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How do I tell if I have a hardware problem or a virus on my IBM laptop?

A few days ago my IBM thinkpad (model T30) started acting up. Parts of the screen started to blink quickly, vertial and horizonal lines appeared, and now it has trouble starting up - if it stars up at all. Sometimes it will start up fine before the screen problems begin (then the entire computer locks up), sometimes it won't start up at all. I was hoping there was some fix I could do on my own, but mostly I just want to rescue some of my files that are on the hard drive. Does anyone have any suggestions???

Public Comments

1. Can you get into windows? Even once just to get your files? There is a web site called Streamload.com where you can copy your files to. This way, even if your Hard drive dies, you can always re-download your important files to a different/new PC or laptop. If you can not even open windoes, you can use knoppix lynux. This operating system will run from a cd and can allow you to get to the internet to copy files or even use a USB or external hard drive to copy files that you need.
2. I would suggest doing a virus scan and if you can and then if you cant fix it that way then take it to a computer repair store
3. Have you tried opening Windows in "safe mode?" That will only open programs necessary to run your machine. If that works you can quickly copy the files you want to save.