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HELP! Is my computer dead?

Discussion in 'Technology' started by F430GB, Aug 29, 2011.

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  1. F430GB

    F430GB F1 Veteran

    May 5, 2008
    6,286
    Reno, NV
    Full Name:
    Gil Folk
    #1 F430GB, Aug 29, 2011
    I have an HP desktop computer. It's approximately three years old and has been working fine since day one. About two hours ago, I tried to close an internet window and it didn't close; however, the computer had not froze since I was still able to move the mouse. I tried restarting my computer. When it began to reboot, the blue "HP" screen came up as always and then a black screen came up with a silver "underscore" looking thing that flashes in the upper left hand corner. Nothing happens past this stage. I tried CTRL, ALT, Delete and it rebooted the computer again, but still stayed on that black screen. I then tried a manual shut off, and the same thing happened. Finally, I tried a manual shut off, unplugged the computer, and plugged it back in again. Same...no luck. Nothing happens when I press the F11, F12, or excape keys. Can someone please help?

    Thank you,
    -G.B.
     
  2. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 15, 2006
    28,633
    Phoenix
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    AG
    #2 agup48, Aug 29, 2011
    I think that means you have a hard drive failure.
     
  3. yoda

    yoda F1 Rookie

    Sep 27, 2004
    2,598
    UT
    #3 yoda, Aug 29, 2011
    It could be a dying hard drive. Are you able to boot into safe mode? You could also try running a repair install with a Windows disc. With the disc you could also try getting to the recovery console and running a fixmbr (fix master boot record) command.
     
  4. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    #4 EnzymaticRacer, Aug 29, 2011
    Most likely a corrupted MBR (master boot record) due to a failing hard drive.

    Yoda has the right Idea.

    If that works, boot, and then immediately begin backing up your important data.

    It's not a matter of if your HD will fail at this point... its a matter of when.
     
  5. F430GB

    F430GB F1 Veteran

    May 5, 2008
    6,286
    Reno, NV
    Full Name:
    Gil Folk
    #5 F430GB, Aug 29, 2011
    Thanks for the replies guys. This all started last night when I was trying to load photos (.jpgs) onto a CD. I waited about an hour and then a window popped up saying "Windos cannot complete disc format." So I tried closing the window and it didn't work. I decided to reset the computer; disc was still in the drive. I did some research and quite a few people recommended putting the CD in that came with the computer upon purchase. So, I tried taking out the disc that was originally in there (the one I was trying to upload photos to) and when I ejected the disc, everything was fine again and is working perfectly now. Is that just a coincidence or should I be concerned that my hard-drive will go out shortly?

    Thanks!

    -G.B.
     
  6. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 18, 2008
    32,273
    Seattle Area
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #6 Jedi, Aug 29, 2011
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2011
    NOW IS THE TIME TO DO A FULL DATA BACKUP!!! Yes - all caps means I'm YELLING IT!

    Go out and buy a 1TB external drive and start backing up every bit of data you can - all
    your docs and photos mostly. You dodged a bullet - it sounds like your system C: hard
    drive is in death throes - you may not get another chance to do a backup.

    Modern external drives pretty much all come with easy to use auto-backup software - just
    point it to the folders you want to back up and let it do the work.

    Good luck

    :)

    Jedi
     
  7. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2001
    11,238
    Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Randy
    #7 Schatten, Aug 29, 2011
    Here's my advice and the things that go through my head when I see this occur -

    - safemode - sometimes you cannot get to this point, but try.
    - heat - is it stored in a cabinet where there's zero air flow?
    - smoking - if you smoke, that pc is clogged up and getting no air flow.
    - reseating items - open case, remove and reseat cables to hard drive on both sides. saying 'it looks fine' isn't correct. reseating them rejoins the connection because everything moves in a computer - and that includes cables.
    - still no go? I'd look at taking a) a new drive and booting it up on the computer (one that doesn't have an operating system, because you'll have driver-hell and that will hose up that drive too), or b) taking this drive and putting it on another system, even a laptop through an external connector. They make cases or adapters to go from ide/sata/whichever to USB.
     
  8. powerpig

    powerpig F1 World Champ

    Oct 12, 2008
    11,078
    Huntsville, AL
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    #8 powerpig, Aug 29, 2011
    What happened is your computer is set to boot from the CD drive. Since the photo disk doesn't have a boot sector, the machine couldn't boot up. That's why it booted once you took the disc out. You can go to the bios and reset the boot order to the HDD or leave it alone. You have nothing wrong, but still need to backup your data.
     

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