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Ask The Trades › DIY Forum › Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms › PC problems

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PC problems (Read 5675 times)

JerryD

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PC problems
May 21^st, 2008, 5:44pm

My youngest has a pc problem. When starting up Windows it seems to start normally but then goes into 'F8' mode where it displays the various boot options (Safe Mode etc etc). No matter what I try, it just goes round in a loop again and comes back to this same screen.

I have a recovery CD for XP but I got to the point where it said it would delete all files if I went any further with the 'repair'.

Needless to say my daughter has no back up Roll Eyes

How can I get this PC working without losing all the data on the h/d?

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RabbitRabbit

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Re: PC problems
Reply #1 - May 21^st, 2008, 6:07pm

Is it safe mode Jerry or has it dropped into the BIOS (there is a BIG difference)?

Don't do any recoveries until the source of the problem is identified else you/she may lose a lot of valuable data. If it's in safe mode then usually a reboot solves the problem. If its dropped into the BIOS then that is odd indeed almost implying a jammed key on the keyboard.

I am using an Apple here so unable to check anything here until I get to work where I have a grotty XP based system

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JerryD

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Re: PC problems
Reply #2 - May 21^st, 2008, 11:16pm

It's not gone into the BIOS but this screen (see below) is what seems to automatically appear:

If left to it's own devices, the PC counts down from 30 seconds to zero and then tries to 'Start Windows Normally', re-boots and comes back to this screen where the whole cycle starts again.

No matter which of the options I try, it just comes back to the screen above.

Undecided

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CWatters

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Re: PC problems
Reply #3 - May 22^nd, 2008, 12:16am

Here is how I would do it but perhaps get a second opinion first as it's not for the faint hearted and I may have forgotten something. Perhaps find a good computer shop to do it for you..

1) Physically remove the hard drive and put it away somewhere safe.
2) Buy a new hard drive and install it.
3) Run the recovery CD you have.
4) The PC should now be working.

5) Consider installing an antivirus program at this point.

Now it's time to recover the data..

6) Install the old drive into an external USB hard drive enclosure.
7) Connect USB enclosure to PC.
8) External drive should appear as something like D:
9) If you have an antivirus program tell it to scan D: If all ok...
10) Browse D: via My Computer and transfer important data files to the new hard drive. It may not be sufficient just to copy the My Documents folder - I don't think things like favorites and email are kept in there. I forget. This may takes hours if you have a lot of photos on there and only a slow USB 1.0 port. If you have USB 2.0 it will be faster.

11) Now burn the important stuff to CD/DVD. Make two copies. Ideally check you can read them on another PC.

12) Now you can afford to risk breaking the old hard drive knowing you have a copy of all important data. You could for example try borrowing a WinXP CD and running a repair install. With luck that will repair the broken operating system and avoid you having to reinstall any new programs or updates.

If her PC is really old instead of buying just a new hard drive consider buying a whole new PC (with a DVD writer). Then hook up the old hard drive in a USB enclosure. Don't feel the USB and hard drive is a wasted expense. Once all the important stuff has been rescued you can use it to do regular backups.

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Lectrician Administrator Trade Member Author Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 8815 Total Thanks: 109 For This Post: 0 Braunton, North Devon United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: PC problems Reply #4 - May 22^nd, 2008, 7:43am Users Documents: C:\Documents and Settings\username\username's Documents Users Internet Favorites: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Favorites Usual Loacation For MS Outlook Email: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook.pst
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CWatters

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Re: PC problems
Reply #5 - May 22^nd, 2008, 9:05am

CWatters wrote on May 22^nd, 2008, 12:16am:

12) Now you can afford to risk breaking the old hard drive knowing you have a copy of all important data. You could for example try borrowing a WinXP CD and running a repair install.

I forgot to say..

Put the old drive back in before running the repair install. Don't run it with the old drive in the USB enclosure.

If you buy a new PC don't try putting the old drive into it alongside the new one. If you get the little jumpers wrong and accidentally boot from the old drive you can mess up the nice new one - or so I've been told. If you get a new PC stick to putting the old one in a USB drive unless you have an expert handy..

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JerryD GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0	Re: PC problems Reply #6 - May 23^rd, 2008, 8:11pm Thanks but that's all too daunting for me I'd end up mullering the whole kit and kaboodle I reckon I may have to try a pc shop, I'll ring round tomorrow. Thanks for the help
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JerryD

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Re: PC problems
Reply #7 - May 27^th, 2008, 7:46pm

Update: After trying to boot umpteen times and then opening the pc up, removing the hard drive and refitting it, I eventually managed to get it to boot into Safe Mode.

After checking all the info available in Safe Mode, I took the chance of switching it off and re-starting it.

It worked!

I've now bought a Maxtor 500GB external drive as a permanent back up in case this happens again.

Flippin technology Undecided

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