Black Screen of Death?

[KA5LQJ]

Well,

I'm just utterly flaberghasted and the quality of MICRO$HAFT's software. #I'm sitting at the computer desk Sunday afternoon, not even typing on the keyboard. #I've just gotten through running AVG's AV and Spyware, Spybot, and #all of a sudden, the computer goes click!, the screen goes to black and the machine reboots. #Only THIS time, it comes up and says to insert the boot disk. #I'm like 'cuse me?.

When I ran AVG, it's current with the updates, so is Spybot. #no viri, worms, ad-ware, mal-ware were ever detected. #They showed "clean". #Hmmmmmm.

Now, I have a LEGAL backup of M$ WIN 2000 Pro. #I don't go to websites I don't belong looking at. #I don't visit WAREZ sites. #I have heard that M$ does go into anyone's computer and without the customer's knowledge, put software on their computers. #I've also heard that M$ is going in and essentially freezing old copies of WIN '98 and WIN 2K PRO, to force the customer to buy VISTA. #Is there any TRUTH to this?

To say the least, I'm really [censored]. #I can not lay my hands right now on the WIN 2K Pro back-up, but I will. #I just hope what ever happened didn't "toast" my 78 gig Maxtor drive. #Luckily, I have a copy of Fedora Core 6 on a 15 gig HD that I've been playing with, when I had time.

It's too close to the Holidays to be worrying about this now, so I'm on the wife's Sony Viso 2.3 Win XP Home machine. #I'll eventually find the Win software and install it on the 37 gig HD, since all I'll have on it is the WIN O/S, AOL (to chat with some friends) and Ham Radio DeLuxe, LOL! #That will probably go into another old computer I have found in a back hall closet. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # My main machine will have only Linux on it, Fedora 6, if I can get it running or Kbuntu if not.

We have tentitive plans to remodel the front, Master bedroom, then for me to remodel the back bedroom, which will become the new shack. #That may not be completed until Spring, with me doing most of the work. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif # I'm s-l-o-w but a perfekshunist, hi hi.

Well, this is probably the final post for this year. #I have to share this computer with the wife, daughter and grandson when the "kids" are here.

Joyeäux Noél et Bon Année du Luzianne! #I wish each of you and yours great health, abundant wealth, and exceeding joy, now and FOREVER!

Respectfully submitted,
73,

Donald J. Buck Saunders, Jr.
KA5-LQJ

[KC2HJN]

If you see what looks like a DOS screen and it says insert boot disk then it sounds like your boot sector or MBR is screwed. You can't really blame MS as it could have been your AV that did it. It could be the signs of a failing disk also. You should be able to repair it with the CD if it isn't a bad HD.

[KD6NIG]

Sounds like your hard disk is going. Or possibly the CPU cooler or the Power supply. If you are running scans and stuff, you'll be generating heat pretty well and using the power supply pretty good-make sure you aren't overheating. Many power supplies and/or motherboards will shut off to protect themselves in case of overheat.

Check all your fans for functionality and/or blockage of vents on the case. If you have to "blow out" the case with canned air, hold the fans with a pencil so they won't spin while doing so-if they spin they can overspeed and that can greatly shorten the life of them.

Good luck!

Edit: Hard drives can overheat too, but this is usually caused by the case being too hot. However, it could also just be failing.

If you don't have a lot of ram and your computer is constantly swapping to disk, this will cause quicker wear on the hard disk also. If its anywhere near the master boot sector, you may be in immediate trouble. If you got the computer to boot, I'd recommend a full backup ASAP before the problem worsens.

[WA9SVD]

Sounds like the others are correct; your hard drive is suffering; there's also a possibility that a glitch occurred while you were running your software.
Hopefully, you have recent backups of at least your data. But from the size of the hard drive you describe, it's probably 3-4 years old already, and may be suffering already, particularly if it has a lot of operating hours on it. (Hard drives do NOT last forever; it's always a matter of WHEN, not "if" they will fail.

As to your other question:

Even since Windoze 95, there has always been an option to get and receive automatic updates for Windoze and many other pieces of software (either from Microshaft or other software publishers) as those updates become available; one option is for the updates to be installed without user intervention. SO you may not be aware that MS is sending updated files to your computer.
But no, not even Microshaft is trying to delete or disable older operating systems such as Win98, or even Win95. They merely eliminate support and security patches, so that the older systems become less and less desirable to use. And new versions of "old standby" software just won't run on the older operating systems, so they die off by attrition.

Now, the real problem with the "automatic" updates vs. manual installation comes when you have a crash. If you have had a computer for a year or more and have to reinstall your OS, say to a new hard drive, you will also spend the better part of a day having the computer get all those "automatic" updates again. (And if you [legally] have more than one computer, you have to download updates to each one.]) If you get the updates manually, you can save them to CD, or Zip Disak, and apply them to as many computers as needed, with only one download.

One final thought: Check your computer's BIOS; perhaps a glitch messed that up; and check or replace the CMOS battery. If it;s weak, it could mess up the BIOS settings also.

Good luck.

[WA7KKP]

You sound like another exasperated Micro$oft user.

And now for something totally different . . . try Linux.

I swear by (not at) SuSE, and am using 10.2. 10.3 is out now, and you can download ISO images and burn yourself some CD's to install it. Once you get used to it, you'll NEVER go back.

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee mon ami

Gary WA7KKP

[W2JGA]

I was under the impression, and from experience that Linux was not all that great when it comes to audio and video media. ??

Get that hard drive backed up and prepare it for target shooting http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[k5phw]

Try Ubuntu. All media works just peachy. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KA5LQJ]

Well,

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. #I'm having to take a break from MY computer for awhile. #It is the Christmas & New Year's season's. #

As I type, the house is begining to fill with the delicious smells of pies baking, rue being made for our annual Christmas Gumbo. #I have a whole ham smoking (the meat, not the operator, LOL!). #We'll have Cajun-fried turkey, smoked sausage, smoked fish, chicken and some fried catfish.

We'll probably feed at least 75 to 100 relatives from today thru New Years. #They all come with side dishes and there's plenty to eat, great fellowship, and more LOVE than you can fit in the Super Dome. #LOL! #

Now, they're NOT all coming to MY house, it's not large enough, we'll go to my brother-in-law's. #His house is 5,000 sq feet, hehehe.

Now, back on topic. #The 78 gig is several years old, so it COULD be it's failing. #The IWill K266 Plus is some years old as well as the case & power supply, so that's another thing. #

Probably, my best bet is to try and find a used, older, laptop with either XP Pro or XP Home on it to only run Ham Radio Deluxe and a wireless card to run the Icom 706MkII-G. #I can always buy a new power supply for the old, IWill and put in either the 37 gig or maybe a new hd to run Linux on. Then, too, I since some desktops are getting cheaper, by a new one with all the bells & whistles, remove Vista and load Kbuntu, Debian, etc, LOL!

Well, seems I wanted in the kitchen to wash some dishes for Sweet Thang, hehehe.

Respectfully submitted,
73,

Don/KA5-LQJ