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| Thread ID: 85404 | 2007-12-09 08:22:00 | Computer Dying | GorCh (13021) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 619461 | 2007-12-09 20:53:00 | Hmmmmm bit of an awkward question really - the PC being 3 years old, is about the time some of them have hardware failures more often - but some last a lot longer. What I would do in the workshop is change the hard drive to a known good drive then test the system and make sure its working OK, then you will know if its the drive or not - when it does it again ,What you can do is unplug the HD and see if it boots to your kubuntu CD ok - you dont actually need to have a drive using a live CD. Really its a process of elimation to find out where the Problem is - it can also be an expensive one if you are only guessing. If you wanted to do the Drive, they are cheap these days and not hard to install / load windows (normally- famous last words :rolleyes: ). Then if you find its not the drive and decide to get a New PC any way - you can always get an external Enclosure and have another back up drive. What you can do - but it may or may not make things worse - depends on if the drives the full problem - is go to "my Computer" right click the drive, select Properties>Tools>Check Now Button, tell it to locate any bad sectors, and then run it. The PC will need a reboot and chkdsk will run and attempt to repair any damaged fiels - but as I said it may or may not cause even more problems - and if the drive is failing it would only be a temp fix. With this Dell do you have any recovery discs, supplied when you go the PC? I'll check back on this later - got customers to go see. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 619462 | 2007-12-09 21:42:00 | I have reinstall discs. The dell recovery part was in a subpartition- on the hard drive. I will try the chkdsc if/when the computer drops its lip again. Will leave it for now as it has booted and is working okay. Do you know of any technicians in the queenstown/ central otago area that you would recommend by any chance? I am here until February, at which point will be in CHristchurch where service is easier I suppose. Thanks for all your help so far. |
GorCh (13021) | ||
| 619463 | 2007-12-09 21:47:00 | Ermmmm m you can try asking Pctek (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) Shes a Technician, down south some place and may be able to stear you in right direction. | wainuitech (129) | ||
| 619464 | 2007-12-11 10:50:00 | Okay thanks Wainuitech. It did the thing again this morning- am taking it to a technician in town here tomorrow. Thanks for all your advice and help, its been very useful. | GorCh (13021) | ||
| 619465 | 2007-12-11 11:14:00 | The battery wont give the message - NTLDR is missing Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart Batteries do not give messages Very true. Did you read all the original post? I read that a live CD (Kubuntu) had problems as well. My thought was the the battery holds the BIOS info. If the BIOS forgets hardware then Windows and Kubuntu will have problems. The first part of the original post was primary hard drive 0 not found. Whatever. |
Sweep (90) | ||
| 619466 | 2007-12-11 20:31:00 | Batteries do not give messages Very true. Did you read all the original post? I read that a live CD (Kubuntu) had problems as well. My thought was the the battery holds the BIOS info. If the BIOS forgets hardware then Windows and Kubuntu will have problems. The first part of the original post was primary hard drive 0 not found. Whatever. Yes I did read the whole post :thumbs: - and one part mentions NTloader - 1 line down from HD not found - The Live CD can run fine with out even having a Hard Drive installed / attached - I do it all the time. PS; a kubuntu live cd will start but will hang in a similar way to the xp load, and makes a weird clicking noise. Thats all the signs of a fault on the drive someplace, could be not enough power or faulty drive - cant tell untill its tested / elimated. Doesn't matter any way - original poster is taking it a technician to be repaired. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 619467 | 2007-12-12 02:35:00 | Just to add to what wainuitech's already said, I have seen that vintage of Dell boards (actually manufacturered by ECS!!! :eek:) have issues with IDE channels failing etc. It does sound as if the HDD is crapping out, but possibly the motherboard to. | wratterus (105) | ||
| 619468 | 2007-12-15 09:24:00 | Hi All Thanks for all your help. Took it to the tech and he found a lot of corrupted files- possibly from failing sectors, possibly not. Recommended a windows reinstall, which I have done. All seems good for now :D. Hope so. |
GorCh (13021) | ||
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