My Dear Old Mom has a problem...

[HelpinMom]

She's got a Gateway 2000 (old) and has a recurring problem.

When she turns the power on the computer, it comes to life, begins the start up but then she gets a white on black message on-screen that says:

"Error:  Check Computer Power & Moniter Cable"


The process stops and she has to unplug the computer to turn it off.

She has remedied it once in the past by unplugging everything from the wall and tring again.

She brought it in to a "computer expert" who told her she had a virus ($250 to do an anti0-virus sweep).  Now the same guy wants her to drop $600 on a new hard drive...the computer isn;t worth $600 total.

Please help.

[Flame]

This very well COULD be a virus.. Does mom have protection? Also, a hard disk is cheaper than 600 dollars...

[glb]Flame[/glb]

[Fed]

"Error:  Check Computer Power & Moniter Cable"

Do the recommended thing.

[Raptor]

She brought it in to a "computer expert" who told her she had a virus ($250 to do an anti0-virus sweep).  Now the same guy wants her to drop $600 on a new hard drive...the computer isn;t worth $600 total.

He must plan on getting rich before he hits his twenties.

Recheck all connectors. Even inside the system case to see if any cables have become loose or damaged.