My PC died last night :-(

[ctdctd]

I reckon this is a software problem. Boot up from the emergency floppy or CD or whatever and try again. If you can't boot up from some device then it's your hardware.

I had a similar problem after a software update that the mouse stopped working from time to time.

I don't think it will be a software problem if chkdsk gets stuck.
Boot from a linux live CD or similar - can you read the disk?
If yes, start copying the data off it!

[cojak]

OK, so from Paddy's pointer I've found 'How to perform an in-place upgrade (reintallation) of Windows XP'

I might give that a go next.

Nope - won't try that, I still need my data...

Gosh, how exciting is this...

[Paddy]

Nope - won't try that, I still need my data...

Gosh, how exciting is this...

OK, what hardware have you got, ie name, model of laptop etc.

[Cliphead]

Use a distro like Linux Mint 8 live CD. That'll give you a full OS and access to the drive. If you have a network setup start copying data otherwise try burning your data to DVD.

[cojak]

Right Paddy,

It's a desktop bought from Overclockers, so bits and pieces really. AMD 64-bit processer, Asus A8N-E/Nvidia NForce4 motherboard.


Right Cliphead,

I've tried that (using an old but useable Simply Mepis distro) but it can't read the storage media, it's suggesting I do a NTFSFIX on it.

I'm just trying to read up on how to save my data before I do anything to wipe it 1st.

I've found this on the web Troubleshooting startup problems - I'll have a read of that too.

(I do appreciate your support fellas...)

[Cliphead]

Right Paddy,

It's a desktop bought from Overclockers, so bits and pieces really. AMD 64-bit processer, Asus A8N-E/Nvidia NForce4 motherboard.


Right Cliphead,

I've tried that (using an old but useable Simply Mepis distro) but it can't read the storage media, it's suggesting I do a NTFSFIX on it.

I'm just trying to read up on how to save my data before I do anything to wipe it 1st.

I've found this on the web Troubleshooting startup problems - I'll have a read of that too.

(I do appreciate your support fellas...)

A more up to date distro will likely identify all your hardware properly and give more options for getting the data off the drive. I'd get the data off before trying NTFSFIX.

[Paddy]

Right Paddy,

It's a desktop bought from Overclockers, so bits and pieces really. AMD 64-bit processer, Asus A8N-E/Nvidia NForce4 motherboard.


Right Cliphead,

I've tried that (using an old but useable Simply Mepis distro) but it can't read the storage media, it's suggesting I do a NTFSFIX on it.

I'm just trying to read up on how to save my data before I do anything to wipe it 1st.

I've found this on the web Troubleshooting startup problems - I'll have a read of that too.

(I do appreciate your support fellas...)

As it’s a desktop PC there should be facilities to install a second hard disk.
You could open up and find out the interface, (Ide or sata or whatever) if in doubt take some photos so we can see what’s inside.

Once you have purchased and installed the new disk and installed XP on it; you can read your old disk as data.

Alternatively, I can post a CD boot disk (Ultimate Boot) to you, that will enable you read and copy your data.

[cojak]

OK - after looking at things from the Remote Console and performing another CHKDSK it limped into life. God knows why or how.

I'm now ripping everything I can off the disk and will reformat the bluddy thing.

Then I'm off the the Apple store...

Thanks for all your help chaps, the collective power of the universe an' all that!

[NotAllThere]

I have the OS on one harddrive, programs on another and data on a third. With regular backups.

Having an Apple won't help you if your disk gets corrupted, fails or is otherwise damaged. You're just locking yourself into proprietry...

[suityou01]

Sorry about that Chaps, was distracted a moment.

The power is ok - it's the disk that's gone I'm afraid.

It started last night when the keyboard and mouse failed to respond in the middle of a little light surfing. I don't think that caused it (I was on this site at the time) but Window updates having been giving me problems over the last couple of days and I had to do a System Restore on the one before last.

It powers up but gets stuck during Windows boot-up.

It does this on Safe-Mode as well. I've managed to get it as far as CHKDISK but it gets stuck on the 3rd stage.

I've now got a Linux CD distro in and am considering doing a NTFSFIX as it suggests when I attempt to look at the disk.

That's as far as I've got...

Cojak, please please please get a copy of Spinrite from www.grc.com

This is cheap, and gets results all of the time. Hand on heart the very best thing to use. I swear by it.

Good luck.