A friend brought me his laptop to fix. He mistakenly thinks I "know all about computers"and the truth is I know very little. Most of what I do know I learned here. The first time he brought it over I did look through it. But I was sick and didn't have time to fool with it. (was in hospital several weeks). He then took it to a computer shop here in town. Before, when I looked it over, the option to restore (not a total)was there. Now that option is completely gone and gives the message "there are no files to do so". He cannot find any dvd, cd or anything else to back up files. Probably didn't make any.

The cursor jumps all over the place, no matter if I am using the mouse or keys or pad. It seems to have most Document Folders and Pictures, and if I work long enough I can open them. Although it would connect when it was here before, it won't connect to internet any more.

Anyway, is there a way for him to fix his lap top enough to use. It's got/had windows 10.I think it must be about 5 or six years old. Or is it's future a doorstop?

Thanks in Advance
Arlene

You didn't tell us what the computer store's diagnosis was. That would be helpful.

You say the cursor jumps all over the place. Is that even when you are not touching the mouse, touchpad or keyboard?

Try booting Windows 10 into Safe Mode and see if it behaves any differently.
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10/

At 5 or 6 years old, the hard drive may be failing, or there may be other hardware problems. Do you have the skill and or desire to disassemble the laptop to get the hard drive out? Do you have a SATA to USB adapter cable or dock to hook the hard drive to your computer to try to get data?

I got into safe mode earlier, but now the cursor is uncontrollable. When I went to safe mode earlier, I couldn't really notice a difference.

Somewhere I still have SATA to USB adapter cable, but luckily about a year ago I saved all their pictures and a few documents, I think they really just want to use this laptop for games and such. Not sure if I could still muster up the ability though.

I think if I could fix the mouse "dance" issue, they might be happy, I will try a few of your suggestions.

Thank you

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You didn't tell us what the computer store's diagnosis was. That would be helpful.

I think he told them it couldn't be fixed. Seems funny to me though that you can still see and save pictures and read documents IF you can control the mouse. This is the same mouse I used before and of course the pad is same.

If anything got spilled into the laptop, that could cause erratic behavior. Sometimes people don't know that anything got spilled into their computer because someone else did it and tried to clean it or cover it up. ANY drink with sugar or acid in it can destroy circuit boards.