Frozen Laptop

[ask100]

I have a Sony Viao Laptop running Windows 7.
A few days ago I allowed a friend to play around with it and he did a big defrag which took 24 hours!
Since then I have been unable to use the laptop without it freezing up.
I have difficulty opening Microsoft Outlook and once open I can sometimes use it but suddenly it all stops and I cannot get into any other programmes so have to force a shutdown. This then means that It can take 30 minutes for Outlook to open up and the cycle begins again. Any programme I get into says "Not responding".
What is the best proceedure to solve the problems. Or should I just take it to PC World?

[Buenchico]

Check your drive for errors:
Open 'Computer'
Right-click on the icon for your hard drive
Select 'Properties'
Click on 'Tools' and then on 'Check Now'
Ensure that both the options are ticked
Click 'Start'
You'll be told that Windows can't run a check because the drive is in use
Click 'Schedule disk check' (which tells your computer to run the check the next time that your computer is started)
Restart your computer

If that doesn't fix the problem, try running System Restore (from Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools)

[VHG]

And DONT take it to PC World !!!!

[VHG]

btw I am not sure why you let him do a defrag but to be honest defragging a hard drive will not give you much of an improved performance (if that is why you did it).

Another suggestion, go into the Advanced Start Up options for Windows (press F8 on startup) and run Repair Your Computer.

Here is how you can do that

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode#1TC=windows-7

[VHG]

One other thing to consider.

You MAY recover from this problem you may not, so as a matter of urgency I would back up ALL your personal files now to an external hard drive (or other media or location). More than one backup if possible.

I have heard of situations where a person took a computer to PC World and they did a reinstall of Windows and lost ALL the personal files on the disk.

A "proper" local PC support person should not do this (which is why I say don't take it to PC world) but whoever tries to fix it MAY delete personal files so best to have them backed up.

[ask100]

Thanks Buenchico and VHG, I'll look at all your suggestions in the morning.
I was aware of what could happen if I go to PCWorld.

[ask100]

Thanks Buenchico, I have tried the disk check route and this has definitely improved the situation, but not completely. But I now have some control over my laptop and managed to download emails and look online for a while. Then it froze again.
I will now try the System Restore that you suggested. Will keep members informed.

[ask100]

Most of my systems seem to be working now that I have done a System Restore. Except and most important my Microsoft Outlook.
I believe that I have to reinstall it. As I can't find my original disk is there anyone who can suggest how this is done?

[Buenchico]

Outlook comes bundled with most editions of Microsoft Office. (See here for which ones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Outlook#Versions ). So you'll need to get hold of a suitable copy of Microsoft Office if you want to reinstall Outlook (which could be expensive!).

Try repairing Outlook first. Scroll down to 'Windows 7' here:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Repair-an-Office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b

If that doesn't work, why do you want Outlok on your computer? Unless there are specific functions which you need, that only Outlook can offer, consider switching to Windows Live Mail (which is part of Windows Essentials)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/essentials
or Thunderbird
https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/thunderbird/

[ask100]

Thanks Buenchico.
I'm a bit of an old codger and I like things I'm familiar with. All my devises at home and at work - yes I still work - use Outlook 2003 so apart from this glitch I am happy with it. I'll try the reinstall and hope it doesn't ask for the original disk.
If all fails then I'll look at your other suggestions.

[jomifl]

Do you only have problems after opening outlook? If so try going directly to your email servers website and log in there, It might bypass the problem.

[ask100]

Thanks Jomifl and Buenchico, I can use the webmail but I prefer Outlook as I use a number of different email addresses and can have them all together in one place.
I can now open Outlook 20o3 but am getting messages that "Ordinal 298 could not be located in the dynamic link library" so I can't read the messages.
I just tried doing a reinstall using the Buenchico sugestion but can only see Uninstall or Repair not Change so can't do the reinstall. Don't know what to do next.

[Buenchico]

My suggestion was to try repairing Outlook. Since you're being offered that option, without the need to go via 'Change', that would seem to be the one to try!

Incidentally, if you did switch to webmail, many services now have a 'mail collector' facility, that automatically forwards mail from all of your other accounts to the one that they're providing. Despite having email accounts with several providers, I only ever need to log into my GMX account to see all of my incoming mail, since I've configured the 'mail collector' to put it all into one place.

[whiskeryron]

Dear ask100, being an old codger does not bar you from moving on with your computer, I am a 90 year old & took Buenchico's advice a while ago & downloaded Sea Monkey which is my present & definitely favourite site for emails etc. Give it a whirl mate.

[ask100]

I did try the Repair route but it has not had any effect. I can see that I have emails coming in but can't read them in Outlook 2003. i get a message up when I click on an email saying Ordinal 258 cannot be located. I also can't send an email as I get the same message.
I'll look at Sea Monkey, thanks.

[SlackAlice]

Try this, it may or not work. Possible the File System Checker can find a replacement file in an old cache folder.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

[ask100]

Thanks SlackAlice, I'll certainly give it a go.

[ask100]

Thankfully I have now resolved my laptop problem!
So I thought I would let you helpful members know how I achieved it.

Firstly I followed your advise and did a System Restore which got my browsers back working but Outlook did not work.
Then I came across this helpful site:
http://www.intelligentanswers.co.uk/index.php?topic=6486.0
One of the contributors had explained previously what to do for a similar problem step by step so it's easy to follow.
Half an hour after I started the scan as instructed I rebooted and every thing was working as it should.
So thanks are due all round to theanswerbank and intelligentanswers.