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Windows problem

Discussion in 'Computers & Technology Forum' started by baptistteacher, May 25, 2009.

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  1. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Thanks again, evryone.

    I am now getting
    "A disk read error occurred
    Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart"

    I can still get to BIOS Settings by pushing f2 on restart,
    and BOOT menu when pressing f10.
     
    #21 baptistteacher, May 26, 2009
  2. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    ccrobinson --- Under the BIOS setup utility, I see an entry
    PXE Disable/Enable: [Enabled]

    Should I change that to Disabled? I'm hesitant to do any changes that might prevent recovery.
     
    #22 baptistteacher, May 26, 2009
  3. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    I went through this with my sister-in-law's laptop. Dollars to donuts your hard drive is/has failed. Odds are it wasn't the program you installed that caused the problem at all.

    While you may not have gotten a Windows disk with your laptop, you can use your serial to install using someone else's Windows disk. The thing is it has to be a full version and not a restore disk. You could also download an ISO of Windows and burn it as a bootable image.
     
    #23 Trotter, May 27, 2009
  4. ccrobinson

    ccrobinson Active Member

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    Uh oh. This is bad. Your system can't find the MBR (Master Boot Record). Typically, it means the drive has failed. Sorry.



    Do not change. You have no need for PXE.
    Trotter's right, you're drive has failed. A hardware failure would have had nothing to do with what you installed, but is merely a coincidence.

    You'll need to get a Windows install CD and use your serial number for the installation. Once you get a CD, pop it in and start up the installation. The key here is whether Windows Setup recognizes your hard drive. If it does, you can install Windows without formatting the drive and losing your data. If it doesn't recognize the drive, well, sorry to say, but you'll have to get a new drive.
     
    #24 ccrobinson, May 27, 2009
  5. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    I talked with the IT man at the college where I teach because we have had the same problem and it is not because of a virus. As best as I could understand he told me that it is because of the number of programs we are running and the computer is overloaded.The computers were fine until we installed more programs.
     
    #25 gb93433, May 27, 2009
  6. ccrobinson

    ccrobinson Active Member

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    The only thing running more programs is going to cause is the CPU will work harder trying to keep up, thus, the computer will run slower. Hard drives spin at the same speed no matter how many programs are installed/running.
     
    #26 ccrobinson, May 27, 2009
  7. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Thanks! You guys are the best tech support around.

    Will see about borrowing a Windows CD, am getting the Kxxxxxx Recovery Disc {forgot the name}, and will try those tomorrow. A full written report will be forthcoming. Hope I get a good grade on it!
    :praying:
     
    #27 baptistteacher, May 27, 2009
  8. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Be sure you don't have a flash drive or other storage dev. ice in a USB port. My PC won't boot from the HD with a flash drive inserted. I could change boot order, but no need.

    To get back up and productive in the meantime, see if you can download a Linux bootable CD on a friends PC and burn the ISO to a CD. Then boot your computer from this CD, and at least you are back in business until you get things fixed. This will bypass a bad HDD, and if it works will also tell you the problem is either the disk or a software issue. Try Ubuntu at www.ubuntu.com. You could also try fixing the MBR with a Windows CD.
     
    #28 Magnetic Poles, May 28, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 28, 2009
  9. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Install question

    I have the Windows install CD in the drive, booted from CD, used the recovery option.

    I then get this message:
    Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console
    The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
    Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

    A few moments later, the prompt
    C:>
    appears. If I type exit, it goes through the whole procedure again.

    If I just wait, nothing happens.

    Is there something else I can type or do?

    [edited to add] --> Maybe I should have mentioned that after selecting the Recovery option, it goes through a Windows Setup process [loading files, etc.], then says "Setup is starting windows" before going to the message "Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console
    The Recovery Console provides… " -- and then the C:> prompt.

    Retried a few times, sometimes it goes to the same message (as above), and sometimes it goes back to the "Welcome to Setup" screen again.
     
    #29 baptistteacher, May 28, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 28, 2009
  10. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Don't exit. Go through the console and either let it repair Windows, or rebuild the Master Boot Record. Exit doesn't let it do anything. I would be more clear, but I am running Fedora, not Windows, so I don't see what you see.
     
