Server Help :: View topic - 2 computer issues for this weekend

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Trash Talk - 2 computer issues for this weekend

Solo Ace - Sun May 20, 2007 6:17 am
Post subject: 2 computer issues for this weekend

Two different computers, which aren't mine, owned by two different human beings.

Computer A:

Turned on, after the BIOS splash screen it displays an error like the following:

Quote:

The internal IDE-Hard drive does not seem to be functioning as normal. Please contact DELL support to buy a replacement Hard drive.

Press F1 to continue. F2 for the support menu.

After pressing F1 it does load Windows XP, slowly.
The logon menu shows the two user accounts, but after trying to log in it takes many hours for it to load anything, but it will never completely load the Windows desktop. The computer just can't be used.

The case has never been opened before, until yesterday, and well, no loose cables or anything strange.

So, am I right when I say this is more of a hardware problem than a software problem? Because, the DELL error it shows after the BIOS splash screen shows up, must come from the BIOS and not from something installed on the HDD.

Otherwise, could it be a messed up MBR, or should they just get rid of the HDD and replace it?

The owner says it started doing this after Skype was installed, but I doubt that'd mess up a hard drive. :s

Because I don't want to make mistakes on this one and certainly not lose any data on the hard drive before making a full back-up - guess the reason

- I'm asking here before I do anything.

Computer B:

A friend's computer, actually, his backup computer because he ruined the motherboard of his new one. :s

Because he wanted to 'move it downstairs' he turned it off, unplugged the cables and moved the computer.
Downstairs, when he plugged everything back in and turned it on, Windows XP said it detected a new network controller, that while no hardware configuration was changed.

I tried to reinstall the card (it's PCI, hehe, 10Mbit/s), didn't work.
It just kept telling me it wasn't recognized.

I tried to use Windows' built-in system restore, didn't work either.

So, to temporarily solve this problem, I just gave him a brand new 3com card.
But, heh, I want the card back before it starts to collect dust there, so, what could have caused this?

How is it possible that disconnecting a computer, and then just reconnecting it at an other location, lets a PCI network controller go crazy?

Dr Brain - Sun May 20, 2007 9:35 am
Post subject:

A: hard drive is broken. Get a new one, and try to copy it all over using knoppix or something similar.

B: If the card was jostled inside, that might cause it to happen. Make sure everything is tightly inserted into its socket.

BDwinsAlt - Sun May 20, 2007 10:41 am
Post subject:

I have a spare 10 meg card. I don't know how much it is to send to Europe. Let me know if you're interested.

Solo Ace - Sun May 20, 2007 2:03 pm
Post subject:

I guess you're right for computer A, Brain.

Computer B's issue is fixed.
Now, introducing compute C, earlier referenced here:

Solo Ace wrote:

he ruined the motherboard of his new one

His "new one" isn't actually that new. But I'm picking it up now to try to bring it alive again.

He told me the motherboard's broken, but before that he told me the videocard was broken, oh wait, no, the hard drive, oh wait, no, the DVD drive, oh wait, no, the network card, oh wait, no the PSU.
Yeah, he has no clue.

Thanks BD, but it works again. Besides, someone took my network cable away from him. Now I gave him a cat6 to replace it, but I want it back today because everything he returns is either dirty and/or broken.

Mine GO BOOM - Sun May 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Post subject:

BDwinsAlt wrote:

I have a spare 10 meg card.

Spare? I have 15 extra 100/10 NICs laying around here. One time I did throw most of those into a single computer for super hot-hot electricity-wasting switch action.

Solo Ace - Sun May 20, 2007 3:04 pm
Post subject:

I sold (and implemented) 9 old NICs to school for 50 euros.

That's what I love about a small school, they don't let the "tech guy" do stuff because it takes 2 months for him to show up, they ask students instead.

Computer C's on the floor behind me now. It gives me two beeps when I turn the power on, no screen.

There's one memory card in the socket. Hm. It can't be the PSU, so it has to be some other issue! Let's go!

Dr Brain - Sun May 20, 2007 4:04 pm
Post subject:

Remove everything but the video card and the ram (including HDDs and CD-ROM drives). Test.

If it still beeps, try replacing the ram. Test.

If it still beeps, it's either the motherboard or processor. If you have spares, try swapping them to pin it down.

Solo Ace - Sun May 20, 2007 4:18 pm
Post subject:

The beeping was caused by an improperly placed video card.

I have the original hard drive, video card and RAM here with me, he was using that all in his replacement computer.

Well, at least that all works. It gives me screen and everything. Now it's time to play with the data on the hard drives.

I hate it how he wanted to dump this computer on the attic, while the hardware's actually in good state.

The RAM can't be broken, the video card can't be broken, the hard drives can't be broken. So, if there's still a problem which he didn't make up, I'll have it working within one hour...

Smong - Sun May 20, 2007 5:53 pm
Post subject:

With the Dell computer you may find some hidden partitions. I don't know what they are for, maybe used during installing Dell's version of XP or diagnostics if you send it in for repair.

Anyway I know Compaq had the bios program on the HD in a hidden partition, I really shouldn't have deleted that but I think part of the motherboard was broken anyway, everything else on that computer seemed to work fine (including CD drive).

Solo Ace - Tue May 22, 2007 8:18 am
Post subject:

Computers B and C are back to my friend.

I think there would be repair data on such partitions indeed.
I'll post more info when they send it in.