2 questions: windows vista, and burnt-out hard drive memory saving

[Kimberly1]

My PC computer with xp started crashing.  Is an acer aspire 5000.   Might have been a virus.  Regardless, at this point, I am trying to get all info off the puter.  I tried using a CD -- it will not recognize the CD as something to be copied to.  I came home with the wrong product when I tried to find a usb to usb cable to see if that would work, so might try that soon if answer still not found.  I also had a San Disk cruzer external small usb memory thing of 512 mb.... I just tried it, and it did work at first.  I was able to transfer one folder over to my other computer. 

In the meantime, I bought a computer with windows vista.  Is a PC, acer aspire 5100.  Large mistake -- i thougth windows vista meant windows xp with other goodies.  Was not the case.  According to info on this computer... 2.0 ghz, 512 kb, 100 gb, etc... this computer should be running faster then my other computer (the xp).  Yet... I have a Ton of programs on my xp (was running out of space).... and I have hardly installed anything on the new computer.. and it runs slower.  Even with the xp computer almost broke -- the internet still serves much faster then on the vista one, certain programs will not run on the vista one, and the vista one is just downright slow.  I bought it on ebay, and there was a sliver in the "if this seal is broken, contact someone..." part.  So -- I don't know if this product is what it was appearing to be online when I bought it or not. 

My computer is my job... so I need desperately to find answers -- and my immediate thing -- is that I need to get my files off of the xp.  I have an external hard drive being shipped, and will save things onto there once transferred.  It will be very hard for me financially to pay someone to get the info off the hard drive of the xp -- and I am too chicken to just take it out and try to install it in the new computer.  If I ruin something, I will not be able to purchase another computer.

Yet... to finish... when I tried to transfer the memory on the usb memory transfer thingy -- when I try to install it on the new vista computer -- it is now saying that it cannot recognize the USB.  I don't have a CD for this product, and thinking about it-- don't think that it came with one anyway. 

Not sure what to do -- if there is something to get the vista computer working better -- or was it just a fraud offer?  And... how to transfer the information from my xp computer that has been crashing onto something....

And to add one more thing -- as I thought I just needed to wait patiently for the external hard drive to arrive (before trying much to get info off of the xp)... the longer time goes so far, the more files are getting corrupted on the computer... and the less functional the computer gets.

Thanks for any help!!!

[SuperDave]

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your old computer is free of viruses and bugs. What Anti-virus program were you running?  You say your files are getting corrupted. This doesn't sound like a computer crashing. What makes you think that your old computer is crashing?

[Kimberly1]

I had no anti-virus program running on it.  I think they make you pay monthly, or make you purchase their product (or both) -- and obviously with a new computer, I will make sure that I keep a working anti-virus program on it if I can afford it (though I realize the cost might be greater in the long run if I do not pay for the virus protection).

A lot of programs will no longer upload.  I also, when trying to make more space in the add/delete prgrograms box..... deleted something that I was not sure what it was.  And I don't know what the name of it was -- there is a chance that I deleted something that needed to be there.

As I have been looking at it more -- I am now realizing that this all may have been a virus as the main issue.  I was getting the impression at first though, that the computer was just toast, as program after program started not being able to open or function properly, then files after file started not being able to open or be worked with, andfile after file started showing up as corrupt --- YET.... I now realize that signifies probable virus was a main issue.

In that case, perhaps if I get a working anti-virus program on the older computer, it Might fix a large part of the issue.

[Kimberly1]

Adding that I just now tried to install the free trial of norton anti virus on the computer that seems to have a virus.  It comes out as a corrupt file, or while I am trying to use it it becomes corrupt, ... what do I do from there?   Thanks!

[SpdySloth]

Windows Vista requires a higher amount of RAM to run. A minimum of 1 GB of RAM is usually recommended to keep Vista running smoothly.

You said 512kb. I'm presuming that that is the amount of RAM on the Aspire 5100. If you would like to get to get that computer running faster, I would install more RAM, but be sure to check and make sure that it is the same kind of RAM  already inside the computer.

If you have questions or need help, open up the computer (the 5100) and pull out the RAM card. (Be sure to turn off the computer first! ) On the card there should be a small sticker with details about the RAM. Post those here and I can help you find what kind of RAM you need to buy.

[SpdySloth]

I completely forgot the other part of your problem.. 

As far as transfering your files from your old computer to your new one goes, I would use an external hard drive. A small one (small meaning not a huge amount of memory space) would be fine if you want to save money and don't mind making a few trips from the old computer to the new one.

If your USB port on your old computer works, then you should be ok. Buy an external hard drive. Make sure it is pre-formatted and I wouldn't recommend a Maxtor as I am currently having troubles with one myself. If it has "plug n play" that is best, as the computer will instantly see the hard drive without having to install anything.

All you would need to do then, is plug it in your old computer, copy all your files and documents on to it, either manually or do a disk backup, and then plug it into your new computer and upload all the files. Simple, no?

[SuperDave]

Kimberly, Let's just concentrate on the old computer for now. Google and download AVG. It's free and one of the best anti-virus programs around; certainly better than Norton. Once you install it, run a scan to get rid of any bugs you find. Please let us know. If you're using your new computer to go on the internet, install AVG on that computer to keep it protected, then burn AVG to a CD and install it on your old computer. DO NOT try to transfer any files from the old computer to the new one just yet.

[Kimberly1]

First off, I would like to thank everyone who has been helping me.  I had ordered an external hard drive a week or few ago -- that I had to return as it did not work -- yet I received the new one that I ordered after from a different place, and as of today got all info off the old computer onto the external hard drive (took about 7 hours, as the computer was not wanting to work properly -- yet all I can say, is I am Glad I got my info off there! ).

The new computer, I will be returning soon, and in the meantime, ran the norton virus scan throughout all files on the external hard drive that came off of the crashing computer.  There were no viruses, spyware, or any other problems found.

When on the crashing computer though, one file after another was still not opening.  And as I was transfering things, more programs began not to work.  In the end, it was not letting me send some things to trash.  And it kept shutting down over and over.  

I was finally able to download the norton virus scan on there (I had not read the last note yet on here).... yet it keeps shutting down in the middle of the scan.  At this point, I can just recover the whole system, and let it whipe everything off.  If I find I need to use a program on there while waiting to get a new computer, I might try to download the other virus scan that you were talking about.

So, at this point, I think all is safe regarding the programs on that were on the crashing computer.  And it looks like I got them off right at the blink of time.  I now will need to wait an see what to be doing while waiting to be able to get a new computer, as not sure when I will (or if I will) get a refund for this one (though I heard paypal will help give refunds for purchases on ebay that were frauds).

Thanks again for all the help!!!!

[SuperDave]

Kimberly, when and if you get another computer be sure to download AVG or another free anti-virus program and install it on your computer. Once you have your Operating system install you can start transferring files. Do not try to copy any programs to the new computer. Programs must be installed in order to work properly. Please keep us informed. Bonne chance