Computer's down I could use some help

[Trail48]

I've been trying to help Intrigued get her computer up and running, but with no success. The situation is like this:

On start-up the computer begins to load, but stops with the line; Boot failure-insert boot disk in drive A press any key

She puts in the boot disk, and the computer loads to the 3 item menu
1. Start with cd drive
2.Start without cd drive
3.View help file

Either of the first two options eventually ends with the message:
Drive C dos not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition

followed by

1. Drive may need to be partitioned, to create a valid partition run FDISK from the command prompt
2. you may be using 3rd party partitioning software (says she is not)
3. Some virus' also cause your drive C to not register (she says she has no virus detection software)

Any constructive thoughts?
I've had her try to copy new system files to C:, they won't copy
The help file indicates that information on the hard drive will be lost if you create a new partition with FDISK. She does have the win98 cdrom to use if need be.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts

 

[fgarvb1]

If you have norton antivirus and made your floppy disk, put in the first one after you shut down your computor.

Start it back up. I don't remember what the command chose is but it is not check for anti-virus, The command you want will take a look at your harddrive and see that you have a partition missing and ask you if you want to restore it to the date you made the last up dated the disk.

 

[fgarvb1]

hard drive time?

 

[fgarvb1]

OH. MAN! I am sorry.
My wife was talking to me and i missed the middle part about Not having any anti-virus software.

Maybe Draco or W H knows a way to bale you out.

 

[SweetCherry]

Maybe Draco or W H knows a way to bale you out.

Draco's not currently online, but I sent him the link so he'll see it when he pops into his ICQ. That's as good as I can do.

 

[Trail48]

OH. MAN! I am sorry.
My wife was talking to me and i missed the middle part about Not having any anti-virus software.

Maybe Draco or W H knows a way to bale you out.

Thanks, she would like to find a way to not have to reformat the drive and reload windows....we'll see. I'll PM Draco and WH to see what they have to say.
Any more ideas are welcome.

 

[Draco]

Draco here.
I'm betting either your HDD (hard-drive) has died or the MASTER BOOT RECORD has somehow got damaged. This is usually from a virus, or a faulty HDD controller.

Test it by starting from the boot floppy
When you get the boot menu (Start With CD, Start without CD, Help etc) press Shift F5
this will just load to the A:> prompt.

type " fdisk /mbr" then press Enter (without quotes)
It will appear that nothing happens (this is normal)
Remove the floppy and boot normally.

If this has repaired the MBR, your PC should go again.

If that doesn't work and you get the same errors as before, the HDD is dead and will need replacing. Hopefully your PC is under three years old and you can do a warranty claim on the HDD.

Hope this helps

Draco
A+/Net+ Certified Technician
StylesPC Surplus Direct
Christchurch
New Zealand

 

[Draco]

Data recovery can be done, but its a very expensive process that will void your warranty. (They physically take the disc's out of your old HDD This voids the warranty)

The last one I had quoted was $1100 NZ dollars with NO Guarantee of any recoverable data.

OK, now for the piece about having NO Anti-virus software:

Shame on you.....thats all I can say (shaking my head in dis-belief)

Hope it works out well.

 

[Trail48]

Data recovery can be done, but its a very expensive process that will void your warranty. (They physically take the disc's out of your old HDD This voids the warranty)

The last one I had quoted was $1100 NZ dollars with NO Guarantee of any recoverable data.

OK, now for the piece about having NO Anti-virus software:

Shame on you.....thats all I can say (shaking my head in dis-belief)

Hope it works out well.

Draco, a word of thanks! The master boot repair worked just as you said. The computer booted up normally, and Intrigued is a happy lady. Thanks again!

I have asked her repeatedly to get Norton, or something going on her computer. I hope this is what it takes to get her on track. Thanks again for your time and expertise.

 

[Trail48]

Draco's not currently online, but I sent him the link so he'll see it when he pops into his ICQ. That's as good as I can do.

Thank you Sweetcherry, Draco knew exactly what to do (I bet you already knew that!)

 

[Ishmael]

Have her get a 'firewall' as well. You can download "Zone Alarm" from ZDnet for free.

Further, if it was a virus that got her. It's still there. Both Norton and PC-cillin can be downloaded for free on a 30 day trial. It will take some time on a dial up. But look at how much time this has cost you already?

Ishmael

 

[Trail48]

Have her get a 'firewall' as well. You can download "Zone Alarm" from ZDnet for free.

