[Joanna22]

Hello there

I don't know what the hell I was thinking by trying to fix my computer by myself :/ I wanted to get rid of unwated files and thus speed up my pc and have more space on the drive, so I right-clicked the c: drive and in the general section i ticked those two options: Compress this drive to save disk space AND Index this drive for faster searching and then I clicked apply which then hinted me a message that it would take place when I restart the pc.. and so I did some processes were taking place whilst it was restarting (it showed message: step 1of5, step 2of5 and so on..) and then when everything was completed computer started in something that looked like A SAFE MODE!- (you know massively enlarged icons and limited capabilities) which I can't get out of unfortunately ;(( What did I do here and How can I leave to so everything is back to normal?? Please I'M BEGGING I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT COMPUTERS YET STUPIDELY THOUGHT I CAN DO THESE THINGS MYSELF WHICH I CLEARLY HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT...could somebody help me PLEEEEASE

[DanTheMuffinMan]

well this won't help you now, but as a general rule, never compress data, and never restart whilst the computer is doing anything itself.
regardless of this, ayone who would actually know what they're doing wil probrably need to at elast know what Operating System you have (xp, vista, 7, ext) and a few basic details on your computer, HDD size, desktop/laptop, manufacturer, ext.

[frankjohn]

From the safe mode do a system restore,

[Compiler]

Not sure how a system restore will uncompress a drive. WinXP should have not allowed the C: drive as a whole, to be compressed.

Go ahead and boot into safe mode (if normal isn't allowed) and go back to your drive properties and de-select COMPRESSION. let it run and do its thing. Reboot and hopefully you're okay, and then later DE-select on INDEX drive.

Actually Joanna22. Those two things are exactly the kind of thing that WILL slow down your computer (had it not locked up).

We need to know more about your computer. Brand name, model. how much memory you have, HD size, etc. If its an older computer, especially 5+ years and so - not much can be done. A clean install of the OS will help. If your HD is full of data (95% full for example) that will slow things down. Maybe more memory would help.

But first, you need to go back and de-compress your drive.

[Joanna22]

Thank you so much for your replies guys! I really REALLY appreciate it...

DanTheMuffinMan- I won't do anything like this by myself EVER on this computer again.. so your words are a good advice to me for future.. it's a desktop PC, DELL- but how do I check the rest of it? I'm very sorry I just don't know much about computers.. and would be really grateful for some help..

frankjohn- How is it exactly that I do this system restore?- as I said earlier forgive my ignorance in terms of what may seem silly questions- I just REALLY dont know..:/

[Joanna22]

Hello Complier- thank you to you also for being so helpful: I have a request however- could you please tell it to me in babysteps- as I don't quite understand the terminology you've used :/

[Joanna22]

Go ahead and boot into safe mode (if normal isn't allowed) and go back to your drive properties and de-select COMPRESSION. let it run and do its thing. Reboot and hopefully you're okay, and then later DE-select on INDEX drive

so how do I exactly do this Complier? if it's what has been said on that website http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...cle.asp?ID=648 then I've already done that although only on c: drive how can I do it on the rest of them? I suppose that d; and e: are also in the same state as they also are 'coloured' as says on the website that that's a symptom of it being compressed..

[DanTheMuffinMan]

this is a easy way to find out what is in your computer.
right click on Computer/My COmputer, and select properties, there you sohuld find most of what we need.
Windows Edition:
Manufacturer:
Model:
Processor:
RAM:

the other real important this is Hard Drive Space, right-click the start menu, click explore, right click on ( C: ) and click properties, this will tell you how much of the Hard Drive you've used, and how much is free

[leroys1000]

Click start/my computer.
Right click the windows drive,probably drive C
and click properties.
Click the general tab if it doesn't open on that tab.
Uncheck the box,compress this drive to save space.
Click apply.
It will take a while,let it run.
When it is done,click ok, restart the computer.
Go to the same tab using the instructions above.
Uncheck index this drive.
Click apply/OK.

