This title may seem like an unrealistic statement to many, but when Windows or whatever operating system you have does take a nosedive, it isn't the end of the world. Most computers are so user-friendly that it is easy to fix problems on your own. Here are a few things to try before you panic and go out and buy a new computer or call in an expensive repairman, thinking all your songwriting data is lost. Chances are, everything is fine and perfectly safe in your Documents file--you just need to take an hour or two of time and all will be well again.
FIND YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM DISKS
You should keep all of these near your computer, anyway, or in some other safe place. In the case of my Windows98SE system, there is a CD and a floppy, and you need to put both of these into your computer and then reboot it, or whatever your system's directions tell you to do if you have your instruction book handy. Don't worry if everything is misspelled or still looks horrible, hopefully this will take care of your 'puter's problems.
FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS
Chances are, you can read the directions enough to get by. Choose the options of starting the system from the CD, even if it asks you if you are sure you want to do this-trust me, you do. An expert should perform all the other options, and you are probably not one. Eventually, you will get to the setup screen, and you should have a formatted blank floppy nearby, or your last setup disk you made if you did one. The new data will erase the old on that floppy, but that is okay. You will be prompted to take out the bootup disk, probably, and put in your new one-do as it says and remove it when asked to. Setup will then continue. The computer will probably turn itself on and off several times, but that is fine-it probably knows what to do. If it does freeze up again for a while, unplug it from the wall and wait a minute before plugging it back in, or it may just stay stuck in whatever loop it was in. Eventually, it will get itself to "Safe Mode." If you have been told that your antiviral program is having troubles, you might try uninstalling it for now-you can always put it back later, but at least try to disable it, if it will let you. If not, just uninstall it so it won't interfere with your System fixing itself. After this, just shut your computer down normally and walk away for a bit-just restarting often won't allow some things to install properly.
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