only $4.95 per month. I get my machine backed up 2x per day automatically!

Save your most important data files. Photos, financial, music, etc.

How do I know which files are garbage and which software I don't use? Where do I find those things?

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I would get "Advanced System Optimizer" from Systweak and use it to clean up your junk files and registry. I have been using it for several years getting each new upgrade. It is a very effective tool for cleaning your system and keeping it running well.

I run it once a week to keep my computers running well.

"Advanced System Optimizer" is rated number 1 by the professional reviewers.

Here is a link to it.

Advanced System Optimizer - Performance, Power and Protection for your computer

You can buy it on-line for about $25. Just do a search to get the best price.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

As someone else said, back up everything that you are very fond of!!! And I would add "back up"!!! It is the single most important thing that you can do and the thing that so many folks do not do well.
Use of registry cleaners and optimizers will help somewhat and your choice of which one to use is a bit of a crap shoot. Most of the well known ones work fairly well but also have drawbacks. Windows by nature is a corruptable OS and most systems will go south at some point in their lifetime. Windows 7 seems to be less prone to these problems as earlier versions but it is still an OS and has the inherient problems of changes. Unfgortunately the more a system is used and the harder it is pushed (ie lo9ts of different software with changes being applied and software being installed and uninstalled) the more prone it is to having errors being caused by leftover strings in the registry and memory leaks etc.
As I said, I feel backing up often and well is the single most important thing you can do and then you will be ready for recovery when and if you have additional problems.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

The DW and I each have one of the small (physical size) portable hard drives. Mine is Western Dignital 'My Passport'. I think mine cost $65 for 500 gig at BestBuy. I know Costco and Sams club has portable drives that are inexpensive too. I have my laptop and desktop backed up onto my drive. I can bring my drive to work and have my desktop files at work.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Unfortunately, I didn't move quick enough and it crashed yesterday. It boots up but then I get a black screen and windows doesn't load. Found a retired guy in Sun City who charges $75 to fix it including a new HD if that's what I need. If he can't fix it, no charge. Meanwhile, I have to use the computer club which has limited hours. Trying to easy my withdrawal and the shaking hands!