[Joanna22]

Originally Posted by DanTheMuffinMan

this is a easy way to find out what is in your computer.
right click on Computer/My COmputer, and select properties, there you sohuld find most of what we need.
Windows Edition:
Manufacturer:
Model:
Processor:
RAM:

the other real important this is Hard Drive Space, right-click the start menu, click explore, right click on ( C: ) and click properties, this will tell you how much of the Hard Drive you've used, and how much is free

the first part: (I'm just writing everything i found in the General section)

System: Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

Registered to: PROFESSIONAL
MICROSOFT


Computer: Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00 GHz
2.99 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM
Physical Address Extension


the second part: 13,780,918,272 bytes 12.8 GB Used space
1,945,784,320 bytes 1.81 GB Free space

[DanTheMuffinMan]

might want to delete the registered code, someone might bootleg ur windows key, and leave urs unusable

good news is u have a xp computer, easier to do stuff

bad news is u have a ridiculously small HDD,

this computer is at least 5-7 years old, right?
may be time to upgrade unfourtantly, is there any real important data on this computer?

[Joanna22]

might want to delete the registered code, someone might bootleg ur windows key, and leave urs unusable

good news is u have a xp computer, easier to do stuff

bad news is u have a ridiculously small HDD,

this computer is at least 5-7 years old, right?
may be time to upgrade unfourtantly, is there any real important data on this computer?

DantheMuffinMan- how do i delete the registered code? and what is a bootleg of a windows key? sorry could you use less qualified language for me to comprehend it you're right- this computer is about 5 years old.. How can I enhance the HDD and how could I upgrade it in general? there is some important data on this computer is there any way I could save it? gosh.. I'm so angry at myself for attempting to fix this computer

What is the next step then to be made DantheMuffinMan? btw will you be here tomorrow? because it's really late here in Uk (I presume this is an American forum?) and if I could request that you help me with this via your suggestions it would really save my life...



and thank you to you laroys1000- I have tried out your reccommendations but it still seems to be the same although it did decompress the drives..

[DanTheMuffinMan]

i just meant to delete the code form ur post, not from teh computer, if ur using a desktop u can install a new hard drive, though it might be worth it to just buy a new computer all together... as it will be dificult, time consuming, and cost you about $100 for the hard drive, even more for a new copy of windows, and more to get it all installed
while a cheap new desktop or laptop can start around $500 (not sure on conversion to euro/pound)
if u can still access ur computer in safe mode, u should be able to copy all ur important data onto a usb drive (which they sell in up to 16 or 32 gb sizes now, for round $40-$60), i can provide links to canadian stores, not sure if that would be of an help to u though

[leroys1000]

May have corrupted your display driver.
Click start and right click my computer,then click properties.
Click the hardware tab,then click the device manager button.
Click the + next to display adapters.
What does it list there?
Right click the listed display adapter and click update driver.
Let windows search for and install a driver.
May need to restart after.
If that doesn't work, you may need to got to the manufacturers
website and download a driver to install.

[Compiler]

You followed the steps to uncompress your HD. Your HD is pretty much full, pretty much a 15 or 20GB model. You can't really make it bigger, but we can delete some junk that may help out.

1 - get your hands on "WindowsXP for dummies" or something like that for about $5~10. So you can learn about computers, it will help you. And also save time in explaining things. Your computer use will be faster, easier, less scary, more fun.

2 - Lets do a bit of clean up. Open Windows Explorer. Hold down the Windows key (between the control and ALT keys near the space bar and press E. Go to My Computer / C: Drive You want to go here:
C:\Documents and Settings\<User name>\Local Settings\Temp

User name is the name of your account. That is the name on the TOP of you start menu.

You can select all files in there and delete everything. Some thing won't be deletable, but do the best your can. Sort by date, the oldest files are easier.

You can also download Glary Utilities and have it do it for you, among other things. You can get it here: http://download.cnet.com/Glary-Utili...html?tag=mncol

It can delete your temp(temporary) files that are not needed. Download it, install it, click on the Scan button... pretty simple and automatic.

Then you can also turn off system restore, that may save another 1~3GB of backup system files.

Right click on MY COMPUTER, hit PROPERTIES (same window you opened earlier which showed some of your system info that you posted up here), click on SYSTEM RESTORE tab. There is check box that says "Turn off system restore on all drives".

After cleaning up the temp and restore, time to defrag your drive (think of your data as being all over the place, this re-arranges your data in a cleaner organized way). You do this by:
Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
(You click on the start menu, and click on the folders named above to get there)

Select the C: Drive and press Defragment. It may take an hour or so if you've never done this before.

This will help your drive run better. But you MUST clean out the junk files first.

A new decent modern computer with Windows7 starts at $400. It will be a lost faster than what you have now. Are you in the USA or UK, etc?