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Thread ID: 85928	2007-12-27 12:58:00	Computer Beeps when turned on and won't boot	spaceman8815 (4112)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
625041	2007-12-29 09:12:00	I'll look back at this post later tomorrow 30th - will be late in the afternoon,early evening - as I wont be here till then. Reboot the PC from the Knoppix CD, Look on the C: drive for a folder called i386 - let me know if its there. Please look also at post 40	wainuitech (129)
625042	2007-12-30 05:33:00	When i did the chkdsk there where no error messages all it said was that "there were one or more problems found and repaired" (it scanned everything). There is also no differnces in the beep i get when i try to start up, still the same as before. Didn't get any error messages from the fixboot either, it said it had succesfully fixed it though, but still no difference. I booted from the Knoppix live CD and have found the i386 folder on my hard drive in the windows folder. what do i do next?	spaceman8815 (4112)
625043	2007-12-30 07:54:00	There is also no differnces in the beep i get when i try to start up, still the same as before . This has dragged on . Either take it to a tech to look at or test your RAM next .	pctek (84)
625044	2007-12-30 08:05:00	Something here doesn’t make sense . Going back over the Posts – when the PC boots, you get a series of continuous beeps – that means hardware problem someplace – BUT when you Boot from a CD, No beeps ? Yet boots and runs fine from that CD . If there is a hardware problem, you would normally have problems with the bootable CD as well, as in it won’t run either, but you are saying they run fine . Those two events contradict one another . ???? :confused: Any way Running the standard repairs like you did, don’t always work, so normally if that’s the case its time to reinstall the OS . Sometimes you can do a Non- Destructive reinstall; this leaves the data alone and reinstalls windows, other times wipe drive - complete install . To make sure the RAM is OK, download the Memtest Zipped ISO file from my sig, burn it to a CD, Boot from the CD, let it run at least twice through . If it comes up with No Errors, then you can try doing a Non Distruct Reinstall and see if that fixes it . BUT since you said you don’t have the XP CD when you got the PC, there is a way around this . Post 19 Now the reason I was asking if you had the I386 Folder . ;) Warning: This may or may not work, if the I386 folder contents are damaged in any way it will fail . MAKE sure You have the Product key thats on the side of your PC, if you don't, then there's nothing I can do - the reinstall will not work . (See last note) 1st, to see if you can do this – boot the PC, keep hitting the F8 Key, select Safe mode with command Prompt . IF it allows you to enter and you end up with a Black command box with some white writing - that’s good . If not then IGNORE all the following as its very awkward to get working right . (see Last Note) Assuming you can get the command box - Shut down the PC . Remove the hard Drive as you did in the first post and attach to your Laptop, Copy all data that you can not afford to lose Just in case this doesn’t work 100% . While you have the Laptop connected, locate the I386 Folder from the USB attached HD, Copy it from the windows folder to the main drive (what would be the C: on the Hard Drive, may show as D:, E: or something else- Not the Laptops HD) or connect the HD back up to the PC, boot from Knoppix, Locate the I386 folder, copy to C: . Reboot the PC in Safe Mode with command Prompt,You should then have something like C: documents and settings\your name\ blah blah Type in CD C:\I386 type in winnt32 . exe Hit enter, just agree to anything, this should then reinstall windows as doing a non - destruct reinstall . when asked, enter the product key thats on the side, it will reboot several times this is normal, it will take approximately an hour . HOPEFULLY when it reboots you will have your Desktop all up and going, you may need to reactivate the OS, thats a phone call to MS on their activation window, and tell them you had to reinstall from the product key on the PC . NOTE: If you don't have the Product Key, your up the creek with out a paddle . - You HAVE to have it . If the PC wont boot into Safe mode with Command Prompt - you need the XP or recovery CD for that PC . If None of the Above works take it to a Computer Shop to be repaired as I have gone through every thing I can with out actually having the PC On my work bench . PHEW !! :lol: I need a beer . Good luck	wainuitech (129)
625045	2007-12-30 08:06:00	This has dragged on. Either take it to a tech to look at or test your RAM next. Suggested the ram test - giving up is not what I do, unless the above doesn't work :D	wainuitech (129)
625046	2007-12-30 20:12:00	I think its time he took it to a tech personally.	pctek (84)
625047	2007-12-30 21:30:00	I think its time he took it to a tech personally. So true, esp if the above doesn't work. What doesn't appear right is if its getting error beeps from hardware on startup - the Live CD's should also be affected some way, it appears they aren't - doesn't make sense.	wainuitech (129)
625048	2007-12-30 21:44:00	I think its time he took it to a tech personally. I will if no one can help me fix it on here. So true, esp if the above doesn't work. What doesn't appear right is if its getting error beeps from hardware on startup - the Live CD's should also be affected some way, it appears they aren't - doesn't make sense. The memtest didn't find any errors. I will copy the files i need from the hard drive to my laptop and then do the second option you told me to do.	spaceman8815 (4112)
625049	2007-12-30 22:02:00	The main thing you need to do, unless you already have, is safe any of your data that cant afford to be lost. Pictures, documents, music, Email, Address Book, Favorites etc. No Matter what ends up happening, its always better to have the data saved yourself, as some repair places don't always save the persons data unless asked, and then charge lots for the saving.	wainuitech (129)
625050	2007-12-31 00:15:00	When i pressed f8 at start up all it did was bring up the option of what device to boot from first . so i restarted the computer and started randomly pushing the 2 digit f buttons, one of them eventually took me to MS recovery program where i tried a non-destructive recovery of the OS but it didn't work it said 'the path could not be found', so i did a destructive recovery which has now solved the problem . I think the problem began in the hard drive as it has done wired things like this before causing me to have to do a destructive recovery, is it because the hard drive is failing (getting old), but its only 4 yrs old and i have used older computers than that with out problems . I would like to thank you wainuitech for all the help you have provided .	spaceman8815 (4112)
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