 Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
Ok, so my 4y/o is playing games on my Dell( about a year old, running XP, and have comcast internet service).
"Daddy, computers broke!" Thats nothing new- he's usually just "x-ed" out of whatever he was playing. Well this time there is some comcast program open and most of icons are missing from the desktop. I hit the start buttom and most of the selections there are gone too. I figure, WTH, I'll restart the computer......
While its booting up it comes to a screen...
"NTLDR IS MISSING"
"PRESS CTRL-ALT-DLT TO RESTART"
so I do that and come back to the same screen again.
Do it again, but this time I hit F12 and get to a diagnostic screen, run all the available hardware and memory tests and everything comes back ok except for error - Error Code 0F00:137B
MSG: IDE Device Failed
Then it told me it needed a disk in the drive....
But it still won't boot up.
Any advice before I have to call a help desk in some third world country....
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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 Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 999
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 999 |
Your boot sector is missing. Sound like a virus wiped it out either that our your hard drive has failed completely. Do you have your window XP disk, if so boot onto this and try and run the repair. However if the boot sector is missing or corrupted you will most likely end up having to reinstall Window. If the disk (HD) is faulty well you may end up having to have it replaced. No speaka da Hinglish velly good – Dave South Africa that third world country 
The invisible One 
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
It looks like you may have had a hard drive crash. Try tapping the F8 rhythmically and see if the safe start menu comes up; if not you most likely have crashed.
I have, on occasion, been able to resurrect a dead drive by placing it in the freezer for 12~24 hours and then putting it back in the machine but usually only works long enough to grab the my documents folder and the cabs from whichever email client is in use, then it's dirt nap time for the hardware. This approach requires having a rescue drive in hand and you have to work quickly.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
Here's exactly what the error message said -
Error Code 0F00:137B Msg IDE device failed Blank media or no media is present in optical drive. Test requires media with data Resource CD, Installation CD
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,606 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,606 Likes: 2 |
Stewart,
If your hard drive DID crash....DO NOT reinstall your OS via the system recovery UNTIL after you retrive your valuable data...
when my work PC bit it...I bought a brand new shiny one (hey not my $$$)but you can just pick up a new drive...
I took the old drive and slaved it in the new system...although the old drive would NOT boot the system all of my data files were intact and retrievable...
If your data is vital (or you just wish not to loose those GA Rally Pics of the yutes in the parkinglot...you KNOW which ones I mean!!
this may work for you...
if this is not a concern then just system recover from the dell disks...
THE VOICE OF REASON
per: Stewart
AF&AM/Shriner/Scoutmaster
130/45 TBS 2shim SS Uni 18/42
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 999
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 999 |
If you need to recover data from the disk then maybe you need to look at something like this. I have used this type of software with great success Clicky 1 Clicky 2 Clicky 3 Clicky 4
The invisible One
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130 |
NTLDR is the program that boots the NT operating system.
1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
4. At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and repair your Windows XP installation.
Commands that might help
COPY
commands I would execute:
1) I would attempt to restore XP's sytem files:
command 1:
copy <cd-rom drive>:\i386\ntldr c:\
command 2:
copy <cd-rom drive>:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
6. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
*If that fails boot back into the recovery console and issue the following commands:
Fixmbr
Long post but hopefully this helps.
Kevin
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
It's not super cheap ($89), but I've heard nothing but great things about Spinrite: http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htmI'm going to pick up a copy before the end of the year just to help maintain my drives So something like this doesn't happen.
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130 |
Most systems come with an image disk not the Windows XP disk which is a problem if you never installed the recovery console on your system (adds an entry into the boot.ini file enabling you to boot into the recovery console without the XP CD).
Things I tell my frieds:
1) purchas an external Hard disk
2) do weekly full backups (minimum...depends on how much you do with your computer. My computer at the house is just a Internet playstation for my kids so I only do a full backup once a month or when I copy new pics to my photo ablum.