Further, if it was a virus that got her. It's still there. Both Norton and PC-cillin can be downloaded for free on a 30 day trial. It will take some time on a dial up. But look at how much time this has cost you already?

Ishmael

You are so right, she is working on this as we speak. Unfortunately it seems something has to go wrong before we take action.

 

[intrigued]

Draco, I REALLY appreciate your input. You saved me immeasurable time and frustration. I wish I could do something for you aside from simply saying "thank you"....you can't know how much I appreciate this.
As for the anti~virus...what makes it even worse is that months ago, a friend linked me to a free full Norton anti~virus, and I never took the time to d/l it. I will do so today.

Sweet Cherry, thank you so much for helping us. You guys are very kind.

Trail, you deserve a really, really extra special reward. Thank you for all that you gave.....I bet you're wishing for a valium or something, huh?

Ish....ummm, do you have any idea how embarassed I am? I know I should have done all this the last time I was told, but with the firewall, I just didn't know how to do it. I will take care of all of it today, and will also save all the things that are special to me.

Thanks very much!

 

[Bidin~Time]

You are so right, she is working on this as we speak. Unfortunately it seems something has to go wrong before we take action.

LOL

And this would make you different from the vast majority of us in what way??

sorry just had to say that.

I'm glad her puter is up and running again.

 

[Trail48]

LOL

And this would make you different from the vast majority of us in what way??

sorry just had to say that.

I'm glad her puter is up and running again.

Too true It came with my new 'puter or I'd be close to the same situation *hangs head*

 

[intrigued]

I just found the link, and it is a McAffee Virus Scan 6.02, not Norton. Its a 5 hour download! Ummm....stupid question, but I gotta know. Does this mean I can't do anything else while its loading? Also, should I save it to my computer, or just "open" it?

Thanks!

emi...lol, you do make an excellent point. Thank you, and good morning to you!

EDITED TO ADD: Now its saying its a nine hour download. Wowzers.
*thinking*

 

[Bidin~Time]

good morning intrigued!!

I would try to answer your question, but seeing as how I just recently got to the point where I could turn my pc on, on the first try, I'll stay quiet

 

[Trail48]

Trail, you deserve a really, really extra special reward. Thank you for all that you gave.....I bet you're wishing for a valium or something, huh?



Thanks very much!

Uummm....no a valium is not what i was thinking about!

You of course are most welcome

 

[intrigued]

good morning intrigued!!

I would try to answer your question, but seeing as how I just recently got to the point where I could turn my pc on, on the first try, I'll stay quiet

lol, you're bringing back memories lady! I found a way around that. The only way my computer ever sees a black screen is when I'm booted.


I was going to post a link to this free download, but since its probably going to end up being a 24 hour download, I'm seriously doubting anyone will want it.

 

[Bidin~Time]

lol, you're bringing back memories lady! I found a way around that. The only way my computer ever sees a black screen is when I'm booted.


I was going to post a link to this free download, but since its probably going to end up being a 24 hour download, I'm seriously doubting anyone will want it.

Awww memories!!!

I used to think a firewall was a fireproof safe to house the hamster team that runs the backup generator.

 

[fgarvb1]

I'm going to throw a rock in the pond here.

Your hard-drive could be going bad, what i'm trying to say your problem may reoccur and not be fixable.

You need to back up your hard either with a second hard-drive or on CD.

As for McAffee if you knew how many computers i have had to take that AV program off of because of problems with it you would not go near it.


Zone-Alarm is not that hard to use most of it is automatic.

 

[LadyG]

How good is the ZoneAlarm free ware? Is it worth downloading?

 

[fgarvb1]

It's a hell of a lot better than going barefoot on the net!

I'm running ZoneAlarm pro myself, We pay the bills on my computer and stuff like that.

 

[intrigued]

Awww memories!!!

I used to think a firewall was a fireproof safe to house the hamster team that runs the backup generator.

I'm far too ashamed to admit to what I thought a firewall was.



Ish, should I wait until after I do the scan (which its looking like it will be tomorrow before its finished!) to install the firewall?
Thanks...

 

[intrigued]

I'm going to throw a rock in the pond here.

Your hard-drive could be going bad, what i'm trying to say your problem may reoccur and not be fixable.

You need to back up your hard either with a second hard-drive or on CD.

As for McAffee if you knew how many computers i have had to take that AV program off of because of problems with it you would not go near it.


Zone-Alarm is not that hard to use most of it is automatic.

Theres a problem with the McAffee scan???

Let me edit the link out, then....