• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

my computer is dead somehow, help

R

redass1876

Senior member
Ok, i was trying to defrag my computer and then it said it can't, so i just tried to restart, and when booting up, it said disk read error, and would boot up. Afterwards, i tried checking BIOS and they were all set right. I then tried to just go ahead and format but it got to the point in installing windows where it said checking hardware configuration, it just goes black afterwards...i tried changing hard drives and still the same problem...I took out both CD ROMs and still the same disk read error. It still posts the HD on the post screen so i doubt it is the mobo. There are no PCI cards in it...PLEASE HELP
 
one 20GB WD HD, and the other is an 8GB seagate (this is my girlfriends computer not mine) and i already swtiched the cables, still did the same thing...wont even boot enough to get into safemode
 
If the system happens to be overclocked, revert to stock clockspeed for now.

If it doesn't work with either of two hard drives then my next guesses would be the memory modules, the power supply or the motherboard.
[*]You can download a boot-disk maker from http://www.memtest86.com and run Memtest86 from floppy to see if the memory is checking out OK.
[*]You can try a different power supply of suitable wattage to test whether your power supply is failing.
[*]As for the motherboard, you could try unplugging the existing hard drive in another system and using that other system to try to install Windows on your hard drive(s) in order to see what a known-working motherboard will do for you.
[*]You can download Western Digital's Data Lifeguard 11.0 and/or Seagate's equivalent utility to test the hard drives from a bootable diagnostic floppy, if they'll cooperate long enough.

Good luck! 🙂
 
but if the memory was bad, (i only have 1 stick in it) wouldnt there be no video? and how would the PSU do that if it still runs? and the Mobo still posts the HD and CD ROMS on the post page
 
i'd like to, but as i said, it is my girlfriends computer, im at school right now (200 miles away (came back yesterday)) and that is the only ram she owns...but seriously, how could it be the PSU? (im not saying it isnt, but i dont get it)
 
Well heck, it could be a virus infection too 😛 You haven't really given any specifics on either the exact nature of the original error message, nor what the hardware is, so I'm coughing up the most-likely things for you. If you can remember some details on either topic, that could help everyone to help you & her. Does the system have up-to-date antivirus protection and a firewall software, let's start with that. 🙂
 
Mmmkay, and [ sexist sterotype ] being a lady, she probably doesn't ever think of disabling it manually, [ / sexist sterotype ] so its protection is probably running all the time, which is good. Got any details on the hardware, or maybe a model number if it's an off-the-shelf HP/Dell/Emachine/whatever?
 
it was a spare part build from me....Vid card is Voodoo 3000, already listed HD, 350W PSU, XP 1800+, some cheap mobo, Sony 16X DVD and 48X CDRW...i think that is it
 
Hmm, would she be able to download and run a HDD diagnostic on the HDD? Maybe it has some bad clusters and needs a thorough diagnostic scan so the HDD knows what areas not to try to store data on during Windows Setup & etc. Otherwise, you could download the diagnostic diskette-making utility, run it in order to make a bootable diagnostic diskette, and mail her the diskette to use. You might have to talk her through the menus ad-lib on the phone if you don't have the same brand of HDD at your end to follow along with.

The one fact that this doesn't jive with: that it isn't limited to just the one hard drive. You already tried a different cable. If you're going back, can you take along a different PSU and/or RAM to test with? At least it wouldn't take long to know whether they help or not.

If you need a new mobo, I can recommend the Asus A7N266-VM/AA. Under $60 shipped, very reliable (got ~30 at work). They take PC2100 DDR memory, so if you have that instead of PC133, it would work out nicely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top