Computer Savvy people? PC is screwed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Opivy
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Opivy

Opivy

Nova Police
so... Didn't know where else to post this - but I really need help.

My PC will not start up - It goes to the VAIO screen (I have a sony vaio) and then to "intel inside" kinda thing - then the black screen with a little typing line blinking

then completly black.

Trying to start in safe mode, it loads all the drivers - then stops there, with all the text frozen on screen.

The only thing I can think of doing differently last night when I shut it down was leaving my USB interface, AND my USB keyboard plugged in.

Thought that might be the problem, so I went into the BAIOS(I think that's what it's called) and disabled my MIDI controller under the USB tab.

Still no luck -

After searching a little bit I've seen people recommending using the XP disc and doing a "repair" in this kind of situation.

My questions ofcourse are, should I do this? Will i lose any files, applications - or drivers? ( had to completely reformat my computer in october, and finding the proper drivers for my PC was a huge hassle) Also, I'd hate to think of reinstaling all the apps I had on there - almost as much as losing all of my audio.


Really bummed, Had the house to myself tonight for the first time in a while - decided I wanted to record some piano, and I can't even boot my PC!

Really appreciate all the help I've gotten from you guys - but I've never needed it this bad! Already got the windows CD in, but afraid to continue with anything if there might be another option.
 
as for advice, it sounds like you have a driver/hardware issue.


A windows "repair" could rebuild your boot files/sector so on and so forth, but here's my advice.
Uninstall any new drivers and/or hardware and see how you're computer boots then. If it works just fine then check with the manufacturer of your hardware for a fix.
Tbh though, it sounds like a hardware issue you if your OS won't even load... If your hard drive is corrupt that could be causing non-access to standard boot files and if it's your mobo(motherboard) it could be that your mother board is having the issue. I had a VERY similar problem to yours not too long ago and it was my motherboard biting the dust.
Another cause could be a USB device. Some motherboards refuse to boot when you have USB devices plugged in, so like I said, uninstall any new hard ware and drivers and USB devices and if that doesn't work THEN rebuild your boot sector and what-not.
If nothing after that works then I would assume that it's your hard drive and/or mother board
 
well, I didn't realize anythin goes - but the I don't have that much stuff recorded.

There's no way I've had another HD die. I literally just bought a new one (hence the reformat) one of them survived half way - and I was able to get at least half of my shemale porn onto it.

I've been running on a small harddrive since, (Seemed too complicated to reinstall all of my apps onto the larger one) which is running as a slave. I simply just slide files over there - and have since built a quite admirable collection of biazarre pornography.

So... that being said - I doubt either of my hadrrives have died-

KOP - you mention the USB devices (which were installed weeks for the interface, and months for the keyboard) prior - but I have never had them plugged in when shutting down/booting up.

So that does seem like it could be the problem - but if I can't even get through in safe mode - how would I uninstall these guys?

I really want to get it working tonight, but don't want to do the "XP boot disc repair" thing if it's a hardware issue. (if it is so, I'll simply buy whatever it takes, I can't lose that shemale porn ya know)

But what could be the consequenecs of doing a repair in Windows?

and yes, I know - I can't help but use endless parenthensis
 
well to be perfectly clear, what are you meaning by "doing a repair"?

New copy of windows?
System restore?
Rebuild boot files/boot sector/fix master boot record etc...?


Another thing that comes to mind is using a hirens disc to boot from and go in and delete any new drivers.


And don't worry, I use alot of (parenthesis) too...
 
ack, well - I just moved 3 months ago, and fixed my PC one month prior to that... Didn't think I would need it anymore, and I think i tossed it. I knew it was a very useful tool (helped me fix my PC during my last turnover) but I might still have it. i'm very forgetful/drunk all the time.

by the repair (i've just read about this tonight, have never done it)

when I boot from the Windows XP disc - it asks me "Enter to install windows (don't quote me exactly) or push R to run a repair on windows)

read about it from this link - people mention it as the solution to the problem.

http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-31177-xp-won-t-start-not-even-in-safe-mode
 
On the black screen with the little blinking cursor thingy, type the following:

C:\FORMAT

No, kidding, don't do that... :laughings:

I'd recommend an exorcism.

