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Windows OS Problems General Windows OS issues.

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Old 19-June-06, 07:12 PM   #1 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
Default Windows... MIA

Ok everyone. I was hoping someone here could help me out… I could use all the help I can get at the moment.

One of my families computers decided to stop working yesterday… here is what happened:
The computer would boot like normal and then flash on over to the screen you get when there is an serious error, asking you to boot in safe mode, normal mode, ect… But here is the strange thing; no matter what mode you try to do, the computer never actually loads up windows, and always reboots… an continuous cycle…

So, since windows would not load I just assumed that one of the registry files were missing, and inserted the OEM OS disk. Booted into the windows setup screen, (I have done this before) But, instead of seeing an already established partition for windows XP Home edition (from which you can click the “repair” option), I see an “unknown” partition, from which there is not the normal repair option, only an option to do an blank install of the OS. Ok, not what I wanted, so I went ahead and exited windows setup (F3) and went to the recovery console, and preceded to use the “chkdsk command”…. It could not find windows and said that it was either not there, or too corrupted to recognize…. (not looking good at this point), so I tried to use the directory check command (“dir”), from which, it found nothing.

Any ideas on what happened? How could the entire OS be gone in an instant? The computer was running fine before the problem occurred…

Any Ideas on how to approach this?



Edit:
Maybe a bad boot sector?

Last edited by DLoney; 19-June-06 at 07:22 PM..
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Old 19-June-06, 08:03 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Default Re: Windows... MIA

Honestly, sounds like hard drive failure. See if you can put the drive into another computer and mount it. You could also possibly run chkdsk -f on it like that, too. Eliminate possibilities.
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Old 21-June-06, 07:48 PM   #3 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
Default Re: Windows... MIA

Quote:
Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
Honestly, sounds like hard drive failure. See if you can put the drive into another computer and mount it. You could also possibly run chkdsk -f on it like that, too. Eliminate possibilities.

Ok.. thanks for your help. I will try that tonight.

PS: Sorry for the late reply, my cable went out right after I posted this message, and it took them till today to send someone down and fix it...
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Old 21-June-06, 07:58 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Default Re: Windows... MIA

Well it sounds like you got a bad boot sector or registry file missing , my guess would be to do a full format and reload windows that to me would be a safer way to fix your problem vs having it and trying to repair it, because sometime doing a repair does not really always fix the problem and the error could always present it self later on down the road.

Last edited by ranger1033; 21-June-06 at 08:14 PM..
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Old 21-June-06, 08:11 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: Windows... MIA

If you discover that the HDD is infact good, then I would definately go with ranger1033's suggestion. He is right on the money.
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Old 30-June-06, 12:45 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Default Re: Windows... MIA

Quote:
Originally Posted by ranger1033
Well it sounds like you got a bad boot sector or registry file missing , my guess would be to do a full format and reload windows that to me would be a safer way to fix your problem vs having it and trying to repair it, because sometime doing a repair does not really always fix the problem and the error could always present it self later on down the road.

i agree... but i would place my money on the driver for the hard drive getting courrupted...
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Old 02-July-06, 08:07 AM   #7 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
Default Re: Windows... MIA

OkÂ… we have tried hooking up the hard drive to another windows system, and browsing its contentsÂ… no luck. So last night, I decided to let the years of photos/videos go, and reinstall the operating system. In hopes that this program will work (as I have heard it does from a few friends) and recover any lost files after the clean installÂ…

So, I was installing windows, and had about 5 mins left, when the computer just stopped. Screen went blank, and there was no responseÂ… As of that time, the computer will not even boot into the bios, and is lifelessÂ… Any Ideas?
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Old 02-July-06, 12:46 PM   #8 (permalink)
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THRiLL KiLL's Avatar
Default Re: Windows... MIA

unplug the hard drive.... (both power and data)

i bet the system will boot into bios...


its rma time for that hard drive....
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Old 02-July-06, 03:47 PM   #9 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
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Default Re: Windows... MIA

One last option before RMA'ing it... low level format. There are a few good free utils out on the market to handle this.. best ones I've dealt with are WD and Maxtor. Good Luck.
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Old 02-July-06, 06:06 PM   #10 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
Default Re: Windows... MIA

RMA?

PS: Thanks for the advice everyone.
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Old 02-July-06, 06:15 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Wink Re: Windows... MIA

RMA=Return of Merchandise Authorization

When you return the hard drive to the manufacturer, the will give you an RMA number that has to be listed a couple of places. Helps them track your stuff and get you a new drive.

-MF
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Old 02-July-06, 07:16 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: Windows... MIA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut
RMA=Return of Merchandise Authorization

When you return the hard drive to the manufacturer, the will give you an RMA number that has to be listed a couple of places. Helps them track your stuff and get you a new drive.

-MF

Yeah.. like 500 times on the outer box on at least 3 sides... is it just me or are the RMA requirements getting more and more rediculous?
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Old 02-July-06, 10:04 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Default Re: Windows... MIA

Playing the devil's advocate here for a sec... How much money do you think the manufacturers would actually make in a year if they RMA'd every single piece of hardware, regardless of whether the end user is at fault (overclockers and warranty voiders especially)?

Aside from examining the goods once they arrive, to determine whether or not it was operator headspace and timing or parts failure, they probably make it as scary as they can on the side of the box, so folks will think twice before trying to do something to / with the hardware that it wasn't designed for, and then send it back for a new one...
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Old 03-July-06, 01:51 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Arrow Re: Windows... MIA

I'd run Memtest86+ (Freeware) to check if your memory is still ok.... nothing like bad memory as to
seriously messing up things!! I've expierienced things like this before....I too thought it was the hdd...
but it was the memory... hope you can 'nail it down!


TDR
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Old 05-July-06, 07:22 AM   #15 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
Default Re: Windows... MIA

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dragon Reborn
I'd run Memtest86+ (Freeware) to check if your memory is still ok.... nothing like bad memory as to
seriously messing up things!! I've expierienced things like this before....I too thought it was the hdd...
but it was the memory... hope you can 'nail it down!


TDR

Thanks for that. I just downloaded it, and will give it a shot today.
I Tried unplugging the hard drive and booting into just the bios, but no luck. I think it might have something to do with the computers graphical output being processed by an dedicated ATI Radeon Card ( no motherboard built in option )
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Old 07-July-06, 05:14 PM   #16 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
Default Re: Windows... MIA

Ok... I have Memtest86+ running ... One Question though... How many passes is required/needed?
I am on pass number 8, and it has been scanning for over 5hrs.
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Old 07-July-06, 05:16 PM   #17 (permalink)
Sempr0n?
Default Re: Windows... MIA

Quote:
Originally Posted by DLoney
Ok... I have Memtest86+ running ... One Question though... How many passes is required/needed?
I am on pass number 8, and it has been scanning for over 5hrs.

I think you should leave it for as long as possible to confirm 100% stability, but frankly when I tried it I got bored after 2 hours so I gave up.
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Old 07-July-06, 05:49 PM   #18 (permalink)
Apex Master Tech
Default Re: Windows... MIA

Quote:
Originally Posted by reflux
I think you should leave it for as long as possible to confirm 100% stability, but frankly when I tried it I got bored after 2 hours so I gave up.

Ok. Thanks
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