Computer Won't Boot Up :/

[TheTrueDarkOne]

REPAIR INSTALL

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Will it ask for the KEY when I repair install? (The Windows Key for each computer)

My OS is not bootlegged, I had my mother board changed once before and I Just noticed when they put it in a new case the store didn't put my sticker that comes on the original casing on the new one.

If I don't need the key good, if I do... I suppose I'll have to go buy the whole OS with the OEM sticker

Question About Fixing a Computer!

I am fixing a neighbors computer (Upgrading the RAM & slaving a hard drive), but he also wanted me to clean out his system from Spyware, Viruses he may have encountered. If I encounter porn (Nothing with little children) I don't mind it correct? I just confirm it was not dropped from a virus and move on?

MY COMPUTER ISSUE

Windows XP HOME Edition (2001 I believe)

My sister recently added a router (I was too lazy, and so 80 hours later she got it working). Either way that is the only SOFTWARE change to the computer that I am aware of.

I start the computer up and then it goes to the screen which ask

SafeMode

SafeMode with Networking

SafeMode with Command Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration

*I forget what this last one says*

When I click the SAFE MODE one (Either of the 3) it will do the screen where it is loading (All the text) and then loops right back to the screen with the BOOT UP options.

If I click LAST KNOWN or the OTHER one it will start to load (The Windows XP screen with the loading bar below) but then a blue screen will pop up for a MILLISECOND. So I am unable to see what it even says... I honestly only saw "DISABLE" near the end of whatever it states on the screen.

ABOVE is the problem, BELOW consist of me talking about REFORMATTING and INSTALLING.

So does anyone know of any options besides REFORMATTING and INSTALLING?

I am going to community college (Unless I like the baseball program and get picked up by a 4yr. college I am already accepted into) do any of you all know if the Windows disc are sold cheaper on campus even at the community college?

If it comes down to having to reformat an re-install, we have many pictures and family documents that are not backed up (fortunately most are) I am curious as how I would recover the files.

The desktop consist of the manufacture HD (80GBs) and one I slaved (160GBs with 3 partitions). Would it be possible to buy a new HD and install it as the MASTER and then SLAVE the 80GB to pull files? (Keep in mind, the 80GB is the one with XP and may be infected... Pending the reason the computer will not boot up properly)

I will then purchase another HD for my desktop (that I will build this summer) and slave the 160 and pull the Digital Artwork and Music off of it.

Are both of those ideas feasible?

Is the first idea feasible? (Too slave the 80GB after buying a new HD and installing XP on it)

'Jose

Any ideas would be great!

P.S. From Another Thread: I have narrowed down my Laptop issue and it is the CPU (So once I get my paycheck, the guy should be up and running without the overheating)

Edited May 26, 2007 by TheTrueDarkOne

[Besttechie]

I'm a little lost...were there any recent hardware changes to your machine?

As for the question about the computer you're working on...that's more of a personal call. If the user put it there, that's his/her data and you have no right to delete it.

B

[TheTrueDarkOne]

Sorry if the post is confusing (and that is what I thought about the neighbors computer, THANKS)

My sister added a ROUTER and other then that NOTHING has been installed (hardware or software) recently.

When i start the computer it automatically goes to the screen with BOOT UP options.

SAFEMODE

SAFEMODE with NETWORKING

SAFEMODE with COMMAND PROMPT

LAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIGURATION

*Other Option, but Forget what it states*

I have tried all of them and no matter what I pick, it loops back to that same screen. (The one listed above)

Although when I click LAST KNOWN or OTHER OPTION it goes to the screen where XP loads but then a BLUE screen pops up for literally a millisecond and I can't read what it says.

'Jose

[Matt]

I think you've mentioned that you don't have an XP Disc. Is there any chance of getting one? If you can get a hold of one, I'd try a Repair Install. This should allow you to repair windows without losing any data.

Tutorial:

http://www.besttechie.net/forums/Windows-X...rial-t1523.html

[Besttechie]

Definitely the first thing you should try is what Matt suggested. If you didn't add any new hardware, I'd try the repair install of XP.

B

[TheTrueDarkOne]

Repair install.... Wow, how did I not think of that.

Well I will try and acquire a XP disc, and hope that the repair install works.

'Jose

Thanks!!