See, this is the sort of puerile and possibly dangerous response that KoP was warning you about...

No idea, sorry.

If it makes you feel any better, I killed a laptop on the weekend with red wine, coaxed just enough life out of it the next morning after attacking it with a hairdryer and using my TV as a monitor to do a backup, then it died completely again, so I went and bought a new one the next day.

As soon as it saw it had competition, it started working again...

Now I have two laptops...

Luckily I don't use them to record!

Good luck - sounds like you'll need it!
 
Lol, I have real bad luck with fixing things... Tried to unclog a glass pipe with a small pair of scissors no realizing that scissors are wedged shaped...

When I broke my arm when I was about 13, the cast smelled terrible - so i dumped lots of rubbing alcohol down it thinking it would just evaporate. (it peeled my skin)

trying to clean my keyboard (qwerty) by taking out all of the keys, only to lose a few of them.

My friend once tried to fix his computer by deleting everything in his C drive... (I believe that's similar to what you were trying to get me to do armistice?) This one makes me feel better about myself.

But really, is there any downside to doing this windows repair thing? I've got it all loaded up, but can't bring myself to do it without someone telling me it's cool.

Besides you Armistice - You've not only proved yourself untrustworthy - but that you're also a drunk who is clumsy with computers.
 
Opivy said:
ack, well - I just moved 3 months ago, and fixed my PC one month prior to that... Didn't think I would need it anymore, and I think i tossed it. I knew it was a very useful tool (helped me fix my PC during my last turnover) but I might still have it. i'm very forgetful/drunk all the time.

by the repair (i've just read about this tonight, have never done it)

when I boot from the Windows XP disc - it asks me "Enter to install windows (don't quote me exactly) or push R to run a repair on windows)

read about it from this link - people mention it as the solution to the problem.

http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-31177-xp-won-t-start-not-even-in-safe-mode
Click to expand...

Ok, that's the windows XP recovery console. You could do some damage with that....
A tip that helped me when I was learning about the recovery console was the help feature.
When you get in to the console type in "help" to get a list of commands you can use then type in the command you want to know more about and then put /? after it. The command prompt will then tell you what the command is and what it does.
Things like CHDSK and CHDIR, FIXBOOT, FIXMBR are gonna be your go to guys but like I said, put /? after the command to learn more... as long as you don't just go off using every command you should be fine.
 
Opivy said:
My friend once tried to fix his computer by deleting everything in his C drive... (I believe that's similar to what you were trying to get me to do armistice?) This one makes me feel better about myself.

But really, is there any downside to doing this windows repair thing? I've got it all loaded up, but can't bring myself to do it without someone telling me it's cool.

Besides you Armistice - You've not only proved yourself untrustworthy - but that you're also a drunk who is clumsy with computers.
Click to expand...

There is a difference between going on a deleting spree on your C drive and properly formatting a hard drive.

Like I said before, the repair console is safe as long as you use common sense and don't go backasswards command crazy.
 
Alright, it's KoP's nighty night time.



opivy - let me know how it goes, shoot me a PM or a visitor message
 
hehe - well I'm not trying to reformat - or delete my C drive =0. Was just saying all that stuff as this is the "cave" and realized this post might not be taken seriously.

But thanks for the help KOP =0 I owe ya one.

I guess I'll just have to be patient on this one - I have some friends who are pretty good with computers - It's just the one time I need em' they are nowhere to be found. I really wanted to get it fixed tonight and try to record some piano stuff - but as it is now Im probably too intoxicated to give it a good go.

In your opinion though, what do you think I should do?
I'm actually hoping it's some kind of hardware crapped out ( aside from my hard drives, I really don't want to have to go from a blank slate ) because I wouldn't mind buying a new Motherboard or whatever.
Or could it really be something to do with my USB devices? I've disabled even the "Legacy USB" in my BAIOS (Which I'm not even sure what LEGACY USB is) and still to no avail. I don't get how my USb devices could suddenly be a problem - but it makes sense in that the only thing I did different was leaving them plugged in.

