O/T - Computer question
Ed
My home PC is seemingly broken, it gets half way through the boot
gives up. It wont start in safe mode or normally. Do you think this
sounds terminal? I'm sure it did it once before but came back to life.
Maria
Can you boot it from the Windows CD?
(I had this problem once - it was a virus but I couldn't sort it until I
could get to the files to trace the virus, which I did using the Windows
boot CD...)
Krustov
<Ed>
<Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:35:31 -0700 (PDT)>
<89ad154c-9a49-4eb4...@59g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>
> My home PC is seemingly broken, it gets half way through the boot
> gives up. It wont start in safe mode or normally. Do you think this
> sounds terminal? I'm sure it did it once before but came back to life.
>
- take the side cover off
- hoover if dusty (or blow if no hoover attatchments)
- give everything a good wiggle
--
www.johnstonetown.co.uk/chatroom.php
(talk to krustov ..... LIVE!)
Ed
If I can find such a CD I can try it, but will it delete any saved
info?
Mike Plowman
No, as long as you don't opt to do a totally refresh install.
tim.....
"Ed" <Edward....@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:ab3ab865-f1be-4e6a...@w7g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not without further action, no
tim
Skeats
news:MPG.234195496...@news.newsreader.com...
If that doesn't work............................
If under warranty get in touch with the maker.
Do a complete backup to an external source and take your PC to a specialist
if you know nothing about upgrading.
Could be anything from new CMOS battery required (easy) or capacitor
problems on the motherboard.
Skeats
Skeats
clippertyclop
Need a lot more information like, operating system used? At what stage
of boot do you get failure? What do you see on the screen just before/
after failure? Do you get BSOD when this occurs? Did you install any
software or drivers before failure, etc.?
Ed
Normally after the XP loading bar stops there is a black screen for a
second or two and then the welcome screen appears.
It dies at that point, you dont see the 'choose user' screen.
No big blue screens of death, it just says 'no signal' on the monitor
and tries to boot again. Sometimes it asks if I want to start normally
or in safe mode, but always fails at the same point.
Can't say I've installed anything lately other than the AVG 8.0 virus
thing.
Previously it had been acting up, itunes would 'skip' or tracks would
be crackly and jumpy, the windows tune at startup wouldnt play
properly either. I thought it might be a memory issue so I did try to
clean out a few unused programs, but nothing system related.
Ed
>
> 1. A virus infection.
> 2. A required system file is corrupted.
> 3. One of your components inside the computer is not connecting properly,
> usually memory causes problems, but check processor and hard drive
> connections, including all internal power connections (do it with the
> computer switched off). Make sure you touch the inside metal of the
> computers case BEFORE you put your fingers inside, helps to make sure you
> don't static damage any components.
How can i touch the inside case without putting my fingers inside?
DAB sounds worse than FM
When my sound card was knackered it had been acting up for a bit and
it eventually stopped Windows booting up, so if you've got a PCI sound
card you could try removing it and booting without it. You could try
the same with other PCI cards in case there's a problem with one of
the PCI slots if removing the sound card doesn't help.
The fact that the screen says "no signal" suggests that your video
card could be to blame as well, but if you removed that you'd never
see whether it solved the problem, and Windows might not boot up
anyway if there's no graphics card installed.
If you try removing cards, touch the metal of the frame first as Ar
suggested - the metal frame is the thing that the motherboard and
power supply and everything else connects onto, so just touch any part
of the frame to discharge any static on your body.
--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info
The adoption of DAB was the most incompetent technical
decision ever made in the history of UK broadcasting:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/dab/incompetent_adoption_of_dab.htm
DAB sounds worse than FM
If you don't manage to sort out the problem and you end up
reinstalling Windows, if you buy a new hard drive and install Windows
on that rather than reinstalling Windows on your existing hard drive,
you should be able to access files on your existing hard drive by
using it as a secondary drive, so you wouldn't lose your data
(assuming the files aren't corrupted)
I found out that you could do this just after I'd formatted my
existing hard drive and reinstalled Windows on it and lost all my
data - and I hadn't backed up for a while. Bugger.
