pc has crashed and now it wont boot past the first screen?? heeellppp!

silverburn2000

silverburn2000

silverburn2000

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Joined
22 Nov 2010
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47
im in turmoil!!!
i was using my pc to go online after my panda internet security updates had run out (i know, i know, very unwise and im already wishing i could go back in time and not do it!!) and when i minimised a window the entire pc turned off and now it wont boot into windows xp at all!!!!
when i start up it will only go as far as the second black screen with white writing detailing the pci device listings, etc. the cursor is flashing at bottom left but it wont go any further?
i can get into the BIOS but i cant get into safe mode.
ive tried the repair disk and the xp disk but nothing changed.

will i need to completely reinstall windows and start from scratch? is this the best course of action? (id rather not loose the files/documents ive got on the pc but i will if i really have to)
i dont know for certain what/where the problem is, ie software or hardware issue, so any advice is welcome as ive no idea what to do

HEEEELLPPP!!!

many thanks

pc spec:
asus a8n-sli deluxe, n force 4 mobo, hec 550w psu, 4gb ddr ram (pc 3200, 400mhz)
athlon 64 x2 4800+ dual core processor, 300gb hard drive, windows xp sp3
256mb nvidia geforce 7800gtx
 
Your internet security wouldn't of killed your computer haha.

Run a hard disk diagnostic on it using a bootable cd if you have another computer to hand (assuming you do as you've posted this - could be wrong though)
 
Well, sounds like the OS install is completely fubared. You said you tried the repair disc, but what did you actually do? Did you attempt a repair install? If so, did it complete successfully, but still no joy booting?

Assuming you did attempt a repair install and you are still stuck, it could point to a faulty HDD.

In either case, my first course of action would be to get yourself a USB pen drive or HDD and a copy of Linux Mint burned to a CD. Run Linux Mint by booting from the CD, choosing the Live option.

Using Mint, browse to your HDD and see if you can copy your documents to your USB HDD/Pen drive. If you cannot browse the HDD, you're probably stuffed.

Once you have all your files/documents. Reinstall Windows.
 
hi
i was worried that ill have got a virus thats screwed up my pc and caused it to fail/ restart and corrupted windows xp or caused the hard disk to fail etc
thats my concern, if i try to fix the wrong thing!
how can i find out the exact cause of the problem?
(im using a public library pc at the moment, its the only way i can get online and get some advice!!)#
thanks


edit:
i used the xp cd to try a repair of xp first, not a full reinstall through the recovery console (yet!)
 
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It is really hard to say what has caused the problem. Also, using a public computer suggests you might struggle downloading and burning tools to CD.

I still need to know if you attempted a repair install.
 
the pc just immediately shut down, strange cause i though that just being online, up to date security or not, wouldnt shut down your pc even if you got a virus or something??
could it just be a coincidence that the hdd has problems at the same time?

it didnt bsod, just turned itself off and restarted.
i tried the repair install, it completed, rebooted and there was no difference, still wont boot past the second black screen.

if the hard drive has failed, wouldnt there be a warning message somewhere about a hardware failure, in the bios or on the black screens at the start of boot up? i dont see any!

(its weird because i seem to be getting allsorts of problems at the same time, graphics card recently gave up and now possibly the hdd broken. cant pc manufactures make products last more than five years??)

thanks for any further help


DAMN COMPUTERS!!

ps: also if my hdd is busted does that mean anything on it is gone except for a professional information retrieval (not going down that route, not worth it!)
just want to know what the best move is. should i just buy a new hdd and new copy of windows, save myself all the grief and start afresh??
 
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ITS ALIIIIVE!!!
im back in business, thanks be to Buddha

turns out i got infected with a virus that blocked the proper boot up sequence (lesson learned, never go online without a properly updated internet security suite!)

if anyone has had a similar problem and wants/needs to know...

i went through the recovery console, loaded from the windows xp disk, at command prompt, typed 'chkdsk', reboot and then went back to recovery console typed 'fixmbr', reboot again and the system booted up normally again after reinstalling or more accurately fixing windows.

i thought that i would have lost all my files and programs i had on the pc but all was fine! only had to update some lost drivers, upgrade to service pack 3 and windows updates etc but most of my original system set up was fine.

first (most important) thing i then did was run a full system scan from panda security asap, which identified the virus and removed it, giving me back a working pc

happy days

thanks for all the above suggestions/advice everyone

*Something that i would always recommend, when a problem occurs is to research as much as possible before taking any action.
its all too easy to fix a problem that doesnt exist! especially bad when you buy new components that you dont need.

[-i initially thought my hdd was broken and almost spent £150 on a new one and a new copy of windows, but in the end i spent a total of £1.30 on print outs from my local library, full of info and advice from the web and the above on what to try!!]
 
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