Computer Crash...Eggheads Wanted!!

[94GTLaserRC]

My second computer (the one my wife mainly uses) seems to have crashed last night.

At first, I got a Non-system Disk error. I changed the boot-sequence in the setup to bypass the floppy, and it looked as though it was getting ready to start up. THEN, I got the screen that asks if you want to continue, or boot in safe mode. The keyboard errors will not let me toggle to go to safe mode. As a result, the timer counts down from 30 seconds, and it "tries" to start, then it just go back to the initial screen and starts over again.


Any suggestions on what to try next?

Does this sound like a hard drive issue or Windows issue?

I had a friend put Windows XP on this computer, so I do NOT have an extra copy. The only XP I own is the one on this computer I am typing on.

Thanks
RC

 

[Ozz]

Can you get into Last Known Good Configuration? That's where you'd want to go first before logging on again. Skipping the floppy drive in the boot sequence wouldn't make a difference if you aren't booting from it anyway.

 

[wytstang]

Is this screen blue by any chance? My computer crashed about a month ago due to the blue screen blocking every thing and lost all data. Stupid my did not back up my files, I hope yours are, good luck and hopefully it's something easy to fix.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Can you get into Last Known Good Configuration? That's where you'd want to go first before logging on again. Skipping the floppy drive in the boot sequence wouldn't make a difference if you aren't booting from it anyway.

I get to the "SCREEN" that says:

Boot in Safe Mode
Last Known Config.
Start Windows Normally.


The last is what is highlighted...it says to use arrows to select which one you want. The highlight bar will not move...it's like the keyboard doesnt work to let me get there, but the keyboard lights DO flash when I start up the computer.

RC

 

[fordtech28]

it sounds like a windows problem I'm a computer tech and I have come across this problem once in a while its part windows and part hardware issue.You need the Windows Xp CD to fix it.Try going into last good configuration or into safe mode sometimes the screen resolution goes out of whack and makes it do that too.Good Luck

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Ok...I changed keyboards to one with the old port (not usb) I was able to choose "last good config" but it still goes into a loop. When I choose it, it goes back to trying to start up and I end up at the same screen.

I put in a Windows CD from This computer, and Im now trying to boot from that one.

I should choose "repair windows" and not "install windows", correct?

When I did that it just brought me back to a screen that says type "EXIT" to exit recovery and restart....I end up in a loop again.

RC

 

[94GTLaserRC]

If I go out and buy a new HD (one in computer now is fairly old) and Vista, Can I put them in, then use the bad HD now as a slave, and hopefully recover most of my files?

Thanks
RC

 

[fordtech28]

Ok...I changed keyboards to one with the old port (not usb) I was able to choose "last good config" but it still goes into a loop. When I choose it, it goes back to trying to start up and I end up at the same screen.

I put in a Windows CD from This computer, and Im now trying to boot from that one.

I should choose "repair windows" and not "install windows", correct?

When I did that it just brought me back to a screen that says type "EXIT" to exit recovery and restart....I end up in a loop again.

RC

Ok do this when its booting with the windows xp cd on the first screen hit enter do not hit repair then it will say do you accept the licensing agreement hit f8 after that part it will try to detect your current windows xp install and there should be a repair option hit repair this is the way to do it to keep your files intact make sure when it says" leave current file system intact " hit that option. Sorry for the long sentence Good Luck

 

[1slow95]

Ok do this when its booting with the windows xp cd on the first screen hit enter do not hit repair then it will say do you accept the licensing agreement hit f8 after that part it will try to detect your current windows xp install and there should be a repair option hit repair this is the way to do it to keep your files intact make sure when it says" leave current file system intact " hit that option. Sorry for the long sentence Good Luck

That's a bit excessive for a first step, but it might get it going again. What I would do first is take the XP cd out of the drive, when the computer is booting up before you get to the startup list repeatedly press F8. Now you should have several more options on the list, hopefully including "Disable Automatic restart on system failure". Select that one and tell us what blue screen error it gets.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Never mind.!

I bought a new computer with Vista on it...Now I just gotta figure out how to use it.

Also, I wanted to put the "crashed" drive in as a slave to get me docs/fav's/MP3's, etc, but it is not compatible...The old drive is an IDE, and the new is that small cable.

Anyone know if Best Buy has the IDE to USB cable so I can hook up my old drive to the computer..?

I need a cheap one!
RC

 

[1slow95]

I don't know if Best Buy has them, but you can find them online for cheap.

Good luck with Vista, it can be a real pita at times.

 

[urban96]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186015


or you could go with an enclosure

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817146061