Assuming from what you've said that you haven't backed up your data, a
freeware backup program that's easy to setup to do scheduled backups
is SyncBack:
http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html (scroll down for the
freeware version)
Ed
> "Ed" <Edward.A.Bow...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
I did install a new graphics card a couple of years ago so that my kid
could play lego star wars. Then there was a wireless interweb card
that I installed a few years ago.
Apart from the PSU I replaced after the original went pop in about
2005, those are the only hardware changes I have made.
As for touching the frame it sounds like you're trying to give an
amateur an electric shock to me!
For example: John Smith
Good way to check is to boot from a Win-98 floppy and run scandisk, which'll
show you what OS (file table) errors you may have and any bad sectors on the
drive.
Best suggestion was to install a new HDD and load Windows onto it.
From that, you can move all your cherished files onto the new drive and
check for HDD bad sectors on the old one.
"Ed" <Edward....@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:fbba53ed-39c5-4f04...@k7g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
A. J. Moss
Krusty is your worst enemy. The build-up of static in a typical vacuum
cleaner will most likely destroy whichever component it discharges
through.
My guess: Boot up with your Windows install CD, go into the Recovery
Console, and run the CHKDSK program. Chances are, one of your Windows
system files has become unreadable; CHKDSK will delete any unreadable
files, then the Windows startup process will replace the deleted file
from the backup copy in the Windows Cache filder.
Krustov
<A. J. Moss>
<Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:29:37 -0700 (PDT)>
<d3bc0ddc-3930-4a53...@b1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>
> Krusty is your worst enemy. The build-up of static in a typical vacuum
> cleaner will most likely destroy whichever component it discharges
> through.
>
Then why does my pc still work .
Are you really so stupid you dont even know how to attach the hollow
plastic tube to the suction part of the hoover :-)
But seriously , It would appear you must use a hoover that doesnt have
any 'plastic pipe' type of attatchments that allows you to get into the
nooks and crannys of stuff .
BTW: hoovering the psu vents should be done at least once a year
according to some people - as its argued the build up of fluff is a
common reason why psu's fail .
DAB sounds worse than FM
To be honest, it's all a bit of a lottery how long PCI cards or PCI
slots last before they screw up. And if this is a software problem -
which other people are suggesting it probably is - then removing PCI
cards won't help at all anyway.
> As for touching the frame it sounds like you're trying to give an
> amateur an electric shock to me!
If you remove the power lead from the power supply no electricity
could go into the computer anyway. And the voltage used on
motherboards and on other computing equipment is only 5V or 12V, which
isn't dangerous, so you could touch wires inside a computer (apart
from wires inside the power supply, because part of that is running at
240V) while it's running without it being dangeous - but you might fry
any chips that are connected to the wire you touched.
Car batteries are 12V, so if you change a car battery using a socket
set without any plastic coating on the handle that's effectively the
same as if you touched a 12V wire.
Krustov
<Ar>
<22 Sep 2008 16:20:03 GMT>
<48d7c5b3$0$2502$da0f...@news.zen.co.uk>
> > Then why does my pc still work .
> >
> > Are you really so stupid you dont even know how to attach the hollow
> > plastic tube to the suction part of the hoover :-)
>
> You got lucky with no static damage, next time you might not. I would
> never recommend cleaning dust inside a pc like how you suggest.
>
How many pc's have you known to stop working after they have been
hoovered via the plastic pipe ? .
How many pc's have you actually seen stop working after they have been
hoovered via the plastic pipe ? .
If the answer is none - then isnt what you say nothing more than a old
housewifes tale .
NOSP...@gmail.com
And Lidl are selling one of them nooks and cranny hoovering thingys
next Monday onwards at £1.99
http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20080929.p.Crevice_Nozzle.ar11?OpenDocument&resetFilialDaten=1&id=1058&zipcode
=G43%201PX&city=Glasgow&city2=Pollokshaws&street=Riverford%20Road&ar=11&EMID=09500E30H2SMG7NER9CAN00CU8GCV
middl...@googlemail.com
<webm...@cannabisaware.co.uk> wrote:
><uk.media.tv.misc>
><Ed>
><Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:35:31 -0700 (PDT)>
><89ad154c-9a49-4eb4...@59g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>
>
>> My home PC is seemingly broken, it gets half way through the boot
>> gives up. It wont start in safe mode or normally. Do you think this
>> sounds terminal? I'm sure it did it once before but came back to life.
