PC failure

[dannyrose]

Hi Guys

This is my first time on here, I just hope someone out there can help. I was just about to shoot an alien in Deus Ex this morning when I encountered a blue screen and buzzing noise. I tried all the usual cntrl/alt/del to restart and reset button of my tower but neither allowed me to restart. In the end I had to power off!!

Unfortunately when powering back on I get minimal flashing of the HD led and after a couple of minutes the HDD led stays permanently on red and again I have to power off. Have tried boot disk(from a http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif and once it suggested it was analysing system but again hung. Tried hitting delete ket to get into BIOS, but hangs again when looking through options. Attempted SAFE mode load but I get a number of messages re: SYSTE32 files but again hangs (arhhhggg).

I am running (or trying to run) Windows XP Pro on a 1200mhz Althlon with 45gig HD.

Am I right in thinking that my HD may be shot. Is there anythink I could try to get it running again?. If not is a new HD in order and how would I go about installing/reloading windows etc?

Hope I have given enough info.

Thanks

Mark

[iisbob]

Are you perchance overclocking?

This sounds like a memory problem, try resetting the BIOS to default, then see if you can boot. If you still can't get windows to load, try using the repair option on your XP CD.




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iisbob

"It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either."
-Mark Twain { Samuel Clemen's }

[dannyrose]

Hi

Thanks for the quick reply.

Not over clocking, wouldnt know where to start ( http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif ) I have 256 ram in the machine. I will try and get it into BIOS but I suspect it will probably hang b4 letting me do anything but will let you know.

Mark

[iisbob]

WOW tlak about your quick replies! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Sounds like you've enough memory, and if you're not OCing then my next thought is that this could be power supply related. Only way to really test this is to replace it with a newer one, or one from a system you know works properly. I would recommend staying above the 300w mark however-especially if you have a lot of peripheral's, like CDRW/CD drive, vid card/sound card, multiple HD's, etc..



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iisbob

"It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either."
-Mark Twain { Samuel Clemen's }

[dannyrose]

Hello again

Now if we start talking power supplies I guess im off to my local repair shop, not even sure where to look..lol

Just tried turning it on and it came up with the options to load normally or try safe mode. Count down got to 18 b4 freezing again. Suppose power supply makes sense, the longer I turn power off (at the wall) then the longer it takes to freeze (or am I just being mad).

Thanks for your advice.

mark

[dannyrose]

Originally posted by iisbob:
Are you perchance overclocking?

This sounds like a memory problem, try resetting the BIOS to default, then see if you can boot. If you still can't get windows to load, try using the repair option on your XP CD.

Hi, its me again

Just noticed when switching on, its only displaying 32mb ram!!!!!, why might that be?

Thanks

Mark




http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[randyrhoads1981]

Try reseating the ram (memory) in its slot and reboot and see if it correctly displays the ram size of 256 ..if not then has to be a bad memory stick as mentioned before.

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Good Programers never die they just don't C well.

[dannyrose]

Sorry guys, I was getting excited. The 32mb referred to my video card ram...doh. Looks like Im gonna have to open her up.

Mark

[Randy_tx]

Not to be contrary, but if it were my machine [a AMD Athalon type] I would verify that the cpu fan is working properly BEFORE worrying about ANYthing else!!!!! That cpu will C O O K in a hurry....make sure the fan is spinning ASAP !

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XP didn't save Me !

[dannyrose]

Hi Randy

Thanks for the reply.

Its open and all fans are spinning ok. Not much inside these things are there. Would it be worth reseating the video card? or alternatly trying another?

Mark

[geezauksev]

hi.I have the same problem as this and its really driving me nuts.
Any help on his subject would be great,i know a little bit about computers and have been working on it for a while but am totally stuck.
I know its the motherboard as i have tested all the outher components.i reckon your need more info then that if so just let me know.
plz help.

cheers

[Sylvander]

Hello Dannyrose

Using Diagnostic charts:

"START UP
1. The PC is not dead, POST ran.
2. I'll assume there was a single beep as POST completed and that the Monitor started to display. There were then no error codes displayed.
This is therefore a BOOT problem.

BOOT
1. POST ran, you have an active display and no error codes.
2. Does the system Boot from the Hard-Drive?
I think it tries but does not succeed.
We therefore have a problem with the Hard Disk Drive.

HARD DISK DRIVE
1. System does not boot from the Hard Disk Drive.
2. Does the system boot from a floppy?
If not we have a dificult one!

If yes, run a diagnostic program from a floppy and check the Hard Drive.
3. Is an error reported?
If not Email me to ask about the "system" test chart.
4. If an error is reported, does it appear to be software or hardware related.
5. If it is software related [it says] check the files, the configuration and use "Software Diagnostics". [I don't know how this is done but someone else may know!]
6. If it is hardware related:
Is the signal cable ok?
7. If not, replace the cable and re-test the Hard Drive.
8. If the signal cable is ok: replace the drive with a known good drive and re-test with diagnostics.
9. Does the new drive test ok?
If not then the system board or drive adaptor is faulty.
If it does test ok then the original drive is faulty."

I suspect that after on of these improper shut down's "scanreg" was trying to scan your file system but was failing.
"Once it suggested it was analysing system but again hung."
What do you think? If we've narrowed it down to a failure during the operation of a Programme then it could, indeed, be "Software related".

[Sylvander]

Hello Dannyrose

and by the way

If I had hit your initial situation the first thing I would have done would be to reboot to a DOS prompt [using the "Startup Menu" or a "Windows Startup Disk"] and type the command "scanreg /restore" and restore one of the backed up copies of a previous good Registry.

I would do this upon the assumption that an unfortunate alteration had been made to the Registry. If ever you suspect that something nasty may have been caused by a Registry change [and provided you have not just installed new hardware or software (because going back would undo necessary changes made to accommodate the new items)] immediately use "scanreg /restore" and you may be amazed to see the problem disappear as if by magic.