Or is it possible that this is a virus/malaware problem? I have a very good antivir program, and whenever I get a whiff of something fishy - I find the culprit files off some website and manually delete them from the registry.
 
It's my understanding that the repair windows deal will basically put the OS back to its original installed state that the disk offered; IE, sp1, sp2 or the original 2001 version of the system. This means that all the service packs and windows updates would need to be re-downloaded and re-installed. It also means that any programs you currently have installed that are sp1,2 or 3 dependent to operate will not work and any newer drivers needed would also need to be re-installed.

The repair console is not a user friendly interface and is primarily designed for the total geek squad type of person only.

On top of all of that, your hard drive may indeed be dead and is why you're having these issues. Usually, most computers give off a beep when they're booting up. That beep is telling you that everything in the hardware was recognized and registered with the mobo's bios. If you don't hear that beep, then you can in fact suspect a hardware issue. When you boot up the computer and press the DEL key, you should be able to see the bios program and check to see if the hardware is all showing up there. If a primary drive is missing from the list, you'll know that's a hardware/wiring harness problem.

Cheers! :)
 
Sorry I did not see this earlier.

First off - The very first thing you should do it pull out your hard drive, then take it to a different computer and install it as a data drive. See if you can read the drive - if not, you know what your problem is. Then copy off all of your data files. Then if need be back them up to DVD-Rs or whatever backup media you prefer.

Then while your drive is still connected to the other PC, run a virus scan on it. Some viruses can KO your operating system. If this is what happened you are probably fucked, but you want to make sure your drive is clean before you go further.

Then you can try to repair. You can try booting an XP CD and running the Repair Console. In my experience, this almost never works, but hope springs eternal. :)

Next you need to make some decisions. If your hard drive seems to be working OK, and you are relatively sure the rest of your PC is functional, you need to decide whether to do a clean wipe & install or to try and put it back the way it was. The first is easy, it just takes time. To do the second, boot up an XP CD and start an install. XP will see that there is an existing install there and will give you the option of installing over the top of it. As was said, this will overwrite some updates & patches, but if you are lucky it will preserve all of your programs and settings.

In my experience you are always better off spending the time to do a clean install. However I have done both (I do this stuff for a living) and trying the latter is your only option if you have programs installed that you can't re-install (usually because you no longer have the install disks).

I hope this helps a bit.... there are a lot of tricks to use in a case like this, but I cant pass on years of experience in just a few paragraphs. :) Good luck!
 
Sorry guys, I moved this thread to the computer forum and cleaned it up. Some posts I really hated to delete :(..... but, it didn't belong in the cave in the first place.
 
The Ghost of FM said:
It's my understanding that the repair windows deal will basically put the OS back to its original installed state that the disk offered; IE, sp1, sp2 or the original 2001 version of the system. This means that all the service packs and windows updates would need to be re-downloaded and re-installed. It also means that any programs you currently have installed that are sp1,2 or 3 dependent to operate will not work and any newer drivers needed would also need to be re-installed.

The repair console is not a user friendly interface and is primarily designed for the total geek squad type of person only.

On top of all of that, your hard drive may indeed be dead and is why you're having these issues. Usually, most computers give off a beep when they're booting up. That beep is telling you that everything in the hardware was recognized and registered with the mobo's bios. If you don't hear that beep, then you can in fact suspect a hardware issue. When you boot up the computer and press the DEL key, you should be able to see the bios program and check to see if the hardware is all showing up there. If a primary drive is missing from the list, you'll know that's a hardware/wiring harness problem.

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...

nope .
 
cyrano said:
Sounds like "Disk full" to me...
Click to expand...

typically if your disk is approaching its limit there will be several warnings of such throughout varies sessions of use.

and it would still boot into your OS.

The reason it wont load windows is probably because the hard drive is damaged or destroyed....

hopefully you can get some data rescue.
 
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