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dothomas
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 104
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Hello guys
My pc can't load windows. My wife said the mouse froze when she was using it and she turned it off with the power button. When i turn it on i get a screen saying that windows can't load because of some software or harware change and then gave me several options to start windows...these were: start in safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with a command prompt, load to an earlier time before the error or normal windows startup. None of them worked. When i select safe mode i get a long list of system drivers and then it goes back to the screen again.
When i try to do a system restore (pressing F11 when prompted) i get a blue screen saying that it can't find the file..that it is corrupt or missing.
I went to the BIOS (F2) and selected the CD-ROM boot up option and inserted the first recovery CD that i had to make when i first bought the pc and nothing happened.
I don't have an XP disk and was wondering if i bought a recovery boot disk will that solve the problem or will i have to do a fresh install of xp.
Sorry if i'm not very detailed or specific but i'm using another computer and posting this from memory.
Can someone please advise.
Many thanks
D
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RichieP
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4731
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Sounds like the hard drive has dies. I hope you had anything important backed up?
Take the side off the computer and see what the make of the hard drive is. Post back here.
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 OK OK I can't go any faster! aaaaaaaaaaaagh!
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dothomas
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 104
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Hello RichieP
Thanks for replying. Fortunately i managed to save my important files on an external drive. I also created an image using acronis but couldn't create a secure zone and can't do anything with the image i created.
Anyway i hope this is the HDD information you wanted:
WESTERN DIGITAL WD1600
WD Caviar SE
Drive Parameters: LBA 312581808 160GB
MDL: WD1600JD - 00HBB0
DATE: 06 DEC 2004
DCM: DSCACTJAA
Hope this is enough info and thanks for your help so far.
D
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mgmcc
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 235
Loc: Dundee, Scotland
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Quote:
I also created an image using acronis but couldn't create a secure zone and can't do anything with the image i created.
The image you created should be one or more .tib files, which Acronis will be able to restore to a new hard drive or "mount" so that it appears as a separate drive in the PC. You can then "drag & drop" or "copy & paste" as with any other drive.
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Mike
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dothomas
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 104
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hello mgmcc
I've got a .tib file on the external drive so hopefully when i get a new HDD (cause it sounds like the current one's b******d) i'll be able to mount it like you said.
While we're on the subject maybe you can answer another question for me. If the HDD is indeed dead as richie suggested...please forgive my ignorance here...would i be able to buy a new one with the OS pre installed on it or will I have to purchase the OS separately? If it's the case of the latter, would 512MB RAM be enough to run vista (i had xp sp3 before)or would i have to buy more ram as well?
Finally, if i threw the pc out the window and bought a new one loaded with vista would i still be able to mount the .tib acronis image?
Sorry to bombard you with all these questions but just trying to see what my options are.
Many thanks
D
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mgmcc
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 235
Loc: Dundee, Scotland
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Quote:
I've got a .tib file on the external drive so hopefully when i get a new HDD (cause it sounds like the current one's b******d) i'll be able to mount it like you said.
If the backup is an image of your entire "C" drive, then it can be restored to a new hard drive and you'll be back up and running in no time. However, to do so, you must have created the Acronis bootable Rescue Media, i.e. a bootable CD with the program on, which you run to restore the image to the new drive.
Quote:
would i be able to buy a new one with the OS pre installed on it or will I have to purchase the OS separately?
A new hard drive will have nothing on it. It may not even be "partitioned" so, unless restoring your existing Acronis backup to it, you will need a separate Windows installation CD.
Quote:
would 512MB RAM be enough to run vista (i had xp sp3 before)or would i have to buy more ram as well?
Vista struggles with 1GB of RAM and really needs 2GB, although you will get away with 1GB for Vista Home Basic.
Quote:
Finally, if i threw the pc out the window and bought a new one loaded with vista would i still be able to mount the .tib acronis image?
Yes, as long as Vista has the Acronis True Image program installed, ideally version 11.
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Mike
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RichieP
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4731
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Download the relevant program from here and create a bootable floppy or CD. A floppy is easier if you have one.
Run the full diagnostic test to check for errors.
It's good you have the .tib file. As already said, you can use this to reinstall your operating system onto a new hard drive. You don't sat what version of Acronis you have, but the more recent version, the CD is bootable. Just boot from CD, run Restore and browse to the .tib file on your removable drive.
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OK OK I can't go any faster! aaaaaaaaaaaagh!
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