Would you use PC World?

Chippy_Minton

Nikiya wrote: »

As for copying my data to CDs, well, that is what I started saying... I bought the CDs (Packard Bell CD-RW 12x speed 700 Mb capacity) and never managed to copy anything onto them. Which program do I need and how do I do it? I have not tried for some time, but when I did try it would not work

Try XP's built-in CD Writing Wizard.

See CD Burning Becomes Routine in Windows XP

and How do I use the built-in CD burning in Windows XP?

I'd also recommend updating to Service Pack 2.

Nikiya

Thanks Chippy....the thing is when I downloaded Patch 2 it created a mess in my PC.... I did not have problems before that. I subsequently heard it clashes with other software (I had Norton antivirus at the time) and uninstalled it....
Now my main concern is to back up my files, which are mostly word docs and pictures, plus some other files.
I will try your links, but the thing is, every time I try something that seems straightforward, I end up going in circles without achieving anything. It happened with the "health check" above. First I had to close my brower and use another. Then I had to register, create a password, etc., then I downloaded the test (which took several failed attempts due to obscure reasons) and THEN.... it could not be run as explained above in the message I copied. None of the reasons quoted there exist....

Clearways

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

i'm an old school engineer... lol!
Only 32 but been employed in IT since i was 16 and using DOS 6.2 with Windows 3.11. I find it easier to just pop a batch file together than mess about with these new fangled programs, lol. I sound like my grandad.

I always get my sig deleted. Last one was telling people to hit the snitch button if they didn't like my post, so they hit it about my sig.

Ay, when I were a lad !. I remember Windows arriving - Mindyou to some here PC's were the new latest fangled thing. At college we had punch cards and an IBM monster that went PING the whole time..

Anyway back to getting Nikiya's PC fixed

Clearways

Nikiya wrote: »

Well, I had not seen the second page when I wrote my previous message:


I could not agree more, but the fact is I have tried to do backup for quite some time without any success.... yes, we do have a digital camera, but it seems to be always full just with pictures...
That "Ghost" for saving data outside the PC sounds good. Is it something you buy or download? Please bear in mind most of the terminology you are using here is Chinese to me.....

OK. You haven't answered any of the questions.

What make and model PC is it - does it have warranty ?

One problem with CD-Burning you may have is that you have CD-RW CD's i.e re-writable CD's. These need normally to be formatted 1st where as CD-R i.e. write once can normally be just burn't to without the format.

If the PC came with a CD Writer then it should be pre-installed with Nero, or some sort of CD burning software.
Then normally when you insert a blank CD-R type CD the software runs and you drag and drop files.

Ghost you can't download - well only possibly a trial it's a pay for product from Symantec

To be fair if you don't have the skills to burn a CD or copy files to a USB key then Ghost and disk imaging will be way over your head.

scheming_gypsy

first question would be.... do you have a CD Writer or just taken advice from people who assumed you have a writer?

Nikiya

Hello again! Sorry I have not kept up with your wonderful advice. I have had (and still have) lots of problems to take care of (including a minor accident that kept me a whole morning at A&E)...
So, to answer your questions: I have a Dell Dimension 2200 with Windows XP, DVD/CD-RW Drive, 40 G hard disk .... it does not say which XP it is, but I believe it is year 2004.
Please let me know if this is what you wanted to know...
I hope some of you PC genius are still around!
Thanks!
PS My main concern is to back up my files.... then I'll see if I can fix my PC. So you reckon I should try the DVDs?

sco0ter

When I was having Virus/spyware/adaware problems on My main PC I just bought a Freecom 400GB external hard drive from PCworld. I then transfered my whole hard drive to it (not an image file but raw) took some time (176 GB) then I disconnected the drive and reinstalled windows.

I installed all the Virus Anti Spyware software I needed and then connected the drive again. A full scan got rid of all the BAD files and then I just took back What I needed and deleted the rest. The other good point with this is I now use Ghost to do periodic backups including an original barebones image all kept on the external hard drive along with my documents and photos. so it served 2 purposes.

As you only have a 40GB hard drive then Buying an external might be a better option as you will be able to increase your storage capacity and have a place for backups just keeping your original 40GB for Windows and main programs.

Nikiya

Thanks Scooter, but my 40 G hard disk still has a LOT of free space.... even when we are three people using the PC....
The external disks I have seen (in Amazon) are very powerful and expensive, and I would not like to invest in something I do not need....
What antivirus software would you recommend?

sco0ter

Kaspersky seems to be really good and easy to use.

Free 30 day trial here if you want to give it a go

http://www.kaspersky.com/trials

Reggie_Rebel

My main concern is to back up my files.... then I'll see if I can fix my PC. So you reckon I should try the DVDs?

Nope, they won't work with a DVD/CD RW drive.

I'd take a long hard look at Comodo Anti-Virus and Firewall.

First of all I'd run Stinger though. It's only a small propgramme and easy to install and run, you can get it here
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/