    #30 Magnetic Poles, May 28, 2009
  11. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Maybe I should have mentioned that after selecting the Recovery option, it goes through a Windows Setup process [loading files, etc.], then says "Setup is starting windows" before going to the last message with the C:> prompt.

    Retried a few times, sometimes it goes to the same message (as above), and sometimes it goes back to the "Welcome to Setup" screen again.
     
    #31 baptistteacher, May 28, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 28, 2009
  12. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    I'm not that windows literate, what is an "ISO"? Will it be obvious when we look at the ubuntu site?
     
    #32 baptistteacher, May 28, 2009
  13. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    ISO is the type of file that is an image file of a disk. You have to burn it as a disk image, not just copying the file to CD. It contains its own master boot record. Just choose BURN IMAGE in the CD burning software. More HERE. If you have time to wait, Ubuntu will also send you a disk for free in the mail.
     
    #33 Magnetic Poles, May 29, 2009
  14. ccrobinson

    ccrobinson Active Member

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    If the drive isn't dead and the only problem is with the Master Boot Record (MBR), then you maybe Ok. Here's the article from Microsoft about how to use the Recovery Console to rebuild the MBR. The specific command is "    fixmbr". In that computer, the drive is probably named \device\harddisk0, so the specific command is "fixmbr \device\harddisk0". That's a zero at the end of harddisk.

    If this works, then you're drive may be useable again and you shouldn't lose data. I say may and should because I've never used this command before.

    Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for any issues using the fixmbr command may cause.
     
    #34 ccrobinson, May 29, 2009
  15. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    #35 Trotter, May 29, 2009
  16. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Sorry I haven't been around much the past couple of days. What with work and etc., I haven't had much time to deal with this problem.
    Would like to have had it running for SS (powerpoint), but I can still teach the "Old Fashioned Way", I am after all a vintage pre-computer takeover person.
    Although I got this at a bargain rate ($100.00) for my wife, I have made use of it also, since it is portable. Kinda too much trouble to drag my Mac Desktop back and forth.

    The Windows install disc hasn't helped.
    When I try to start from the HD, the "Windows XP" start-up screen will show for a few seconds, then quickly flash a text message, before going back to the "Press Control-Alt-Delete" message again.
    Don't have the Ubuntu thing yet. Maybe tomorrow.

    Late Saturday now. Time to crash into my pillow.
     
    #36 baptistteacher, May 30, 2009
  17. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    The saga continues

    The saga continues…

    1. Replaced the HD with one from an old laptop my son had found some time ago. {He manages an apartment complex, and people leave all kinds of stuff. This particular laptop would not start up, power button missing} -- Anyway, this HD worked, but had to re-install Windows, complete re-install because it had an older version of windows, not XP.

    2. Win-XP, sp1, installed fine, computer is operational.

    3. Of course, now I am at "bare-bones" level.

    4. Computer doesn't detect the wireless network, as if it doesn't exist.

    5. I have been loaned a set of Compaq discs, -- the Windows disc and 4 "Compaq QuickRestore System Recovery" CD's. But I'm not sure how to use them, or even if I can. --- I'm using a Gateway machine, the HD is from a Toshiba machine.
     
    #37 baptistteacher, Jun 1, 2009
  18. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    I pulled the router cable from my Mac and plugged it into the laptop, and am able to get online this way. I can download something if necessary.
     
    #38 baptistteacher, Jun 1, 2009
  19. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Had to download a "network controller" driver, then it detected the wireless network, even while still connected to the line. it does keep loosing contact every few minutes. Doesn't even do a full download of AVG antivirus before loosing contact.
    Do I need to download "PCI modem" driver, or something else?
     
    #39 baptistteacher, Jun 1, 2009
  20. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    Go here: Gateway Support

    Use the drop-down menus to fill in the blanks to get the driver download page for your laptop. Download and install. If I knew the model I would link you directly to the drivers.

    Where the hard drive is from doesn't matter as Windows will/did format it before installing as XP uses NTFS instead of FAT (trust me on that one ;) ).

    Don't use the Compaq QuickRestore disks as they will have the drivers for the computer they came with and not yours. Windows should have put generic drivers with what it could when it was installed. Once you download the proper drivers from the Gateway support site you should be good to go.
     
    #40 Trotter, Jun 1, 2009
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