KenB

Boot up in Safe Mode Constantly tap F8 after restarting. Select S-M from the list of options. Go back to the downloads folder and try it now.

Is the hard drive still clicking ? If so - try the freezing method - and hope :)

Let us know how you get on.

The second link does take you to Major Geeks. The download should be automatic. if you are using Internet Explorer you may need to OK the download by clicking on a highlighted bar near the top of the screen. If you are looking at MajorGeeks mirror sites - just click on one of these. make sure that your download file has MBAM in it. it should be mbam-setup-1.51.2.1300

The link mentioned 2 possibilities to try - I don't advise bashing the drive ........yet :) The freezing method is worth a try. I have seen some instances when this has worked and data was able to be retreived from the drive. It certainly will not make matters worse. If you want to give it a go .... Take the drive out. Wrap the drive tightly in cling-film. Put the drive in a sealable plastic food bag ( the type that you use for freezer food ). Partly seal and squeeze the air out > then finally seal the bag. Put in the freezer (not refrigerator) overnight then back into the system. Try booting. If you are lucky it will boot. If it does - transfer your data quickly - it may not last long :) ============== EDIT: Just read J-Bs post below - before you take the drive out try this and let us know if you can access the BIOS.

No - not at all. I have just checked the link and it takes you to MBAM ??? Try this link: MBAM Anti-malware Don't forget to update it before you run it.

This is a quote from the manual.... If he has recommended WEP he obviously didn't know what he was talking about. The default setting on your router is Mixed WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK which is MUCH more secure. Netgear also recommend that the pre-set security settings are not changed. The manual for your netgear is here: Netgear Manual You will need to download it and make a note of where it was saved to. It will open in PDF format.

Open MBAM by clicking on the desktop icon > click on LOGS ( toolbar ) Click on the log to open - it will open in Notebook Edit > Select All CTRL + C will copy it. If you are on a different machine open Notebook. CTRL + V will paste it Save as MBAM log to a memory stick. Put memory stick into other machine and Open Notebook > Open the saved file. Select All > Copy CTRL + V will paste it into your reply.

Post the log here as per my first post. I will ask one of the Security guys to confirm.

Hi, I am glad that you didn't buy this product. It, whatever it was, is a scam. Download MBAM from here: http://www.malwarebytes.org/ Click on Products - you want the FREE version. Install > Update > Run it. It will produce a log. Copy this and post it here please.

Hi and welcome to ExTS I am surprised that the tech adviser suggested WEP if WPA or WPA2 are available. WEP is the least secure of the three options. I had WEP for years with no problems - but the other two are better. What problem were you having when he advised you to change to this? If you let me know the make and model number of your router I can take a look - if I can find the manual.

Hi and welcome to ExTS I know you have recently upgraded the RAM - but try them one at a time. It could be that one of the modules is faulty.

Hi Cherie, Now we know the system should beep .............no POST beeps is not good. Strip the motherboard down ( see my last post ) leaving only the PSU 20(4) way power connection. Basically this is the "bare bones" of the system. It should beep ( more than once ). If it doesn't then you have a problem with either the Power Supply Unit or the Motherboard. Let me know how you get on. ============= Is this how you normally shut the machine down? If it is this is asking for trouble.

Hi, As J-B says ........it doesn't look good. If the clicking is coming from the hard drive then, basically, it has died. See here: oes it sound like this?

I have removed the attachment from Airborne's first post ( with his permission ) as it showed multiple e-mail addresses. Phishing emails, as they are called, are a sad fact of life these days. I have had a number which look, at first glance, as if they have come from my bank. The early ones were obvious as they had spelling and grammar mistakes. The more recent ones do look the part. All who read this should be aware that your bank will never email you asking you to input any secure data. Also - if the e-mail sounds too good to be true .......then it is exactly that. DO NOT reply to these emails - DO NOT open attachments if you don't know the sender .........simply delete them. You have to be constantly on the alert - phishing emails are not going to go away.

Hi Cherie Is the machine connected to a network? I am thinking Wake on LAN may be enabled in the BIOS - is this a possibility ? If you are not getting any POST beeps ( assuming there is an internal speaker connected ) it is not going to boot up. If you get one POST beep this is normal - stop here and post back. Switch off at the wall socket. If this machine is still not booting and no POST beeps try the following: Take all external hardware off ( monitor / printer / external drive ) Take the power and data cables off the Primary and secondary hard drives. Take all cards ( Video / Sound / RAM etc off the motherboard ) Leave only the 20(4) way cable from the PSU connected. Switch on. You should get POST beeps. ( assuming a speaker is present ). POST beeps at this stage - no matter how many - are good. Fans should spin. If all seems normal leave it switched on to see if it is stable. If it remains stable then switch off. Add the keyboard. switch on again. It should POST - fans run - keyboard LEDs flash and the power one stays on. Test again to see if it is stable. Switch off. Add the Video Card ( if you have one ) Run through the process again. You should get POST beeps at each stage - the sequence may change - but as long as we are getting beeps. Keep adding one card then one connection at a time - testing for stability after each one. If the system is fine then hangs after adding a card or connection you have identified the cause of your problem. This has to be done logically.

Nev has made a valid point. The amount of free space on your hard drive can also be a factor. It may be worthwhile looking into this a bit further before you spend the time imaging your drive. Mind you - having a backup that you can pop in if the other fails is not a bad idea either - but it may not solve your problem.

Sometimes it is best to let a tech fix it - especially if you are not happy following the directions. At least you know your limitations :) Good to hear that your machine is up-and-running again.

Jim - you are very welcome. Good to hear that everything is fine in East Sussex :)

Get back to us after trying a few things that have been suggested. Please give a detailed account. "That didn't work" ( posted often by others ) doesn't tell us much :)

Hi Emma and welcome to ExTS One of our Security Experts will be along soon to advise you - please be patient as they are very busy :)

No need to ask :)

Hi This is a security feature. Right click on the Hosts File > Properties > Security Highlight "System" and click "Edit" Tick the box next to "Full Control" and click OK. Try now. Once you have saved the alteration I suggest you go back and un-check the "Full Control" box.

You are welcome. Let us know how you get on. The process requires some time - especially transferring the image to the second drive.

Hi and welcome to ExTS I wrote a tutorial re. cloning a drive that may be the answer. Basically you can copy the image of your hard drive exactly - Operating System / Files / Folders .......everything and transfer it to the new disk. You will need an external hard drive to do this. This must have a capacity equal or bigger than the stored data on the drive to be copied. You could consider a solid state drive as your Primary Drive. The Read/Write speeds are considerably faster than a SATA 7200r/m The only down side is the drives are about 3 or 4 times the price. How to create an image of your Hard Drive http://kenspchelp.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=190