Computer won't start up...!

[raak]

Hi

Got a problem I was hoping some one could help me

here is the scenario

I am On-line on computer. Power goes off in House.
Need to finish using internet, so remove mobile internet dongle thingy, while computer is off. (daytime so plenty of light)
Go on laptop finish internet session. power is now back on in house.
Boot up comp. it only gets as far as the screen of machine statistics
(Black screen, lots of white writing about ide/hdd...etc

Then checks system and waits....................and waits..aaghh!!

Last but one line say install C/D.
( Original CD? ..I do not have it
all pre installed)
Last line says RCV_MBR Press F10/R to recovery system
Then Nothing..........at all!

I know this probably means press F10 but no joy..Nothing happens but what does RCV_MBR mean?

Go into BIOS check it is alright, click 'boot from HDD' to avoid having to use CD. Still no joy.

Can not get to safe mode to load up system.

(just in case it makes a difference. total noob about Dos.)

Q's.
Is this an easy fix.
Can i access safe mode without computer loading up
how do I get to recovery system without computer loading properly?
If required where can I get a boot disc for XP

Any help appreciated

Porter
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[short1uk]

Recover Master boot record?

Sounds like its asking do you want to recover the system to C or D partition?

Wonder if the power cut fried it? Insurance claim if it did! Have you got a windows cd you can bung in??

C

[raak]

hi C

Recover master boot record...Yeah that might sound right?

Power cut was electric key meter..and no insurance at the mo, so no joy there.

Computers mine. a bit old and we used to all share it but since we got a laptop no one uses but me.

No windows CD all pre installed.
Meant to, wanted to, should have but DIDN'T make a boot disk
( )

Still cheers for help..

Hate being beaten by something thats probably real simple once
you know what to do.....
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[short1uk]

can u get hold of a cd of a mate? Could try to recover XP if u could get one. What version was it? Wonder if the D partiton is the recovery one? Could well be, can u type anything in at the prompt? Can u get a picture up of the boot screen so can have a look. My bloody phone is so slow typing this excuse spelling errors

Catherine

[raak]

Hi Catherine

Your were right
Looked up MBR=Master Boot Record
('')
Guess RCV = recover

Looked at instruction manual for computer say press F10 or R for local recovery to begin.

Trouble is pressing keyboard F10 or R does nothing.
if i keep on pressing i just get error buzz

Can type nothing at prompt except in bios Y/N only

Will try to photo bootscreen (just need to dig out camera cd to load up on to laptop.

Have no friends..
to lend CD disc from

Ps on spell check frontUpgraded to opera
9.52 site does not support spell check...

Cheers for reply
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[short1uk]

The beeping will probably be a keyboard failure because you keep pressing the keys. Does it then say keyboard failure?

Have you got a keyboard you can plug in? If you did you might have to enable usb support in the bios settings.

Which version of Xp is it. I have loads of disks I can run you a copy off as long as you have the xp key on your COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop it will work.

You would lose everything of course if you reinstalled it, or you could get a caddy put the disk in and copy all you work off then reinstall and copy it all back.

Wonder if the hard disk has actually crapped out?

Was typing the other post on my iPhone so i dont think i can install Opera on it, Safari i think is the only option.

I would need to know the exact version of Xp you have, Home, Professional, Volume Product license key.
I have tons of disks just have to dig them out, wonder of working in IT - bloody disks every where!

Catherine

[nick606]

[rotax81]

i had the exact same problem about 3 weeks ago although mine was not caused by a power cut.
i tried everything i knew but then i had to do a complete reload.
____________________
ZX636C6F road. ZX636C1H track. ZX7R redundant. ZX0.5R minimoto as ornament.
Audi A4 Avant 1.9TDi and VW Transporter 2.5TDi 888 Special (no mot and tax lol)

[raak]

Hi all

catherine, keyboard works in Bios, It will select Y/N and scroll
but will NOT accept F10 OR 'R' on boot up screen page..?

[short1uk]

Didnt realise it was a tower thought it was a laptop we where on about. Not that it makes any difference really but easier to determine if its the hard disk or not. Have you got a spare one you could connect up inside and see if you get any further than you are now?

If you managed to get a blank one it would go past the bios and just say no operating system found, which would be good as then you could just reinstall. If it stuck at the same place again it is probably going to be something else.

The COA is a certificate of authenticity which all computers should have stuck on them some where it has your windows product key on it. If some one built it for you it might not be there, if you bought it from a shop it will be.

C

[nick606]

you can get it by spamming F8 as the pc is loading (at least i think its F8). Unless your already doing that and im misunderstanding

[iooi]

Follow these instructions to restore the MBR:

Insert the XP or Windows 2000 installation CD in the CD-ROM drive and reboot the computer.

