[intmarkworkk]

My sister has a 2002 Compaq Presario 6000 Series. Yesterday afternoon, it started displaying all of these weird codes on the startup screen (think The Matrix) and took a very long time to process information. I thought maybe it was because she was using it a lot that day and that it needed a "break," so I told her to turn it off for a little while. However, later that afternoon, I would turn it on and while it was starting up, it started making a "ticking" noise. I just shut it off and decided that I would figure out what's wrong the next day.
Well, my mom and sister wake me up this morning and tells me that her computer is still acting weird. This time, it starts up and loads normally and then restarts again. This process continues, so the computer cannot be used. I asked my mom and sister if they did anything recently that would have triggered these problems. My mom said she opened an e-mail last week with a BS name, so I immediately linked it to that because there are a lot of e-mail viruses going around that contain attachments that destroy your computer. I went online and did some research and diagnosed the problem. I followed the instructions given, but it wouldn't work.
So my question is, does anyone know of these e-mail computer viruses, what they do, where I can receive more information about them, and how to fix them? Any help would be much appreciated. However, if no one has an idea, that means we're one step closer to replacing this XP-running-POS to a much more functional Mac

[IdomeoreTew]

A virus wouldn't cause a ticking noise. It sounds almost like a heat problem actually. I wish you had some of the "weird codes" since those can be very helpful sometimes. But I'm not 100% sure it's heat so I wouldn't mess with something like a new heatsink yet. Maybe someone else has an idea. Plus I wouldn't call a Mac more functional by any strech of the imagination, but that's not what this thread is for.

[AngelBee]

I think i had the same problem a few days ago, my computer when turned on would make beeping sounds and wouldnt connect to the moniter than when i finally got that to turn on i got the code thing. For me it was overheating due to me forgetting to clean out the fan
It sounds like a heat issue.

[RerRibreLok]

If it is overheating problems, a "more functional mac" don't help. My iBook is burining my palms as we speak. ;D

[intmarkworkk]

Quote, originally posted by anonms »If it is overheating problems, a "more functional mac" don't help. My iBook is burining my palms as we speak. ;D
I'm almost positive it's a virus, not a heating problem, because a few days ago it was displaying weird codes all over the monitor. Now all it does is restart itself before it loads completely, and there are a lot of viruses known to do that. Thanks for helping though
And IMO, Macs are MUCH more functional...I'll leave it at that

[Smeaphvalialm]

Try restarting the computer in safe mode. then run virus and spamware checks and try to remove all offending material. Then recover the computer to at least 2 weeks ago. Restart the PC normally. then run a full battery of anti virus and anti-spyware check and software.
If you're still having problems post back here after you've tried all of that.

[intmarkworkk]

Tried that - it won't boot on the restoring software

[Smeaphvalialm]

Not the restoring software. I said, safe mode.

[intmarkworkk]

Quote, originally posted by Santeno »Not the restoring software. I said, safe mode.
I know, but I can't do safe mode because the damn machine won't load!!! The only thing I could have done was to load the computer on the restoring software and even that doesn't work. I hate Windows XP!!!

[RerRibreLok]

Then buy a new Mac. If you qualify for a student discount, you can get a free 2GB nano or a $180 off any other iPod.

[auctionlover]

Quote, originally posted by SHEPO »I know, but I can't do safe mode because the damn machine won't load!!! The only thing I could have done was to load the computer on the restoring software and even that doesn't work. I hate Windows XP!!!
Don't hate the player, hate the game.
You got a virus my freind. A virus that configures it self at boot up. That ticking noise could be from your hard drive being reconfigured. Nothing new, seen it before.
Do XP over if you don't care for the info you have. ( I run external HD hint-hint ) Download Firefox and stop downloading porn. That's what boot leg DVD's are for.

