(Sigur Rós)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OFMjE1KUfA

This sounds as a serious problem.
First thing to do is to take a file backup of all personal content that you would not want to loose if the PC breaks completely down.

It sounds as a problem that could be hard to trouble shoot......

No matter what the problem is it will hard for you to find out if you have actually corrected the problem already because your method of working , with all due respect , then it seems to be lacking.
Your installation seems to be damaged and even if you have corrected the problem or does correct the problem then the PC might keep acting up software/O.S. wise because of the seemingly damaged installation....

Best methology of working is to have one or more or image based backups of your installation (+ do an additional file backup now and then of changed content) and then in case of a problem you can file save/copy altered content and restore the installation from the backup, after any attempt to fix things, and see how things work then.

From your description "I it got stuck in the 'Loading Asus Express Gate' " then it could be that you have a hardware problem (but as said even after a fix of a hardware problem you need to restore software/O.S. to a previous working state to see if you efford have already helped).

Blue screens and loss of files can often be associated with Motherboard problems , CPU problems , RAM problems and HD problems.....
RAM is checked by running the Memtest86 or the Memtest86+ (both free to download)
http://www.memtest86.com & http://www.memtest.org

You problem is very hard to pinpoint exactly (especially by remote virtual support like this) and your efforts up until now seems commendable.
However as you do not have my extreme experience then you , as most others , are probably not aware that some motherboards sometimes can act up and that this SOMETIMES can be fixed by doing a total "reset" of the Motherboard. I can not guarantee that it will fix your problem (hell you might even have fixed your problem already and just sits with a damaged O.S.) but I will explain how to "reset" a Mother board (in case you want to try that. Warning your MotherBoard, or other component, could already be going dead from what you describe).
To fully "reset" a Mother board :
Turn off PC power (pullout the PC power plug), remove all cables , RAM and CPU from motherboard. Remove Motherboard battery , then shortcircuit the CMOS memory thoroughly also (if this is done by a jumber then leave the jumper on) , then attach motherboard power cables and powerswitch + powerplug to PC. Without anything else (Also without RAM and CPU) then power on the board for some seconds. Pullout the PC power plug , remove the CMOS memory shortcircuit. Attach the PC power plug and then power on the board for some seconds.. Pullout the PC power plug and put on RAM , CPU, CMOS battery, and graphics card back + attach keyboard, mouse and screen . Attach the PC power plug.
This elaborate procedure should make any board (- BIOS damaged) forget any "bad" ideas it may have had.
Now tun on your board and see if you think that treatment has improved condition.
If not, you can attempt to flash the BIOS (+ load standard values afterwards) which might fix a BIOS problem.

To me it sounds as your board could have a "fatal" problem (though it could also be either RAM , CPU or HD drive) and the above suggested treatment attempt is only meant for boards without any "fatal illnes".

The whole above described procedure should only be attempted performed by very competent persons with a good understanding of PCs and electronics !!!!
All advice is given "as is" , plus all advice taken by you is taken at your own responsebility.

I fucking love you, guys. I really love you. GOG.com is the best website ever, I mean it. Why are you so angry? Life is good, there is love for everyone, don' worry, be happy. YEAH!

This is where we go to vent to other GOG users. Think of it as GOG's "Group Therapy" thread. The best part? Free therapy! ......Although, I doubt anybody here is a licensed therapist. But, sometimes talking to friends is therapeutic enough. Besides, who's happy 100% of the time? That would be very unhealthy.

Thank you all for the computer related suggestions. If the problem returns, I'll start checking out the inners of the computer more thoroughly and possibly even get another hard drive with Linux in it to see if it's the Windows acting up (though since the computer refused to boot altogether, I'd imagine it's a hardware related thing). If I feel the need to reset the motherboard, I'll ask some of my computer savvier acquaintances to help me out. I'll try and find a bigger desk, this one is too small for the case, as in it couldn't fit on it even if the monitor wasn't on it, and so the computer's on the floor.

My CM Sentinel Advance worked for a day. Now it's dead. Let's hope the customer support can be arsed to give a quick reply.

Screw that, the store should be willing to handle that in the first 30 days, does it work differently all the way up there in the North?
Look, we're all armchair experts here, who needs real therapists?!!!

Hehe, but you're absolutely right. Sometimes crap happens and it's terribly frustrating.

It appears that this particular store has a 14-day policy. But anyway, it appears that other people have had similar problems and that customer support handles each one separately. I have yet to see whether the system works or not, but I already think it's rubbish: there isn't a proper troubleshooting section on their forum, so problems - and their solutions - are kept hidden from the public.

...........back to being single............./sigh

congratz, u are free now and can do whatever u want

just a couple days ago I dropped some serious bread on a ring............

Would this be a bad time to make a proctology joke?

Consider it an investment for the future? Maybe you can say it's been in the family for ages? Maybe wear it yourself and say "fuck you!" to anyone who makes disparaging comments and then use the diamond to cut penis shaped holes in their car windscreen

Am I correct in thinking that the shop wouldn't take it back for a refund?

Nah, engagement rings should not be used on more then one woman (unless it's passed down through the fam).

I'd have to get it re-sized and then 3 big ass diamonds are not exactly manly..... oh well.....glad I didn't go overboard and get the 10k ring :/

Its BLING! It shows you're a kick arse rich bastard who doesn't give a shit who he confuses by wearing traditionally female jewellery. Did I mention cutting penis shaped holes into people's windscreen? How can you say no? Could it fit on your pinky perhaps (err pinky FINGER I mean). Ooh and when you punch someone it'd leave a mark like The Phantom's skull ring!

It's jewelery and ought to symbolize the end of life as you know it and what better way than with a 100% genuine blood diamond.