Edited May 21, 2007 by TheTrueDarkOne

[shanenin]

I personally always recommend a clean install(format). It can be more of hassle in regards to reinstalling programs, but it has such a nice end result.

[TheTrueDarkOne]

I personally always recommend a clean install(format). It can be more of hassle in regards to reinstalling programs, but it has such a nice end result.

Hopefully the Repair method works so I can recover and backup all the pictures and files on the computer. Then I will honestly consider a clean install.

Thank You all for you help. Clean install is always my last resort... and I can't believe I didn't think about the Repair Install

'Jose

[blim]

About the porn issue--does your neighbor have teenaged or adult childen who have access to the computer? If so, and especially if its rather hidden (like not on a desktop icon), you ought to maybe bring it to his attention with,

"If YOU downloaded it, no problem, you're an adult-- just wanted to make sure you know about it in case one of the kids downloaded it"

Just because if there was porn on MY machine (I certainly wouldn't download it!) I certainly would WANT to know so I could have you remove it, then reap havoc on the kids!

Wait for the computer fixers to chime in on this slant as it's just my personal feelings as a Mom.

Liz

[shanenin]

Hopefully the Repair method works so I can recover and backup all the pictures and files on the computer. Then I will honestly consider a clean install.

Their are all kinds of methods you can use to back up his files. Just to keep it simple, you could slave his drive to your system then temporally save his files to your hardrive. You also could boot his system with a live cd like knoppix or bart pe then copy the files to your system over the network or to a usb drive.

Edited May 21, 2007 by shanenin

[TheTrueDarkOne]

Hopefully the Repair method works so I can recover and backup all the pictures and files on the computer. Then I will honestly consider a clean install.

Their are all kinds of methods you can use to back up his files. Just to keep it simple, you could slave his drive to your system then temporally save his files to your hardrive. You also could boot his system with a live cd like knoppix or bart pe then copy the files to your system over the network or to a usb drive.

Wow, 1 year away from computers (baseball baseball baseball) and I forget about all these other ways. I have to have atleast a million Knoppix (and other distros) in my cd case from when I was exploring other OSs prior to baseball season last year.

Thank you again for the idea!!

'Jose

[TheTrueDarkOne]

REPAIR INSTALL

-------------------

Will it ask for the KEY when I repair install? (The Windows Key for each computer)

My OS is not bootlegged, I had my mother board changed once before and I Just noticed when they put it in a new case the store didn't put my sticker that comes on the original casing on the new one.

[shanenin]

it will ask for the key. You can use Bartpe, along with the key finder plugin. It will boot the computer from the cd, then retrieves your product key.

Edited May 26, 2007 by shanenin

[JSKY]

Yes. You will need your CD-Key if you do a full repair. (and some command prompt repairs).

You can use magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder to find your CD-Key.

But remember, doing a repair removes some M$ updates. So you will need to go to the M$ site and redownload them.

As for finding Porn on someones PC can get tricky. A handful of States have it in law, that if you find Child Porn

on a customers PC while you are repairing or working on it, that you have to report it to them. Not sure if that includes an unlicensed person fixing a friends computer or not. But if you are licensed, then you would be bound to do so. You would have to check if you are in one of these States. (my state requires this).

But then as stated before. If it's cosher, find out before removing it. Maybe put a scare into them that except for e-mail attachments, Porn sites are a leading cause of infected PCs. And then sue then for causing your eyesight to go bad looking at it.....LOL

[shanenin]

You can use magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder to find your CD-Key.

His system will not boot, although that is a great program, in his case it will not work. Thats why I recommended Bartpe.

[JSKY]

You can use magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder to find your CD-Key.

His system will not boot, although that is a great program, in his case it will not work. Thats why I recommended Bartpe.

Thanks for catching that one shanenin. By the time I got to the end and posted a reply. I got lost in thinking of other things.

[TheTrueDarkOne]

You can use magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder to find your CD-Key.

His system will not boot, although that is a great program, in his case it will not work. Thats why I recommended Bartpe.

JSKY yes thank you for the advice (that program has helped me get others keys before I clean installed their PC's)

Shanenin I will take your advice to grab my PC key

Thank you!

Since this event I've been re-enlightening myself on computers. Love feeling like a computer geek again. (Nowhere near professional but not illiterate)

Thanks again guys