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Computer Problem/OT

Posted By: Backgame
Date: Friday, 24 June 2011, at 2:15 a.m.

In Response To: Computer Problem/OT (Seth)

Don't know why hard drive failure is assumed. Most likely culprit after an abrupt power off is not hardware failure, but corrupt OS files.

Even XP had some built in diagnositic and recovery tools. Play with the function keys and you might find some help. As the computer starts to power up, when you hear the first beep, hit a function key and see what you get. I think F3 takes you to the system BIOS, F8 has some recovery options (I recall one lets you revert to the last good OS configuration), F12 (maybe it's F11) should take you to some boot sequence and configuration options. Even if all you find is the ability to go to a command prompt, you can use DOS utilities to diagnose - e.g. CHKDSK will check the hard drive and with optional parameters will attempt to repair bad sectors.

Messages In This Thread

• Computer Problem/OT
  Seth -- Thursday, 23 June 2011, at 1:38 p.m.
  • Computer Problem/OT
    BenF -- Thursday, 23 June 2011, at 4:57 p.m.
  • Computer Problem/OT
    Matt Cohn-Geier -- Thursday, 23 June 2011, at 5:13 p.m.
    • Computer Problem/OT
      Seth -- Thursday, 23 June 2011, at 7:09 p.m.
      • Computer Problem/OT
        Matt Cohn-Geier -- Thursday, 23 June 2011, at 8:08 p.m.
    • Computer Problem/OT
      mamabear -- Thursday, 23 June 2011, at 9:00 p.m.
  • Computer Problem/OT
    Bob Koca -- Thursday, 23 June 2011, at 5:14 p.m.
  • Computer Problem/OT
    Backgame -- Friday, 24 June 2011, at 2:15 a.m.
    • Computer Problem/OT
      Michael Petch -- Friday, 24 June 2011, at 5:50 a.m.
    • closing the gate before the horse escapes (next time)
      Chuck Bower -- Friday, 24 June 2011, at 1:42 p.m.