# HELP....My Computer is dead!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-is-dead/242261 "2004-04-27T11:23:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-is-dead/242261/1 "2004-04-27T11:23:38Z")
(Right now I’m typing from my terminal at work)…Yesterday I was typing on my computer at home when all of a sudden my screen locked up. I was in the process of downloading card drivers from the internet whick may have been the cause of this disaster. :o When it locked up, I was forced to turn it off and the back on again. When I turned it back on, I get the “COMPAQ” logo, then the “Windows ME” screen, then the screen goes blank like its dead. Sometimes when I turn the computer off then back on again it will go to the “Safe Mode” screen. When I try and do a “System Restore”, it says that Symmantic software has disabled this function. I’ve deleted all the driver software that was downloaded and have run everything from an emergency boot disk to Systemworks Scandisk and nothing seems to work. _“Man I really did it this time” \* ☹ Right now my computer is dead. Can \*\* anyone_\* out there offer any good advice that will help get this thing back up again? If this will help, here are the specs: OS Name Microsoft Windows Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000 OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Name Computer System Manufacturer Compaq System Model Compaq PC System Type X86-based PC Processor Intel Celeron 565 Mhz BIOS Version --------- Windows Directory c:/windows Locale United States Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time Total Physical Memory 62.51 MB Avaliable Physical Momory 312.00 KB Total Virtual Memory 405.57 MB Avaliable Virtual Memory 158.39 MB Page File Space 343.06 MB Any help or advice will truly be appreciated…Seriously ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-is-dead/242261/2 "2004-04-27T11:51:00Z")
Start the computer and access the Boot Menu by tapping the F8 key as soon as you see the Compaq logo, and continue until the Boot Menu appears. Select Command Prompt Only, and at the C:\ prompt, type **scanreg /restore**. This will run the Registry Checker, and display 5 restore points. Select a date that is before the date the problem started, and click the Restore button. Your computer will restart with a previous version of the regostry, and should operate normally. ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-is-dead/242261/3 "2004-04-27T13:42:13Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Start the computer and access the Boot Menu by tapping the F8 key as soon as you see the Compaq logo, and continue until the Boot Menu appears. Select Command Prompt Only, and at the C:\ prompt, type **scanreg /restore**. This will run the Registry Checker, and display 5 restore points. Select a date that is before the date the problem started, and click the Restore button. Your computer will restart with a previous version of the regostry, and should operate normally. Hey Heeeeey I just got home… **I tried it and it worked like a charm.** Sir, You are both a Gentleman and a Scholar…May God Bless you with 1000 camels and a Harem full of Beautiful sex-starved women!!!