>>
>
>- take the side cover off
>- hoover if dusty (or blow if no hoover attatchments)
I've heard some PC builders claim that vacuuming the insides is a bad
idea. Something to do with the possibility of static discharge. Not
sure if there's anything to it or not.
>- give everything a good wiggle
Everyone likes a good wiggle, don't they? :)
middl...@googlemail.com
<Edward....@googlemail.com> wrote:
>As for touching the frame it sounds like you're trying to give an
>amateur an electric shock to me!
He's just trying to make sure you discharge any static before poking
around inside the computer. If you've been walking around on the
carpet (especially if you've only got socks on) you may well have
built up a small static charge. If you touch a component, that charge
could damage it. If you touch the inside of the case (assuming it's
metal) the charge will dissipate harmlessly.
Krustov
<>
<Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:27:35 +0100>
<a9lfd45b9lv2is1qt...@4ax.com>
> >- take the side cover off
> >- hoover if dusty (or blow if no hoover attatchments)
>
> I've heard some PC builders claim that vacuuming the insides is a bad
> idea. Something to do with the possibility of static discharge. Not
> sure if there's anything to it or not.
>
I'm not saying its impossible - i would just like proof of it happening
or if its just a urban myth .
Ed
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:35:31 -0700 (PDT), Ed
>
> <Edward.A.Bow...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> >My home PC is seemingly broken, it gets half way through the boot
> >gives up. It wont start in safe mode or normally. Do you think this
> >sounds terminal? I'm sure it did it once before but came back to life.
>
> components one by one (graphics, sound, any other cards, anything
> plugged into USB) and boot, to see which one is causing the problem.
>
> Before you possibly 'fix' something that isn't broken though, download
> and burn a Linux Live CD.
>
> If you can successfully boot and run it okay, then I would assume it's
> a Windows problem and your PC (hardware) is fine.
I've run the only disk I can find that says system recovery on it, and
it will go through the recovery process, backs up files and then says
'restart PC and remove cd when it boots up'.
i have two problems with that. If I restart I cannot get the cd out
until it has started trying to boot from the CD, and if I let it run
the system recovery thing again and take the cd out before pressing
restart it still gets stuck at the same point.
Daniel
> My home PC is seemingly broken, it gets half way through the boot
> gives up. It wont start in safe mode or normally. Do you think this
> sounds terminal? I'm sure it did it once before but came back to life.
AKA known at the XP WIndows Reboot Loop. Only was round it for me was
complete reinstall
Dan
Sam Nelson
@p31g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, Daniel....@gmail.com says...
Could just possibly be a busted video board, if it happens just at the
point the login splash-screen ought to appear. I've seen that happen
two or three times. Try swapping in a known-working video board.
--
SAm.
Dom Robinson
> <uk.media.tv.misc>
> <A. J. Moss>
> <Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:29:37 -0700 (PDT)>
>
> > Krusty is your worst enemy. The build-up of static in a typical vacuum
> > cleaner will most likely destroy whichever component it discharges
> > through.
>
> Then why does my pc still work .
>
> Are you really so stupid you dont even know how to attach the hollow
> plastic tube to the suction part of the hoover :-)
>
> But seriously , It would appear you must use a hoover that doesnt have
> any 'plastic pipe' type of attatchments that allows you to get into the
> nooks and crannys of stuff .
>
> BTW: hoovering the psu vents should be done at least once a year
> according to some people - as its argued the build up of fluff is a
> common reason why psu's fail .
I fully agree with that, not half!
Dom Robinson
I once had this problem on my 2nd PC and it was, I think, option (B) -
replace system files but not wipe C drive (something like that) which
sorted it, but as it's a Medion PC, before I completely shut down
without explanation I got a couple of lines of German text(!)
I could've taken it back as it was only 2 months old, but had already
installed loads of stuff on it that I couldn't be arsed reinstalling
on another machine so wanted to fix it first - and by then they
wouldn't have any more in the store as they sell out within the day,
usually.
Still, as one mate told me, computers are there to keep us on our
toes!