[LSDDSL]

Quote, originally posted by Cozz »
Do XP over if you don't care for the info you have. ( I run external HD hint-hint ) Download Firefox and stop downloading porn. That's what boot leg DVD's are for.
this guy knows whats up

[intmarkworkk]

Quote, originally posted by Cozz »
Don't hate the player, hate the game.
You got a virus my freind. A virus that configures it self at boot up. That ticking noise could be from your hard drive being reconfigured. Nothing new, seen it before.
Do XP over if you don't care for the info you have. ( I run external HD hint-hint ) Download Firefox and stop downloading porn. That's what boot leg DVD's are for.
Excuse me? I'm very offended by your post. First of all, I'm no idiot and understand how both Windows and Apple computers work very well, so don't jump the gun and made me sound like a complete idiot. Therefore, I know the importance of having FireFox (Window's Explorer sucks!!!) Second of all, it's not my computer, it's my SISTER'S and she's 11 so why would she be downloading porn? Also, we just got it analyzed by a professional today, and he said the hard-drive blew. Shows how much you know about computers.

[Smeaphvalialm]

Chill Shepo, Cozz was only kidding with you. He did offer sound advise though. As for his computer knowledge, I have personal first hand knowledge that Cozz is one of the single most computer literate people you are bound to come across. Trust me when I tell you that he quite possibly knows systems better than most proffesional repairers.
BTW, if you had anything of value on that HD. the data is not lost. For a price (often a steep one) it can be retreived. If what is wrong with your HD is the motor that spins it or the reading arm, provided the head hasn't scored the disk, I have seen hard drives recover enough after being nudged directly by a finger to allow someone to ghost the data into another HD. Your proffesional should be able to do that.
Cozz is right about one thing though, a secondary hard drive (a slave or an external drive) is a must if you have large amounts of data you want to keep intact.

[auctionlover]

Quote, originally posted by SHEPO »Excuse me? I'm very offended by your post. First of all, I'm no idiot and understand how both Windows and Apple computers work very well, so don't jump the gun and made me sound like a complete idiot. Therefore, I know the importance of having FireFox (Window's Explorer sucks!!!) Second of all, it's not my computer, it's my SISTER'S and she's 11 so why would she be downloading porn? Also, we just got it analyzed by a professional today, and he said the hard-drive blew. Shows how much you know about computers.
Dude, it's a joke. Relax. So the guy said your HD went south? Very hard to do that on a tower. Laptops do go because of all the moving around but towers are a bit different. Did he check the voltage input to the HD? Those Compaqs have a multi output voltage converter box. Basicly sends different voltages to different parts of the tower such as 5 volts, 12 volts all from a single unit. I've seen a lot of those boxes going bad.
Again, just a joke. You wouldn't believe how many bad PC's I see all because of careless downloading but decide to blame "HP" ot "Dell" or "Microsoft" first.
PS. You can run a dianostics check on your PC. Why haven't you done this in the beginning before calling anyone? Very simple to do.

[auctionlover]

Quote, originally posted by Santeno » Cozz is right about one thing though, a secondary hard drive (a slave or an external drive) is a must if you have large amounts of data you want to keep intact.
Another thing is that 99.99% of hacking software and viruses can't read external memory as long as it's not on a LAN network. A USB 2.0 HD is the bext way to go. I recommend the Western Digital 100G to all of my freinds. It has an off/on button right in front of it. Shut it off when you don't use it. Makes it 100% impossible for any hacker to touch when it's off.

[intmarkworkk]

Cozz, sorry I flipped at ya; I'm really stressed because of finals.
Anyway, we pretty much decided that we're gonna buy a new hard drive for the computer at a cost of around $200. The only files that we (might) ask the technician to receive are my sister's music files from iTunes. Thanks for all your help

[AngelBee]

What kind of harddrive, 200 seems a bit much. Did you check newegg yet

[intmarkworkk]

Quote, originally posted by Krypton »What kind of harddrive, 200 seems a bit much. Did you check newegg yet
I don't know. I'm leaving this up to my parents; I'm drowing in too much work right now to even care

[auctionlover]

Quote, originally posted by SHEPO »Cozz, sorry I flipped at ya; I'm really stressed because of finals.

No problem. I'm sometimes like that too. In the morning before coffee, sometimes at lunch time and mostly every night too.