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Thread ID: 108118 2010-03-14 21:28:00 Acer M3200 start up sarel (2490) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
867193 2010-03-14 21:28:00 A friend asked me this morning what could be wrong - he's got an Acer M3200, WinXp, that can't find Windows on startup and asks for a reinstall of Windows every time it starts. ("Switching off seems to wipe Windows totally"). He then reinstalls from the OEM partition. It sounded to me like the CMOS battery being flat, but what would I know. I haven't seen the PC nor did I try and start it myself. Just thought I would ask.

He's kind of sure that it isn't infected - due to the reinstalls.

Any ideas?

sarel
sarel (2490)
867194 2010-03-14 21:35:00 My guess is that he reboots off the install CD each time rather than the hard disk. Sweep (90)
867195 2010-03-14 21:44:00 Sweep, I asked him (thinking Bios) be he said no, it starts off booting from the HD, fails and then asks for a reboot off the install OEM.

sarel
sarel (2490)
867196 2010-03-14 22:08:00 Oh well my theory wrong.

I have never seen Windows ask for a reinstall all by itself.
Sweep (90)
867197 2010-03-14 22:32:00 Sounds like maybe the MBR is stuffed - has he run Seatools etc to check the state of the hard drive? nofam (9009)
867198 2010-03-15 00:01:00 nah, he hasn't ran anything yet - waiting to hear what I will say. I'll tell him to.

sarel
sarel (2490)
867199 2010-03-15 00:05:00 It would be helpful to get the message (word for word) that asks for Windows to be reinstalled. Also this should be in PF1 not chat. george12 (7)
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