If the computer does not boot with the CD, then you will have to change the boot sequence in the PC’s BIOS setup so that the CD takes precedence over the hard disk.

While booting, the boot program on the CD detects any existing, bootable partitions on the hard disk, stops the boot process and only continues booting once a key has been pressed.

On the first screen of the Windows Setup program, select "R" and on the next screen, select "K" to run the Recovery Console.


Now, enter the following command

fixmbr

If, after re-starting, the hard disk is still not able to be booted, you can also re-create the boot sector in the first partition.

In order to do this, return to the Recovery Console and type in this command

fixboot c:
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[GAS]

This is fixable if you can get into SAFE mode
on boot after switching the machine of for 10sec then switch on and start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a keyboard error message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again

[GAS]

[raak]

Hi all

Catherine.
Yes it's a tower, sorry for not making that clear.
Had computers open before, but only to add memory, not really confident about swapping HDD ,
although i do have an old computer i could whip drive out of if i had to (have got recovery disc for that one somewhere)
lack of confidence makes me just want to see if it is fixable in any other way..

Btw, is COA sticker likely to be inside unit on hard drive or outside on casing somewhere?

Nick606 writes

[GAS]

just the error Beep is this beep when you just power up and dont touch anything as this will give you a clue to whats wrong from 1 short beep to 3 short 1 long etc

hit key quickly, Repeatedly and dont stop until screen appears

HTH

Another thing to do is open the case clean inside possible vacum out dust Carefully now then remove the Ram and blow out dust then re insert and umplug the the Hard drive cable one end at a time then re insert sometimes the cable can just not be seatted correctly

[iooi]

You got a laptop, you got the internet......

About all you need to get a copy of Windows

Or a local car boot, or friendly neighbour.
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[raak]

Catherine

here is screenshot of comp
Not brilliant, hard to get clear shot of data

https://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/jazp66/deadcompscreenshot01.jpg

https://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/jazp66/deadcompscreenshot01a.jpg

Will have a go using all your advice,
Cheers

Jaz
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[raak]

Hi

Just an update on progress...

Got a bit further, not F8 but F10 from booting up got me onto
*setup is inspecting your hardware cinfiguration
*starting windows pre intallation environment
*windows XP splash screen
then:
Non destructive system recovery screen.
Select 'Normal' to recover hard drive
this will not erase data but some soft ware i had installed since buying machine may need to be re-installed.

Press 'Normal' and i get
"Critic error Report.
The space of user partition is not adequate.
Recovery process can not continue!
Press OK to reboot"

Which takes me back to where i started..................

Repeat process and chose advanced and then get
"system recovery will format the user partition and recovery (Sic) all files to their factory condition.
So any data will be lost.
Take caution before pressing 'next'

I guess i have serious Hard drive issue
Am tempted to hit 'next' and continue but although windows was pre-installed if think i will lose that data and have to buy a new copy.

Does anyone know if that is correct?
Am i on the wrong screen?
IF i continue can i get windows back without buying another version?

Cheers for advice

ps catherine
have found COA data and version No

do you still need it?

Cheers
jaz
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[raak]

Quick update and a few more questions...

Btw cheers 'iooi' and 'Gas' for help......

Begged cd of nephew. used 'R' then '1' not 'k' to access recovery module. did 'Fixmbr' still no joy.
So then restarted and did 'fixboot c: STILL no joy.

Computer got to 'Verifying dmi pool data' ok, then stopped....!

Eventually tried to reinstall window using nephews CD.

Screen said that partition C was corrupt/full/damaged did i want to format. said yes. started to re-install windows. asked me for my verification no (25 digits) input the No from the sticker on MY machine...not valid! now machine is genuine pc world purchase, so Used nephews verification no to install. all ok except am being asked to verify windows on line within 30 days.

Question;
am i worrying unneccessarily or
can i just use his number no problems ?
(bearing in mind he still has his computer up and running on the net)
Should i use my own number and hope to explain what happened to a real person via email or telephone successfully?

Will any action be taken to stop me using windows without the proper vwerification number even though i do have one?

Cheers for any help
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[GodzGift]

Have you tried re-starting it?
____________________
Bike Level: Amateur | CBT Passed

[raak]

Godzgift

Switch it off, then switched it back on all seems ok

Why?
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[raak]

Hi computer back up and running...

to;
Short1uk,
rotax81,
iooi,
and GAS...cheers!

Had to remove nephews version and re-intall mine,
(Found out i was mistaking an 8 for a B ,,, )

But finally got there.
Again thanks for the help, gave me a few useful pointers
when all seemed lost.

I did lose all my Data..
but i am rummaging through some old CD's
and starting to get some of it back..

So remember, create a back up disc TODAY....

Bye
____________________
Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[short1uk]

Glad you got it sorted mate I was wondering how you where getting on.

Cath