Hard drive failing
First I got a message saying a file on the HD could not be read. I ran CCleaner and defraggler, rebooted. Now the desktop and icons show up but instantly there's a screen saying Windows Explorer has crashed (or words to that effect) immediately followed by a screen saying Windows Explorer is restarting. These two messages keep cycling one after the other and I can't get anything else to open or run.
Yesterday I chose the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option at start-up and was pleased to find a DOS-like screen (cmd.exe). Wracked my brains for a bit to recall commands then texted my youngest for some brainstorming and successfully navigated to some docs I want to save and copied them to a memory card (pulled out of my digital camera) reading as the F drive. *applause*
Will look for more memory cards tomorrow and grab some more files.
Anyone have thoughts on what else to do? The laptop is 6.5 years old so I suppose that's it for expected life span. I don't like the thought of losing installed programs, but if I have to reinstall on the next laptop (if and when I can get one), so be it.
I'm using my daughter's PC now and it's dreadfully slow. Whatever I type takes several seconds to show up and clicking links is even slower.