Okay, this is an old computer.

Comp info:
* Hitachi E133T Notebook
* Pentium 133 chip
* Windows 95 version A with some B upgrades... Kernal files have been updated
* 32 MB ram
* 1.0 Gig HD  .73 used
* factory provided plug and play CD drive
* 100MB Zip drive (via printer port)

8/3- I update the Norton Virus stuff.  All is fine.

A few days later I defrag using the Norton Speed Disk.  Normal operation.

Now, when I try to log on to my Netzero account, the settings are gone and the program (Netzero) freezes up on me.  Multiple times.  I figure, okay, must have gotten 'damaged', so I uninstall.  Unistall Wizard does a 99.9999% job.  I pulls it .... well, tries to then freezes up.  I manually remove the Netzero folder.

Now, I try to install using a zipped copy on my zip disk.  The install wizard gets to a certain point and freezes.

Now, I figure, okay, I'll do some typing on MS Word.  Guess what, the program freezes after it loads.  And when I try to restart..... nothing.  I click on the icon and nothing.  All I get is the intro screen saying MS Word.

I go use MS Works and well, it runs, but when you try to save a new file after remaning it, it freezes...... or sits and does nothing.

Now, most of this stuff started when I last defraged my hard drive.

This was All sunday night.  I left it for a while.

Yesterday I was able to reload Netzero (so the installation Wizard was working).  But MS Word was still freezing up.  I was able to get online, but the intro screen on Netzero did not go to that ad bar.

My question is, what's going on?  Did I get a virus?  Norton didn't say anything?  Is my HD going dead?  I've lined up a replacement drive for about $250 (6 gig).

Okay, I know I should get a new one, but I can't 'afford' to put in 900+ at this time.  I'd like to salvage this old laptop.  Is the drive going?  Can a new drive solve the problems (assuming the programs are still entact on the old drive).

Comments, suggestions to id problem and solve.


(And I know that replace the whole thing is going to be the most common answer...)


Thanks.  

Kaliburz
(using friends computer)

I would agree...  A computer that old is probably due for problems like that.  I would suggest backing up your needed files, and formatting the drive and doing a clean install.

I do that at least twice a year, and I am not running old equipment, but a 1.4Ghz TBird rig...