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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
        
(Message started by: E-Double on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 10:05pm)

Title: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by E-Double on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 10:05pm

I installed a wireless router today......

While I was dicking around here my comp. froze and could not turn off with Start bar so I had to do so manually......

Turn back on and all hell broke loose!!!!

Have been on phone with support for hours just trying to get to system recovery....

Finally happened but said will lose all info on it and will go back to the way it was when I bought it.....

I have some things backed up but not all info....MY DAMN BUSINESS & LIFE IS ON THAT SHIT!!!!

ANY IDEAS OR ADVICE BEFORE I TAKE THAT PLUNGE????

Thanks in advance!!!!

ERIC THE COMPUTER PHOBIC

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by the_old_man on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 10:13pm

If you have Windows XP go to "start". "all programs", "accessories", "system tools", then "system restore". Choose to restore your system to 2 days ago and see what happens. If that doesn't do the trick and you have the XP disk, boot to the disk and go to the recovery console and choose the repair option. That will reinstall the XP without losing any of your data. It'll actually repair any corrupt files you may have. If neither of these things work...you're probably screwed.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by E-Double on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 10:17pm

Appreciate it old guy ;)

I can't even boot it up!

Thanks though

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by Opus on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 10:18pm

Do you have Knoppix (http://www.knoppix.net/)?, if not get it and back up your datat to a CD, DVD, networked computer, or a USB hard drive, or if you can't do that crack the case and install anouther harddrive, you can formate it to fat32 with Qparted, on Knoppix, then copy the files over. I saved my local computer shop owners data doing just that.

The problem is probably a bad driver, google for others with the same problem.

Opus/Paul

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by Mr. Happy on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 10:41pm

If you can't boot from a CD or floppy, then the judges give you a 9.7 on being screwed. Maybe you'll be lucky and it's only the power supply, or the mother board, or RAM, or anything but your hard drive.

Good to see you doing Religious Backups, and praying nothing goes wrong.

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I'll bet that's expensive.
RJ

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by Rock_Lobster on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 10:58pm

1 - Just unplug your hard drive now.

2 - Then...

a - Plug it into another system as drive #2 and copy off all your stuff.

b - Pick up a new hard drive and install your OS on that. When the new rig is up and running, plug your old hard drive in as drive #2 the copy all your important stuff to your new master drive.

3 - Punch yourself in the nuts for not backing up your 'DAMN BUSINESS & LIFE'. ;)

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by E-Double on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 11:50pm

OPUS.....You lost me

Randy.....I'm Praying

Rock......Nuts are extremely soar!

Thanks all!
I feel like a big douche!!!

hoping for nothing too major.

E.

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by fubar on Mar 4^th, 2005, 1:09am

The tech probably wants you to do a full system restore from their CD that came with the system. This would wipe everything out back to factory fresh, and would make your data basically irretrievable.

This indicates that there is no hardware problem at all, so the following is your best route if you plan to get any of that data back.

Buy a new drive. It does not have to be the same brand or size, but it must be the same type of drive (IDE, SATA, etc.) In all likelihood, it is an IDE drive, so just go find a good deal on any decent sized IDE drive such as:

Maxtor L01P160 7200 RPM 160 GB Internal Hard Drive (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008DSRF/qid=1109915966/br=1-2/ref=br_lf_e_2//102-3556799-0702530?v=glance&s=electronics&n=3151481) for $99.95

Once you have the new drive, simply replace the old drive with the new one and use the system restore CD. In most cases, this will work without a hitch. In a few cases, the CD is trying to identify the drive type (a manufacturer’s code it reports back to the setup program) and will only install on original equipment. In those cases, you are forced to buy a new drive from the manufacturer at prices that seem unfair to me. Anyway, if this works, you will have a fresh new system with a much larger drive than before. And, you have your old drive so we can extract good data from it.

Once everything is up and running, you’ll want to get the data off the old drive. If you know what you’re doing, it’s not too hard. I would recommend that you simply buy an external HD enclosure (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00011CNW6/qid=1109916521/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-electronics/102-3556799-0702530?v=glance&s=electronics&n=172282) that can connect to your system with a USB or FireWire cable. This way, you’re not trying to go through all the steps to make sure the computer can boot with both of those drives connected to the same internal cable. Once this is assembled with the old drive, you simply plug it in and start copying whatever you need off of the drive. Plus it makes a handy dandy BACKUP device when you’re all done getting your data.

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by Gator on Mar 4^th, 2005, 2:42am

Lots of good advice here. I would only add before you reconnect your old drive to your newly loaded computer and transfer your data onto the new drive, install and fully update a virus scan program and make sure it is active. Do a scan on all files on the old drive before copying anything. That way if anything on your old hard drive has a virus, you can catch it.

Just something I always do even if the problem isn't virus related.

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by Drk^Angel on Mar 4^th, 2005, 3:02am

Why not just install XP/2k to a new directory, or install 9x over the existing installation? If it's not a hardware issue, this should get you a bootable OS. Although... If all you have is restore disks... You may not be able to do this... Oh well... You're screwed... Use this as a learning experience.

PFDAN................................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by jokrs2 on Mar 4^th, 2005, 3:14am

I agree with fubar and gator. I remember the simple days where I had 500 pages of flow charts in cobal, 100 boxes of punch cards halfway through loading into the IBM360 and some moron opened the door and the humidity in the room changed and dorked the computer. Things are so much simpler now, but crashes still suck! Best of luck to you. Joe

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by lionsound on Mar 4^th, 2005, 7:31am

HELLOOOOOO??????

....and why didn't you call my house????
you know who I live with, Don't you?:)

-roar

(of course if you computer is really that busted..then you can't read this unless you guys have another....)

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by E-Double on Mar 4^th, 2005, 8:05am

Thanks all.....

speaking Greek to me......
using wife's computer for now.

Another one of Life's shitty lessons...
This sucks!

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by Cooked Brain on Mar 4^th, 2005, 8:18am

To get the pc to boot from CD you might have to asign this in your BIOS (boot-drive options), you should be able to enter BIOS by pressing 'del' or 'f8' immediately after the first screen comes on.

Tried this yet?

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by E-Double on Mar 4^th, 2005, 10:42am

on 03/04/05 at 08:18:43, Cooked Brain wrote:

What next???
Also found my disc for XP upgrade or recovery yet Can't figure how to run it.....followed instructions given by tech genius friend but doesn't work?????

TY again!!

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Need HELP!!!!!
Post by Cooked Brain on Mar 4^th, 2005, 1:49pm

if the pc does not even let you enter your BIOS you're really screwed, sorry mate...

Title: Re: Computer Geniuses...Thanks for help
Post by E-Double on Mar 4^th, 2005, 2:22pm

Software problem......Hopefully

Had to bring it to a pro.....

We shall see ...have to wait!

Thanks all and I guess I won't be around as much b/c now I have to share with the wife.

E.

All Better!!!!