Dom Robinson
> "Ed" <Edward.A.Bow...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
Reminds of a sketch from Sorry I've Got No Head where the proud
parents, whose lad didn't get top marks in an exam, only gave him half
a laptop as a reward - so, just the keyboard :)
middl...@googlemail.com
>On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:39:21 +0100, Krustov <webm...@cannabisaware.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>><uk.media.tv.misc>
>><>
>><Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:27:35 +0100>
>><a9lfd45b9lv2is1qt...@4ax.com>
>>
>>> >- take the side cover off
>>> >- hoover if dusty (or blow if no hoover attatchments)
>>>
>>> I've heard some PC builders claim that vacuuming the insides is a bad
>>> idea. Something to do with the possibility of static discharge. Not
>>> sure if there's anything to it or not.
>>>
>>
>>I'm not saying its impossible - i would just like proof of it happening
>>or if its just a urban myth .
>
>I once had a lecture about always wearing a grounding strap when doing things
>inside a PC, because PCs are so sensitive to static followed by the guy forcing
>a Maths Coprocessor into the board without turning the power off first. All
>might have been OK if the Maths Coprocessor hadn't been the wrong way round.
ROFL!
I must admit I always wear a grounding strap when fiddling about
inside a PC. It's probably more of a superstition than serving any
real purpose, but it makes me feel more comfortable.
Dom Robinson
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:47:00 +0200, Martin <m...@address.invalid> wrote:
> >wrote:
>
> >><uk.media.tv.misc>
> >><>
> >><Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:27:35 +0100>
>
> >>> >- take the side cover off
> >>> >- hoover if dusty (or blow if no hoover attatchments)
>
> >>> I've heard some PC builders claim that vacuuming the insides is a bad
> >>> idea. Something to do with the possibility of static discharge. Not
> >>> sure if there's anything to it or not.
>
> >>I'm not saying its impossible - i would just like proof of it happening
> >>or if its just a urban myth .
>
> >I once had a lecture about always wearing a grounding strap when doing things
> >inside a PC, because PCs are so sensitive to static followed by the guy forcing
> >a Maths Coprocessor into the board without turning the power off first. All
> >might have been OK if the Maths Coprocessor hadn't been the wrong way round.
>
> ROFL!
>
> I must admit I always wear a grounding strap when fiddling about
> inside a PC. It's probably more of a superstition than serving any
> real purpose, but it makes me feel more comfortable.
Easier to put on than a condom, that's for sure :)
Dom Robinson
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:53:07 +0100, middleli...@googlemail.com wrote:
> >On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:47:00 +0200, Martin <m...@address.invalid> wrote:
>
> >>wrote:
>
> >>><uk.media.tv.misc>
> >>><>
> >>><Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:27:35 +0100>
>
> >>>> >- take the side cover off
> >>>> >- hoover if dusty (or blow if no hoover attatchments)
>
> >>>> I've heard some PC builders claim that vacuuming the insides is a bad
> >>>> idea. Something to do with the possibility of static discharge. Not
> >>>> sure if there's anything to it or not.
>
> >>>I'm not saying its impossible - i would just like proof of it happening
> >>>or if its just a urban myth .
>
> >>I once had a lecture about always wearing a grounding strap when doing things
> >>inside a PC, because PCs are so sensitive to static followed by the guy forcing
> >>a Maths Coprocessor into the board without turning the power off first. All
> >>might have been OK if the Maths Coprocessor hadn't been the wrong way round.
>
> >ROFL!
>
> >I must admit I always wear a grounding strap when fiddling about
> >inside a PC. It's probably more of a superstition than serving any
> >real purpose, but it makes me feel more comfortable.
>
That's the same price I was quoted when I had to help out with various
computer-related bits and pieces in a building I used to work at, when
I told the helpline that a backup server was no longer working - for
the second time, and so they had to get someone to come out to look at
it again after being there only a short time earlier to replace the
first one.
The reason? One of the walls to the computer room had a big hole in
it, so shitloads of dust was flying about (so never mind the fact that
the normal way to enter the room was via a keypad that not many knew
the code to - as this lot were almost breaking it open from the other
side). Yes, they had builders in doing renovations - which included
building a fucking lift in a 3-storey building that never had one in
previously(!)
Ed
> In article <19ee74c5-49a8-4a28-bcf8-ba0da6a55cc7
>
> > On Sep 22, 12:35 pm, Ed <Edward.A.Bow...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> > > My home PC is seemingly broken, it gets half way through the boot
> > > gives up. It wont start in safe mode or normally. Do you think this
> > > sounds terminal? I'm sure it did it once before but came back to life.
