Help Me Fix My Computer

[2kchevy06civic 5,000+ posts]

I haven't had very many classes on Linux so I don't know a lot about it. I've only worked with KDE and Gnome and the window manager was the one that comes with those. I guess I would like Linux more if I had more experience with it.

 

[sumone 10+ year member]

I'm guessin you have AwardBIOS?

1. do you ever get a DMI "...success" message?

2. try without any hard drives connected...I'm countin on a bad disk //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[slack 10+ year member]

I haven't had very many classes on Linux so I don't know a lot about it. I've only worked with KDE and Gnome and the window manager was the one that comes with those. I guess I would like Linux more if I had more experience with it.

try knoppix or one of the othe live linux cd's

http://www.linuxiso.org/

all u do is download the iso, burn it, restart ur computer iwth the disc in and set ur cdrom as one of the boot devices. very simple and no installation needed

 

[IamDeMan 5,000+ posts]

This was actually my suggestion which I sent via pm. Except, I was using a windows verison rather than Linux. The method is the same as a boot disk, with the 3 files needed to boot through DOS, when the computer starts. Instead, you use 3 differnt files boot.ini, NTLDR, NTDETECT and save those to a floppy. It will allow you to boot to windows, without a HD. I say it's the best method to save all of your files, and then have no worries about reformatting //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/toast.gif.bc0657bf54b9ee653b6438524461341e.gif

I use WindowsPE for recovering files. Its a live CD version of windows. Things can be done in the drag and rop method just as if windows was running. I used to use knoppix until I got the WinPE.

 

[jleecong 10+ year member]

JMAC Sorry to hear of your problems.

First it's not the HD. If you get options when hitting F8 at boot then something is on the HD.

Second would be to try a repair using your XP CD (shouldn't need a key). Just boot from your XP CD.

Since the system won’t boot in safe mode you have corrupt files and will have to either repair them or reinstall XP. Causes for this could be overclocking, not properly shutting down your computer, or failing HD.

Last all you info is there unless you had a crash (XP wouldn’t react to F8) so if you take it to a shop and they tell you they are going to format it make sure that they backup all your stuff first. Again if they can format the drive then physically there is nothing wrong and a repair using the XP CD should work.

I usually buy a new HD at least once a year for additional space and to reinstall Windows but have everything else just like before. If you can afford it that would probably be your best bet.