[Dabug]

Originally Posted by Sydney007

When you turn off your computer, before it completes shutdown, stop the electrical
power to it. Do this a few times and run your disk clean-up software which will
uninstall files not used. (maybe even the one causing problems)

It is probably more effective to run disk clean-up software from a bootable floppy/CD-ROM than from the corrupted drive (if the drive is corrupted).

Originally Posted by Sydney007

As long as the computer has partially shut down before cutting power to it-
or when the screen turns black- it will not hurt the drive.

How do you know when `the computer has partially shut down'?

You're probably right about this `not hurting the drive.' Most modern hard drives will automatically park their read/write heads if they suddenly lose power. Still, I wouldn't recommend abruptly cutting off power to the computer.


Nevertheless, I think you (Sydney007) may be on to something. In my experience, shutting down my computer and disconnecting all electrical power (by pulling out the plug) for ~1 hour, has cleared up some hardware problems. I think some electrical signals can get `stuck,' and disconnecting all power lets the computer slowly discharge, dissipating those signals. Of course, I still don't know if 007Gypsy's problem is hardware or software.