>
> > AKA known at the XP WIndows Reboot Loop. Only was round it for me was
> > complete reinstall
>
> Could just possibly be a busted video board, if it happens just at the
> point the login splash-screen ought to appear. I've seen that happen
> two or three times. Try swapping in a known-working video board.
> --
> SAm.
Once or twice now it has presented me with the user login screen and
loaded a few items on the desktop, but no start button (or any bar at
all) at the bottom of the screen.
Not sure what I can do now.
Any suggestions?
I clicked on the recycle bin icon and navigated to my pictures, and
none of my files or photos are there! That could cause a problem with
the committee!
Ed
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:47:00 +0200, Martin <m...@address.invalid> wrote:
> >wrote:
>
> >><uk.media.tv.misc>
> >><>
> >><Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:27:35 +0100>
>
> >>> >- take the side cover off
> >>> >- hoover if dusty (or blow if no hoover attatchments)
>
> >>> I've heard some PC builders claim that vacuuming the insides is a bad
> >>> idea. Something to do with the possibility of static discharge. Not
> >>> sure if there's anything to it or not.
>
> >>I'm not saying its impossible - i would just like proof of it happening
> >>or if its just a urban myth .
>
> >I once had a lecture about always wearing a grounding strap when doing things
> >inside a PC, because PCs are so sensitive to static followed by the guy forcing
> >a Maths Coprocessor into the board without turning the power off first. All
> >might have been OK if the Maths Coprocessor hadn't been the wrong way round.
>
> ROFL!
>
> I must admit I always wear a grounding strap when fiddling about
> inside a PC. It's probably more of a superstition than serving any
>
> - Show quoted text -
Is that like those rubber things that people used to hang from the
back of their cars?
A. J. Moss
> > Krusty is your worst enemy. The build-up of static in a typical vacuum
> > cleaner will most likely destroy whichever component it discharges
> > through.
>
> Then why does my pc still work .
Perhaps you clean it with your own piss and wind, like you keep trying
to do to umtm.
> Are you really so stupid you dont even know how to attach the hollow
> plastic tube to the suction part of the hoover :-)
Do you use an anti-static plastic tube?
The brushes of a conventional stand-up vacuum cleaner, sweeping the
carpet as they rotate, *will* generate static electricity.
> BTW: hoovering the psu vents should be done at least once a year
> according to some people - as its argued the build up of fluff is a
> common reason why psu's fail .
I pick out the dust bunnies with a pair of tweezers.
Krustov
<A. J. Moss>
<Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:54:28 -0700 (PDT)>
<04a9d3a2-61bf-4a61...@2g2000hsn.googlegroups.com>
> > > Krusty is your worst enemy. The build-up of static in a typical vacuum
> > > cleaner will most likely destroy whichever component it discharges
> > > through.
> >
> > Then why does my pc still work .
>
> Perhaps you clean it with your own piss and wind
>
I've never tried that method - but i'll certainly give it a go :-)
Sofa - Spud
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:22:10 +0100, For example: John Smith wrote:
>
>> Best suggestion was to install a new HDD and load Windows onto it.
>>
>> From that, you can move all your cherished files onto the new drive and
>> check for HDD bad sectors on the old one.
>
> Best solution, considering the dirt cheapness of drives, is to keep
> Windows on one drive, and all the files you create on the other. So if
> Windows screws up, you don't loose your files. It also makes your files
> easier to backup.
Unless you are the clown that built this machine originally and put the
second drive as *c* with Windows on F. Fortunately the old drive gave up
and now I have one drive as C. Should have been obvious to all - apart
that is from the bloke in the shop.
DAB sounds worse than FM
news:48d91e7b$0$26081$db0f...@news.zen.co.uk
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:31:30 +0100, DAB sounds worse than FM wrote:
>
>> To be honest, it's all a bit of a lottery how long PCI cards or PCI
>> slots last before they screw up.
>
> How do people treat their stuff? I've never had a PCI-E, PCI, or
> before
> that, ISA card fail.
I hardly wanted the sound card to fail - it cost about £100. Shit
happens basically.
--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info
The adoption of DAB was the most incompetent technical
decision ever made in the history of UK broadcasting:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/dab/incompetent_adoption_of_dab.htm