rehabbing an old computer

First, some history:

I have a Gateway computer that I bought in the spring of 2009. I don't recall the model but I can get that later if I need to (I am here at work, the computer is home). At the time it was pretty decent (for me); I think I paid about $1700 for it. It has Vista on it.

It is no longer my primary computer [I bought a DS rig a few months back]. Over the years I've added ram, replaced the power supply, and upgraded the graphics card after the original failed.

The computer is in a bad state. Probably, I'm guessing, due to the software. It often won't boot up right (no image on the monitor), sometimes when it boots it either wants to run CHKDSK or it asks if I want to run in Safe Mode. When it runs CHKDSK it locks up after a while. Often when trying to boot in Safe Mode it just locks up. When I finally do get it up and running it often locks up. I can't even get the Task Manager up. So it's pretty useless to me at this point.

Right now my priority is to get my data off it. Photos, documents, and such. I'm trying to copy all that to an external drive. Even that has issues. Halfway thru while copying folders last night it just locked up. Heck, it took me an hour before it even recognized that I connected an external drive.

Once I get everything of value off it I would like to do something to make the computer useful again. I would also like to tinker. I am asking here for options and/or opinions. I don't anticipate ever using it as a gaming rig again. Email, maybe some photo editing, web surfing... things like that is probably what I'd use it for. My inclination is to just do a fresh install of a new OS. Maybe Win 7. Or maybe I'll experiment with Linux. Maybe it's possible to partition it so I have a couple different OS's??

I want to use this as an opportunity to experiment and learn. But I've never installed a new OS. I don't know that doing that will even solve the issues with the system. Maybe I have some bad hardware. I am not opposed to spending some money on it.

So any advice is welcome. Once I have everything of value copied off the rig, what are my options for restoring the computer to a useful state? Help me get my geek on!

Thanks for reading (and hopefully replying!)

Oh hey, that could be just the thing I need! Thank you very much. I'll look into that for sure.

Originally posted by bprat22 If not, a 12 gauge works great.  Let us know.

PULL!

Originally posted by bprat22 If CHKDSK keeps freezing then it is possible the HDD is going bad.  If could also be just corrupted files on it.After getting all your info transferred i would run a HDD diagnostic routine on the drive.  HD Tune, HDD Scan, or a manufacturer's utility for that drive should work.

I'll see if I can do that. Assuming that I can even get online to access one.

Originally posted by bprat22 Then re-install a fresh OS on the drive, selecting to wipe the drive if you get the option and going from there.

Yeah, that is what I'm thinking too. I do want to try Linux but also Win 7 as well. I'm just not sure how to do both.

Originally posted by bprat22 Might be worth the time to, with all the issues, to reseat all the plugs to mobo, video card, drives etc, reseat the ram and video card and blow it clean of any dust.If the Gateway propriety mobo has a cmos reset jumper, then resetting cmos might clear any gremlins sneaking about.

I had not thought about checking all that.

No idea how to reset cmos...

Thanks for all the tips!

oh, and regarding the USB to IDE Adapter, now that I think about it, I have several old computers (pre-2000) that I'd like to look at. That adapter would probably work for those too. I'm hoping.

It has not been a pressing issue for me so I've not put much thought into it but... replacing that cmos battery on my old machines may do the trick to allow them to boot up. Crazy I know.

Well things are not going well retrieving the data. I purchased a USB3 adapter and hooked it up. I don't know if my drive is just bad or what. It spins up fine with no odd noise and seems to maintain speed and all that. Windows 8.1 recognizes it, beeps, and bring up the folder thing (where I can see all the drives). It assigns it H: and starts to read it. Then... another beep and the H: drive disappears. Anywhere between 5 and 10 seconds later it shows up again and starts to be read (I see the status bar at the top). Bang... it's gone again. This process of seeing it, giving it a drive letter, reading it, then stopping, repeats itself over and over again.

I rebooted, reconnected, tried all I could think of but still can't make any progress. Either the adapter I got is bad, or my hard drive is bad.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Yes, it does have it's own power source.

I forgot about the HDD diagnostic program you had mentioned. Thanks for the reminder. That HD Tune is a program that is currently on my DS rig?

Hopefully the adapter is not bad since I just bought it but I guess that is no guarantee. If I do have to install it inside my DS, I'll probably be asking for more help. I don't have the Sata cables you mentioned unless they are already inside the rig.

Thanks again.