The Conservative Cave
The Help Desk => Computer Related Discussions & Questions => Topic started by: BlueStateSaint on November 14, 2011, 07:25:32 AM
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Gang, I was downloading a RealPlayer update yesterday morning at home, and I think I killed the power before the thing had finished. Now, when I fire up my computer, it gives me the Dell 4700 screen, then tells me that it won't even go into Windows. I try to restart Windows using a "safe mode," but it gets the same screen. Is it cooked?
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If you have your Windows disc you can try to boot from the drive (CD/DVD whatever it is) Usually by pushing the delete key while the comp is attempting to boot up, you get to the blue screen with all the MB options. Choose the boot sequence screen and have the drive (whatever letter it's been given/see above) as the first drive the comp "sees" or boots from. Have the Windows disc in the drive and see if it will do a repair or a "dirty" install.
What it sounds like is a shutdown that corrupted some Windows files and they need to be "fixed".
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I don't believe that I have a Windows disc. :banghead: It was pre-installed.
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I believe that model comes with the stuff required to repair / recover windows on a partition on the HDD.
There should be an option to "Start System Recovery" or similar when you see the POST screen. Every company seems to have a different key to kick this off - Try F11 and F12.
This should get you to a screen where you can elect to repair/ recover or to reinstall. The second option will nuke anything on there but is more likely to correct the problem without any potential hanging chads so to speak.
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This should get you to a screen where you can elect to repair/ recover or to reinstall. The second option will nuke anything on there but is more likely to correct the problem without any potential hanging chads so to speak.
If you have the option to do a "quick" or partial recovery, try that first. That usually restores the OS only and leaves your user files in place. The other option is a full recovery which wipes out everything.
If you can get to a boot disk (hirens.info), you should be able to access the disk and back up all your files
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Internet porn is bad news.
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Internet porn is bad news.
Thanks for your courageous research into the matter. :rofl:
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Internet porn is bad news.
You said what I was going to post.
+1, H5, K&R, and rec
Sorry about your computer BSS. :( I hope it's an easy fix.
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Thanks for your courageous research into the matter. :rofl:
I do what I can :shucks:
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The computer had been bothering me about the RealPlayer update for some time, so I kinda doubt that it was pron.
Anyway, a cousin of mine, who lives about five miles away (and is the one with the massive garden--he's still got brussel sprouts growing), told me to bring it over today and he'll fix it. He's an IT guy, so he should be able to do it. I will have to leave it overnight, however.
Gina, obviously you've done that. :tongue: :asssmack:
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My cousin brought it back. It's marginally faster now. Gonna hafta get him a $50 gift card for Cabela's in appreciation. I'm typing on it now.
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It died again earlier in the week--the message on the BSOD was "Disable your anti-virus software." I didn't. My cousin is going to get to it this weekend. In the meantime, I'll pick up a new Dell next week. So, if I seem scarce around here for a bit, that's why.
(I've also ordered a wireless router from TWC--it's free--for the eventual iPad 2 in a few months, when the iPad 3 is launched.)
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My cousin brought it back. It's marginally faster now. Gonna hafta get him a $50 gift card for Cabela's in appreciation. I'm typing on it now.
Why is everything you are posting on the CC "I love dick?"
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Why is everything you are posting on the CC "I love dick?"
No, Gina, that's "I love Jane." :tongue: :fuelfire:
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No, Gina, that's "I love Jane." :tongue: :fuelfire:
Again with the I love dick! Cheney?
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Is this thread headed for the :shortbus: ??
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I encountered an interesting BSOD issue with a ATI Raedon display adapter. I receive a financial newsletter which on occasion contains an embeded link to an Adobe Flash file. When I clicked on this link the file would play for a period of time then head for the BSOD dumpster. Garrrrrrrr!
I got sick of this happening and began an investigation of the dump file ( rather than just opening Flash files on another computer). Turns out the problem was cured by turning off hardware acceleration when using Adobe Flash. When I want to watch one of these 'advertisements' I just have to turn off the adapter hardware acceleration, which although a pain in the butt, beats a BSOD dump and reboot.
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My Mom is having a problem with her Laptop again (no discs) it say "the following file is missing or corrupt" then it lists windows/system32/config/system. I'm thinking of ordering this disc from ebay, any idea if it would help me or the OP at all?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280693286624?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_486wt_1135
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Is there an option to do a System Restore or Quick Recovery?
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Is there an option to do a System Restore or Quick Recovery?
We tried to boot into safemode to do system restore and we couldn't do it, it said there was no operating system.
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Yes, that might be a problem. :rofl:
You should be able to get the original discs from the manufacturer to reimage the hard drive, but that would erase everything on it in the process. I don't think I would spend any money on any discs unless they came from the manufacturer for your model of computer or a Windows disc from Microsoft. You can check eBay for system discs if the manufacturer doesn't have them or is asking too much.
Is there a recovery partition on the laptop (F11 or F12)?
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If there are important files on the computer that can be burned to a CD or DVD, you can download a copy of Hiren's (http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/) and use it to boot into Windows to back up your data. Once you have that done, you can reimage the computer.
There are other ways to accomplish this, but I prefer this one because it usually doesn't cost anything.
Windows should also have something called a System File Recovery on the install disc.
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Yes, that might be a problem. :rofl:
You should be able to get the original discs from the manufacturer to reimage the hard drive, but that would erase everything on it in the process. I don't think I would spend any money on any discs unless they came from the manufacturer for your model of computer or a Windows disc from Microsoft. You can check eBay for system discs if the manufacturer doesn't have them or is asking too much.
Is there a recovery partition on the laptop (F11 or F12)?
I bought the laptop a few years ago from ebay to keep my Mom occupied so it didn't come with discs.
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If there are important files on the computer that can be burned to a CD or DVD, you can download a copy of Hiren's (http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/) and use it to boot into Windows to back up your data. Once you have that done, you can reimage the computer.
There are other ways to accomplish this, but I prefer this one because it usually doesn't cost anything.
Windows should also have something called a System File Recovery on the install disc.
There aren't any important files on it that I have to worry about at all, she mostly used it to play Pogo.
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Adobe updates were compromised a month or two ago with some sort of virus. If you're gonna update Adobe, go right to their site. DO NOT use the "Adobe Updater".
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Adobe updates were compromised a month or two ago with some sort of virus. If you're gonna update Adobe, go right to their site. DO NOT use the "Adobe Updater".
I'll keep that in mind when the new Dell comes.
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I'll keep that in mind when the new Dell comes.
Dell Pickle? :hyper:
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Dell Pickle? :hyper:
Why do I not doubt that you'd get one, if one were available? :tongue:
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Why do I not doubt that you'd get one, if one were available? :tongue:
as long as there are no bumps on it, I am good :whistling:
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Bumps? Did someone say bumps? What kind of bumps, and where are they? :naughty: