Computer Problem.

[Shishio]

I have a desktop (Pentium II, 533 mhz, 160 mb RAM) with Windows 2000 and for some reason it will no longer boot up.

When I turn the computer on, it gets as far as the blue screen with the Windows box on it that tells me Windows is starting up, my network connections are being prepared, etc, then the screen goes black as if the desktop is about to load like it should, but then it restarts.

It just keeps doing this.

It began after a short power outage earlier today. I suspect this is either related to the keyboard being fucked up, (I've had problems with it before) or a virus, which would not surprise me in the least, since I have leant the computer to a friend of mine who is completely and utterly computer illiterate, and therefore unable to sufficiently protect the computer from viruses.

I expect the only option is to reformat the hard drive (which is his, since I wasn't going to let him fuck up one of mine) but I'm hoping there is a way to at least get some files off the drive before I wipe it.

[Zonehunter1]

It could be that the power supply has finally reached its limits and is on its way out. A solution would be to replace it.

This has happened to my father's computer but it got to the point where it became an endless power on/power off loop.

[Beowulf]

It is possessed by evil spirits, an exorcism must be performed!

[stsparky]

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

[tweek.3867]

Windows is fucked. Either you got hit with a virus or something or your hdd is dying.. likely the latter, simply because it's a very old computer D: It probably has just a few bad sectors on it.. enough to corrupt a few Windows files so that it can't boot properly. If it was the power supply, the comp wouldn't turn on.. same for the mobo. If it was the RAM, it'd either beep upon boot, or it would turn on and function fine but just obnoxiously slow at random times [whenever the bad RAM is being used by the computer]. I work at the Geek Squad if that's any help.

[Micah the Great]

Hdd is proly dying, that's most likely. Or could be bad RAM. Or that windows installation could be permanently crashed (important files on bad sectors, registry a'sploded, virus).

[darighaz]

power outage = smoked HDD probably..


If you have a windows install disk, you can run a repair on it, i can say how in diff post. Or buy a new HDD. Windows repairs are non-destructive, so its probably a safe bet to try it at least.

[Digital Masta]

I have a desktop (Pentium II, 533 mhz, 160 mb RAM) with Windows 2000 and for some reason it will no longer boot up.


How do you still own a Pentium II?

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

That's code for "Buy a Mac"

:P

[akitaka]

A good test on whether it's internal or not is to get a friend to download Knoppix and create a boot-CD, and start up the PC to see if issues persist. It's an alternative OS that runs directly from the disk, and has saved me more than a few times. Now if only I could get used to Linux OS =\

Otherwise yeah, the issues are *most likely* power-supply and/or hard-drive based. RAM is actually pretty durable stuff, while the former two degrade over time at a much faster rate (solid state vs. disc memory and capacitor life).

[ZaichikArky]

So you just inspired me to back up all my files on my external drive :D. Have been meaning to do it for weeks.

I asked my bf, who's good with computers, about your problem. He said this:

" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/229716 Put that link in, and tell him to Run CHKDSK /R with the instructions given."

These are possible causes of your problem:

"Odd that it would enter the desktop environment, but it sounds similar to an unmountable boot volume. Or it's a boned-up driver... probably network, video, or maybe chipset... the power outage likely did it..."

[Plekto]

That usually is the video driver having munged itself.

Can you boot into safe mode?

That usually is a sign that the OS is corrupted and/or the drive is generating bad sectors.

[Shishio]

How do you still own a Pentium II?

Because I bought it five or six years ago and it still works, so I had no reason to throw it out?

That's code for "Buy a Mac"

:P

I cannot deny the wisdom of this advice, but my wallet can.

A good test on whether it's internal or not is to get a friend to download Knoppix and create a boot-CD, and start up the PC to see if issues persist. It's an alternative OS that runs directly from the disk, and has saved me more than a few times.

I know about Live CDs, though the DSL and Ubuntu distros are my weapons of choice. I was going to use one of them last night, but I managed to boot into safe mode and rescue the files I wanted, so now I'm just going to look for my Windows disk and try the repair/CHKDSK option, and failing that, I'll do a clean reinstall.

Now if only I could get used to Linux OS =\

I feel the exact same way. I highly recommend Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/). The only reason I never switched over is my desktop can't run it, and I couldn't get it on my laptop at all.

Re: Everything else:

Thanks for the tips guys. As I said above, I can boot into safe mode (I didn't think I could, turns out it just takes about 10 minutes to load) and I rescued the files I wanted, so once I find my Windows disk, I'll either fix the problem or learn that a vital component is fucked and let my friend suffer the misery of not having a computer.

[Radiance]

If it was the power supply, the comp wouldn't turn on.

Ironically, not always the case. I've seen computers where the power supply was pretty much fried but the motherboard was getting enough charge to start up and it resulted in a similar infinite booting cycle. Granted that is unlikely, but its possible. :) Same thing can happen if the motherboard only has one or two bad capacitors, just enough power to boot but not a constant flow to maintain power.

[stsparky]

I know that money solves more problems that throwing Mac computers at everyone. My partner in crime is getting my old G4 tower so we can re-publish this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2108886167_78500c0baf_b.jpg

So I don't have an old mac to offer you. Sorry.

[Shishio]

It's all right; I rescued the files I needed and reinstalled, it works fine now.

Good luck with your project. If my Google Scraper-fu is correct, this is a comic you're working on, yes?

If you're new to making comics, and would like help in your endevours, I recommend you join the following communities:

http://www.digitalwebbing.com/forums

http://www.penciljack.com/forum/

Where you will find lots of like-minded individuals who can answer your questions and help you solve any problems.