3) When a failure like yours happens all they have to do is blow away their existing OS using the DVD that comes with their system and restore their last full backup.
Kevin
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
I'm at work right now and printing off all of your replys.
I just called home and my wife is on the phone with Dell!!!! I really hope she doesn't loose every thing!
Thanks all.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
My two cents. only an observation. If we consumers bought a big ticket item, like a refridgerator or washer,($900 or so) and they regularly quit working a couple of times of year, or maybe needed a $100 worth of parts or so, we would'nt buy that brand any more and would scream to high heaven about their reliability. As consumers, we've been led to expect computer malfunctions and it's a shame. I sure get tired of cussing my two tear old Dell, and I use it very minimally. 
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
A computer is infinitely more complex than a refrigerator. Nice thought. Irrelevant. Doesn't help Stewart one bit.
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Quote:
NTLDR is the program that boots the NT operating system.
1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
4. At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and repair your Windows XP installation.
Commands that might help
COPY
commands I would execute:
1) I would attempt to restore XP's sytem files:
command 1:
copy <cd-rom drive>:\i386\ntldr c:\
command 2:
copy <cd-rom drive>:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
6. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
*If that fails boot back into the recovery console and issue the following commands:
Fixmbr
Long post but hopefully this helps.
+1
Ray(UK)
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
So with dell's help, and directions the same as kevin's above, jen got the computer booted back up.
most of the programs and all of our "stuff" is gone. Do I need to buy one of the above mentioned data recovery programs?
The dell guy told jen that after we find our stuff, that he would walk her through blowing out the old OS and re- installing it.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,695 Likes: 22
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,695 Likes: 22 |
Stewart, did you and Dell do a system restore? If your stuff is gone sounds like they did a factory reload with her. I truly hope they didn't have her run the recover ROM. If so, your stuff is gone bud. If they just got your NT loader back on for her, do a system restore to the last good configuration. If it says there isn't one, they put it back to factory. That could be real bad.
If they did a factory reload with her they overwrote the sectors housing your stuff when restoring Windows.
Long story short, windows is constantly writing to the disc to store and maximize data. A factory image restore will eliminate anything housing any part of the drive it wants.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Computer help needed.....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Stewart.
Get an external hard drive with an auto back up program. If it dies again, you'll still have all your stuff.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: More advice needed
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
Need recommendations on antivirus and other programs to protect my stuff.
I went and got a new harddrive last night and installed XP. I have the old drive sitting here and may "slave" it and use one of the above mentioned data recovery programs to try to get my stuff back - What do you all think? May just take it to a local computer place and have them recover it?
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: More advice needed
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Do you know and trust the "local computer place?"
I'm talking here about privacy less than competence.
Last edited by FriarJohn; 12/24/2007 6:10 PM.
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Re: More advice needed
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 420
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 420 |
Stew,
I use AVG's free virus software on one machine and Avira's free software on another. Both seem to work just fine and update on a daily basis to make sure you stay current.
Another free program is PC Tools Spyware Doctor. Great program for cleaning out adware and spyware. Another great FREE program... uh wait, did I mention I was cheap?
Hope you are able to get your files back.... I had two machines (one laptop and one desktop) crash in one way or another this year. Installed a new hard drive on the laptop but nothing was recoverable from the old and by desktop had a slight uh, fire problem, well more like lots of smoke and sizziling. Verdict is still out on wether or not I am going to get my files back from it.... that was the big ouchie, I had about 15 gigs worth of pictures on it that I cannot replace.
Steve
(hewhoshallremainavatarless)
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Re: More advice needed
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130 |
stewart, it sounds like they used the recovery CD and blew your stuff away. The steps I gave would have left your stuff in tact applications and personal documents.
I really dislike that they ship PCs without the install media. I understand why they do it (theft) but still think it does a disservice to the user community. I think they should at least partition off the disk (C and D) so that the install CD will only wipe the C leaving the D with your personal stuff in tact. That is the way we do our images at EDS which prevents problems like Stew is having.
kevin...
Kevin
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