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| Thread ID: 126726 | 2012-09-15 03:31:00 | Computer wont boot after power surge | antares (16890) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1301048 | 2012-09-15 03:31:00 | Last night when I was browsing the internet the power in my house randomly surged. When the computer came back on it gave me 2 options. One to repair windows startup and the other was to start normally. I chose to repair the startup. It then went to a screen that said "windows is loading files" and the bar fills up but nothing happens. There is also a descending high pitched sound that sounds like a cd rom failing to read a disk (No I'm not booting from disk either). Does this mean my hard disk has failed? I can't believe something like a simple power surge could do that much damage. I am now desperately trying to recover some important files I didn't have backed up by using a live CD version of Ubuntu. Is this advisable? | antares (16890) | ||
| 1301049 | 2012-09-15 03:41:00 | You should have selected start Windows normally, first. Why did you select to repair start up? Boot the Ubuntu cd, DO NOT select install! Then see if it can mount your HDD. If it can then proceed with backing up your critical files. Then you will probably need to do a repair install of Windows. A decent UPS and regular backups are minimum for critical systems. |
KarameaDave (15222) | ||
| 1301050 | 2012-09-15 04:22:00 | ^what he said. A ubuntu cd is fine, but DON'T install it. It WILL overwrite windows and all your data. | Nick G (16709) | ||
| 1301051 | 2012-09-15 04:39:00 | +1 | ChazTheGeek (16619) | ||
| 1301052 | 2012-09-15 04:43:00 | I can't believe something like a simple power surge could do that much damage. Oh yes it can, a power surge can actually completely blow up your PC and fry everything. Worst case scenario - Power Surge takes out the power Supply. Computer components work on 12V and below. A PSU is basically a transformer dropping down the voltage, if that fails you can get 240V into 12 V components, a person doesn't need to be to good at maths to figure out, instant blowup of components. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1301053 | 2012-09-15 08:37:00 | Makes my spine shiver. Get a UPS, be safe. | ChazTheGeek (16619) | ||
| 1301054 | 2012-09-15 11:13:00 | Makes my spine shiver. Get a UPS, be safe. Or just restore the regular backup image you make right......... |
dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1301055 | 2012-09-16 00:33:00 | Does this mean my hard disk has failed? I can't believe something like a simple power surge could do that much damage. First, nothing in your post even implies a surge. After all, how many other appliances were surge damaged including less robust dimmer switches and bathroom GFCIs? You describe what is more likely a classic blackout, manufacturing defect, or malware. Nobody can conclude hardware damage due to woefully too few facts. Unfortunately, you tried to fix it before first identifying the defect. That may have made the problem exponentally more complex. If the computer comes from more responsible manufacturers, then execute the 'provided for free' comprehensive hardware diagnostics. To identify a hardware defect (before fixing anything). Otherwise get other diagnostics (ie from Bootdisk.com) to even test the disk drive (without causing any data changes or destruction). Zero reasons exist to believe a surge occurred or hardware damage exists. Fixing something without first identifying the defect can only makes things worse. |
westom (16792) | ||
| 1301056 | 2012-09-16 20:00:00 | First, nothing in your post even implies a surge. If the computer comes from more responsible manufacturers, then execute the 'provided for free' comprehensive hardware diagnostics. He said he had a surge. What is a responsible manufacturer? Are you perhaps referring to the likes of Compaq or Dell who generally make end user PCs with **** components, especially PSUs? Power surges can and do fry PCs, or parts of PCs. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1301057 | 2012-09-16 21:55:00 | He said he had a surge. Many who 'know' it must be a surge also assume a blackout is a surge. Or assume failure means a surge must have existed. Destructive surges occur maybe once every seven years. Most failures are manufacturing defects. Since most computer techs cannot say why a failure has occurred (what resistor or semiconductor failed), then most just blame what advertising tells them to blame. Wild speculation - it must be a surge. Due to superior protection inside electronics, most 'so called' surges are only noise. If he had a surge, then other surge damaged appliances could be listed. Such facts would even avert future failures. If a PC 'fried', then you can list a specific part that was destroyed. Otherwise you don't know what happened. Most failures are not even visuall apparent. Many only assume, "It does not work; so it must have been a surge." A blackout is not surge. Many computer techs do not even know about comprehensive hardware diagnostics provided by better manufacturers. A problem exampled by a consumer magazine. They created trival computer problems. Most computer repair shops never fixed the problem. But a perfectly good PSU sure got replaced by many new supplies. These people would be quick to blame a surge rather than learn what causes most failures - manufacturing defects. Accusing Dell or Compaq with profanity does nothing to help the OP or inform anyone. Provided were two tasks so that the actual defect can be identified. And so the better informed can provide a useful answer. |
westom (16792) | ||
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