computer help

[gg_wong]

my brother was playing wc3 when it froze... so he decided to boot and said that the whole screen was black. So then he decideds to shutdown the comp and let it rest. When he turned it back on, windows is now unable to load.... i mean i have XP..... the loading screen where the blue bar goes back and forth , the computer ALWAYS restarts there.... i cant figure out how to fix... so please help! i wasnt there when this happend so i dont really know if the story is true or fake... thx u

[HorseArcher]

my brother was playing wc3 when it froze... so he decided to boot and said that the whole screen was black. So then he decideds to shutdown the comp and let it rest. When he turned it back on, windows is now unable to load.... i mean i have XP..... the loading screen where the blue bar goes back and forth , the computer ALWAYS restarts there.... i cant figure out how to fix... so please help! i wasnt there when this happend so i dont really know if the story is true or fake... thx u

Sounds like either your windowsxp is broken or the hard drive failed. Either way, push F8 before the windows loading screen comes up and select the safe settings or try to do a system restore. If everything fails, try to reinstall windows, but before you do that, do a scandisk.

[gg_wong]

so far ive tired all options in f8 and they all reboot..... havent tried scandisk check though... gonna give it a shot

[Erik]

I had something like this a month ago.
But in my case windows sometimes did load and sometimes it didn't.
It turned out my CD-RW drive was broken.

It don't think you have the same problem but before you re-install windows you should try disconnecting all drives except for your HD containing windows.

If you can't run windows in safe mode I think you can also run a disk check from the windows CD.
The windows CD also contains an option to repair your current windows install.
This has never worked for me but you can at least give it a try.

Good luck.

[Bruticus the Steadfast]

Yes. I had a problem a few months back with windows. If you have files that you really want to keep..you may have to do what I did.

I called Dell support..telling them my problem. They said that the ONLY way was to either re-intall windows (and lose everything)..or call some jackass (sorry haha) company down here and pay $100's to come back up my HD.

I then called the guy who does the computers for my dads work. He said that I could TRY re-installing win, but that would be the last option. He said just trying to generally fix the problem I had (it was missing a dll file I think). If all else failed, I could just buy another HD and hook it up with my old one. Then install windows on that new one..and go into the old drive and take all the files out of it onto the new one.

So then I called my friend who was good with computers (he now works at a comp store in town). We tried to fix it nearly all night. Then he just told me that I should buy a new drive.

So, in the end, I spent $40 on a new HD and got all my files out perfeclty. Now I just have x2 the space and a perfectly running computer. Moral of the story: Never listen to Dell when they tell you to re-install windows and/or tell you to pay some dummy $100's to come backup your HD. 3

Advice: If all else fails...just buy another HD. I couldent be happier.

[gg_wong]

nvm i have a dilema.... even with the XP PRo bootdisk the thing still wont load up windows.... boots at the exact same spot....... and when it boots.... the cd rom sounds like a dying engine........ i need to know what is the worst possible problem i have now... a dead HD??

[Guderian]

Try running memtest86 and a diagnostic tool for your HDD. You should find one at thier site. Also try disconnecting the CD ROM and see what happens.

It could be your HDD, your motherboard (checkout the capcacitors to see if their buldging or leaking and check to see if your motherboard is making contact with the back of your case) or your windows has become corrupt somehow (you should be able to fix that, have you tried the different boot methods when you press F8 i.e. safe mode etc)

[Erik]

You can try stripping your PC down to it's bare essentials: MoBO+CPU, HD and Graphics card.
If it boots then you know it's a hardware problem in one of the components you removed.

If you still have the same problem you can put your HD in a 2nd computer (assuming you have one, what are you typing on now?).

If you can't boot from your HD in a 2nd computer you have to re-install windows.
You don't have to erase your HD to re-install and I don't think windows wil remove any of your user data.
I always store anything of value on a seperate partition just in case I have to re-install windows, so I'm not 100% sure your data is safe if you re-install, just 90% sure.
So it would be wise to hook your HD up to a working PC first and copy all your precious data. (this might also be a good time to buy a DVD+/-RW drive).

If you CAN boot from your HD in a 2nd PC it's a hardware problem, most likely your MoBo or your power supply.

[Twitchy]

I once had the same problem and it turned out I had a ton of viruses on my computer.

[gg_wong]

dam it i just reformatted my whole comp but thx for the advice people i appreciatted it