[dieKatze88]

Originally Posted by zonic505

What data do I need to grab & will there be something to tell me how to reformat it? & what exactly do I need to get an image of? I have Snipping Tool, so I can make a image by using that.

Wait, you're saying I'm going to lose stuff in my Documents, stuff I've downloaded, installed, & such unless I back it up?

& we have Malware protection. & we haven't gone to new sites in the last few weeks. Besides, like I said, aside from the audio & '98-ish look, it's working fine. Isn't it just something w/ the start up?

Let me explain what happens: I turn computer on. HP logo appears. Blank screen. Loading bar & appears. Blank screen for awhile. Mouse appears, but still nothing. Vista logo/sound FINALLY happen. Welcome appears, but takes way longer than usual (like 3-5 minutes). Desktop is now shown & I can use the laptop.

I'm saying that every bit of data on your computer will be gone by the time you finish reformatting it. Period. Save your documents, stuff you've downloaded, and installed. Otherwise you're going to lose them.

The Snipping tool is not an image maker in the context I speak in.

Disk image - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You need to make one of those.

Yeah thats the result of some nasty malware. I've done this one 4 times already. Get Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 on that system as quickly as you can once you've got the thing reformatted.