Blank Desktop? :(

[BeautifulDisaster]

I haven't used my laptop for over a month now but today after I had logged on..., I noticed the screen is blank; & all icons are missing. there is a screen that pops up saying : 'critical hard disk drive error'..... How do I fix this problem?? Will I be able to retrieve any of my doc/data etc?

[tetrapod]

I haven't used my laptop for over a month now but today after I had logged on..., I noticed the screen is blank; & all icons are missing. there is a screen that pops up saying : 'critical hard disk drive error'..... How do I fix this problem?? Will I be able to retrieve any of my doc/data etc?

Looks like a malware.  Is it asking you to call a number or buy some software?

[BeautifulDisaster]

Tetrapod.., yes., after it scans the laptop, it asks me to buy some kind of program.... Actually, a whole bunch of screens also pops up... I don't have Internet in my home and rarely use it.., so I don't know what could possibly be wrong with it

[obscurity]

whats the scanner program call?

[tetrapod]

Boot into safe mode, back up your important files, and then restore it to factory set up. 

I have done this for my friend's computer twice.   

[BeautifulDisaster]

whats the scanner program call?

What's that ?

[BeautifulDisaster]

Boot into safe mode, back up your important files, and then restore it to factory set up. 

I have done this for my friend's computer twice.   

K.. I'll give that a try. Thanks 

[tetrapod]

K.. I'll give that a try. Thanks 

OK let us know.

[obscurity]

the program that pops up and tells you

after it scans the laptop, it asks me to buy some kind of program.... Actually, a whole bunch of screens also pops up...

that program, what is it called?

[mrhmoobportland]

That sounds bad.  Unfortunately, you didn't post enough info to determine if it's salvageable.

With an error like the one you described saying "critical hard disk drive error", I would presume the hard drive is malfunctioning .  However, without actually seeing  BIOS or other diagnostic error code, there's no way to tell what's wrong.  This could easily go south, but here are some options:

• It could just be something wrong with the operating system (OS) and you can still recover the files, but it will require either booting the laptop using a bootable CD/DVD-ROM or a bootable USB device, like a flash/thumb drive.  My suggestion is any of the freely available flavors of compact, bootable Linux.  If you don't know one, you can try Damn Small Linux - http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/.  If you don't like Linux, you can use whatever other OS you want that is bootable and that will recognize your disk format.  If you're lost already, then you'll either want to find a geek family member or friend, or pay a technician to fix it for you.  In any case, if you can achieve boot, you might be able to access your hard drive if it's not encrypted and if it's not damaged, which you can then transfer to another USB storage device.  Once all the data is transferred/backed-up, you'll want to use your laptop's restore function to correct the problem, if possible.
• If you don't have the option of using a bootable USB device, you'll need to open and remove the hard drive and use any of the readily available hard drive transfer kits.  You can buy this overpriced at local computer and electronics stores, or you can get it for under $10 from sites like Newegg.com or Meritline.com.  Make sure the kit supports the type of hard drive you have.  Once again, refer to that geek friend or family member, or pay a technician if you don't know.  Once the data is transferred/backed-up, use the laptop's restore function to try correcting the problem.
• Throw your laptop up in the air and do a sick reverse cresent kick to it, and watch it fly off a few feet before crashing to the floor in pieces.  Actually, I've dropped laptops before from about 4 1/2 ft on carpet and it just bounced on me.  Literally.  Like at least ten times.  You'll want to do this on a hard surface, like maybe cement.

[mrhmoobportland]

Tetrapod.., yes., after it scans the laptop, it asks me to buy some kind of program.... Actually, a whole bunch of screens also pops up... I don't have Internet in my home and rarely use it.., so I don't know what could possibly be wrong with it

I can't believe the b.s. advice some people are giving you???!

And don't waste your time buying any nonsense junk software.  If you restore your computer without first backing things up, it will likely wipe all your data!!!  Your hard drive is toast, either physicially or with the software (malware infection or corruption).  The first priority is to recover/back-up the data.  The second priority is to restore your computer.  If all else fails, jump kick it.

Refer to my instructions.  If you lived near, I'd do it pro-bono for you.  I have all the parts here to transfer/back-up your data.

[BeautifulDisaster]

the program that pops up and tells you
that program, what is it called?

Not sure now... I restarted my laptOp again today and the screen is just blank.. Seems like all my data and everything is gone.. 

[YAX]

(assuming you have Windows XP)
See if you can boot it up into Safemode.  Then soon as you can log in, go to:
Start -> Run
In the Run window, type in msconfig
Hit the Okay button.
You have to do this before the bad program starts.
In the general tab of msconfig, you'll find the system restore button.
Use it to restore your system to a date prior to when you got the malware.

If you can't get that far, then let us know.  They've gotten smarter these days.

Good luck!

[BeautifulDisaster]

 @ mrhMoobportlan d

That doesn't sound good at all  I think I'm gonna have to drop kick this thing 

Well... This window pops up - System repair... Other window pops up afterwards..., I'm completely clueless and I just need my laptop to work   

[evil-in-deed]

cant help you if you lied... theres no way that you did not use the laptop and it got infected...

so you or someone must had used it to look up porn...

kk so maybe we can help...

1... restore to previous date...

or...

2... reboot...

do not click on any "ok" to download... its a trap...

also stop looking up porn...