Computers mostly jog along without bother. Then one day all that changes and everything that you try to remedy the fault either doesn't work or even makes matters worse (the 'slippery slope' syndrome ). Reasons why a working computer might turn quickly into an expensive door-stop or an object that causes anger are various. They range from:

* I didn't do anything, honestly! This is a really perplexing situation, especially if you've always been nice to your computer by doing all the things that are supposed to be good for it.

* Installing a bit of software that doesn't agree with the computer. The installation goes and modifies something so that, even when the software is uninstalled, the computer still doesn't work properly.

* A troublesome upgrade or update.

* Malware, short for malicious software. Malware covers viruses, trojans, browser hijackings, rootkits. These infections are not always easy to remove even with the correct tools. Malware can infiltrate a system so thoroughly that only a disk format can completely remove it. This is sometimes the reason for the first point (the 'I didn't do anything, honestly!' one). There is such a thing as 'drive-by malware' that can picked up by purely visiting a site.

* User error. Perhaps a program hasn't been removed correctly, a critical file has been deleted by mistake or you wondered what would happen if you tried something and found out the hard way!

Whatever the reason, the computer doesn't work properly and it's a case of what to do now. A few options are available (in no particular order):

* Turn the computer off and back on again. A reboot often sorts a problem out.

* Swear at it. This doesn't do any good but it makes you feel better.

* Thump it. This also doesn't do any good and may even have adverse effects but it makes you feel better.

* Search the internet to see if anyone has experienced the same difficulty (this often works).

* Try using a System Restore point that was made at a time before the trouble started.

* Ask about the problem in a forum. If it's a particular brand of software giving trouble, visit the relevant forum, put some search words into their search facility and see what comes up. This is another approach that often brings results.

* Turn to a specialist 'Computer Help' forum. There are always willing helpers.

* State the difficulty you are experiencing in your favorite forum, this can work and it's nice to see names you are familiar with trying to come up with answers ..and who might eventually suggest all of the above.

Now to an alternative solution that's almost guaranteed to work for all 'non-techy' people. It requires hardly any knowledge and the computer can be up and running correctly again within 20 minutes in most cases. I think the quick cure is what most of us would prefer, rather than the 'interest' a duff computer causes and the endless hours of pleasure sorting it out can give.

I'm talking about disk imaging. This is where a complete working system, complete with programs, settings and preferences are all written to another hard disk, a hard disk partition or to DVDs. You really don't need know what is causing a problem or how to cure it if you have a disk image. Making the image is easy with the correct software. A simple Internet search for 'disk imaging software' will bring up a number of software packages to choose from.

The idea is to make a backup of the entire working system while the computer is working correctly, then forget it. If your computer ever gives trouble for any reason and you cannot easily find the cause and repair it, you'll be very glad of that disk image. All that has to be done is use the 'working system' disk image to overwrite the faulty system and the problem will be gone.

No need to stop at one disk image. If you want, a number of images can be made with various security or other programs installed, perhaps also with various system configurations. You can try out all sorts of disastrous actions with a 'devil may care' attitude because all errors (even malware) can subsequently be over-written by a known good system image. Windows' own 'System Restore' can be switched off because the disk image is already a complete system backup.

Something you have to be careful of. If your faulty installation still works well enough, make sure you have saved any e-mails or new files you want keep to somewhere other than the C:\ drive before overwriting everything with a disk image. I've lost quite a few wanted e-mails, e-mail addresses and files this way. I'd hate to see the same happen to anyone else .

Or you can ask Mr TW!

Mr TW, what about when the computer makes a funny noise? Recently when I first switch mine on it makes a 'funny noise' so I immediately switch it off at the wall then switch it back on again and then it makes the normal noise.

Does this sound as if my hard drive is about to vacate the premises?

I do have an external hard drive which is constantly backing the computer up so I am not too worried about losing files. What I don't want to do is drag it to the mender and spend a fortune if there isn't a problem. The noise never happens after it has successfully booted.

One cause could be a noisy processor cooling fan. I've had that on a couple of computers I've owned. If it is that, it may be curable by making sure the fan blades are dust-free.

I did manage to get a spot of lubrication on the fan bearings on one of my computers. A tiny amount was applied using the end of a pin. Doing this every now and then would quieten it down for a while.

My current computer does it. As perhaps with your computer, it makes a vibrating noise that goes away shortly after boot up. It will ultimately need a new processor fan though.

It's difficult to be sure about this however because I'm not there to hear the noise. Can you write down the noise it makes?

Sort of mmmmmmphr - it just isn't the same as its normal sound and as I said, switch it off then on and it is normal, once booted correctly the noise doesn't return.

Bloomin' useless you are! I will pop into the computer place without it and ask what they think!

I think to be on the safe side I will shut it down when I go out - I heard of someone whose computer caught fire!

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Sort of mmmmmmphr

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Hmm! ..That could be a processor fan noise right enough

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Wow, I'm impressed, TW!!

Just thought of a possible way for someone not sitting there to be able to hear the noise.
Record the noise and make a wav out of it and put it online for people to hear.

I took it in the morning with a note as to what has been happening. Yesterday it was two attempts to get booted, this morning after the third I just gave up on it and heaved it into my car. I am using a laptop at the moment and wondering if it is worth setting up my spare computer or if the other one won't take too long.

If it does require a new hard drive at least they can ghost over the old contents so I won't have to reload my software.

I just had a phone call from the repairshop and they said it was my power supply which was noisy and also the fan needed cleaning out. they tested the hard drive and it appears to be fine. they did some houseekeeping, a defrag, emptied out my recycle bin and a few other bits. I told them to replace the power supply as I don't want it failing.

They will deliver it back to me this eveneing. Now I call that service - he said they pushed me up to the front of the queue as they know how I depend on my computer. Bless them.

Very interested to read about disk imaging software. I always thought you had to do some sort of complicated partitioning or at least buy a spare hard drive. I once looked at Norton Ghost and thought it looked difficult.

Is this just a matter of buying some software, installing it and then following on screen instructions? I see some are offered as freeware on the web, but is there any warning with this? What do you use? I am in US at the moment and everything computer is much cheaper. Can you recommend a buy?

Hello Bossyboots - You do need another partition on the hard disk. Alternatively, images would need to be made on an additional internal hard disk, an external hard disk or on DVDs. To make an image, it is just a matter of installing the necessary software and following the instructions.

Computers usually don't get so bad that you can't get into the system to access backups/images. However, if that does happen, the Acronis (my choice of software) installation disk can be used to start the computer, access the backups/images and begin the recovery process. I expect it would be possible to do that with other software, although perhaps you might have to make a boot disk separately.

I have read that free programs work but don't have experience of how well ..or how easy they are to use.