How to Survive the Worst PC Disasters

To prepare for that inevitable day, save this article: The next time some piece of hardware or software decides to take an unexpected vacation, pull out and consult our handy guide to see how to deal with some of computing's most devastating debacles.

Of course, this advice won't solve every tech-related problem you may come across, but it includes some neat tricks that you may not have thought of, such as freezing a bad hard drive to get it to boot one last time so you can retrieve your data, baking your wet mobile device in an oven set on low to make it functional again, and putting a delay on your outbound e-mail so you have a chance to reconsider the flame you just wrote.

If you're interested in a particular problem, here's a list of what we've included in the following pages:

1. Your computer won't boot
2. You just told off the CEO in an e-mail and instantly regret it
3. No PCs show on the network
4. Your identity has been stolen!
5. Your Net connection is dead
6. You're being sued by the RIAA/MPAA
7. Your device just got doused with water--or worse
8. You're inundated with pop-ups when you boot your PC (adware/spyware infestation)
9. You deleted a critical file--and have no backup
10. Your hard drive has crashed
11. You forgot your Windows password
12. Your presentation just croaked

For more in this package, be sure to check out the following items:

• Dip into our readers' tales of PC disasters.
• Browse to our troubleshooting forum for additional answers to vexing questions.
• Read "10 Fast Fixes for Nagging PC Problems" to combat lesser PC troubles.
• Consult our step-by-step guide "In Pictures: How to Clean Up a Tough Spyware Infestation."
• View our video "Disaster! How to Salvage a Wet Gadget."