Sorry guys, details will be a bit sketchy on this one, since this isn’t my computer, and my friend knows very little technical stuff about the one I’m trying to fix for them. Basically what I’m working with is that it is a Dell Inspiron 3600 desktop (Im assuming about 512 MB of memory, 1 G if we are lucky). It was shut down incorrectly and now is not able to get past the blue screen, even on safe mode and last known good config, all options fail and hit the blue screen. The only errors I can bring up are multiple 0X00000000, which, as far as I’ve ever worked with means the BIOS and CMOS is completely screwed… Now the interesting part, no new hardware or software, just shut down badly. I ran the Dell diagnostic disk and got the following, which I can’t apply a resolution for:
0f00:0244
Block 26639166
0f00:1a44
Block 26639166
Any ideas for how to bring windows back up, (they have files they didn’t back up anywhere else that they need, so wiping the hard drive isn’t an option). Also no XP disk is available.
Tagged with: bios • cmos • config • dell inspiron • diagnostic disk • hard drive • memory 1 • new hardware • safe mode
Filed under: Computer Diagnostic Software
Could be a problem with device drivers, hardware or software. This problem can be solved by uninstalling new software, updating device drivers and making minor configuration changes . From http://fixit.in/bluescreenofdeath.html . You can also run a free registry scan using utilities from http://re7.info
The memory might have failed, coincidentally or because there was a power spike that got past the filters. If the memory is bad there is no way anything will work right.
The Ubuntu CD has the memtest86+ program on it, when the computer is booted from that disk that program appears as a option to run. I would run that program for a few hours to see if any memory errors pop up.
The memtest86+ program is also available from :
http://www.memtest.org/
Now it is possible that the memory is good but the processor got fried or the chipset got fried. At this point, perhaps it is best to remove the hard drive and try to copy the essential data off the drive before booting the computer.
Search on Yahoo with this phrase:
USB drive adapter
to see the drive adapters that are available that will make it possible for you to simply connect that drive to a USB port on another computer (saves opening the other computer and risking booting with that drive).
If you have an XP Pro disk for Your system or can buy one without or even with a cd-key locally, used, or online cheaoply, pick one up, put it in the drive, reboot, and use the upgrade option when asked.
If the system has alicense tag for Home, You might be able to buy the upgrade version disk for as little as $5.00 – $10.00 online.
In the meantime, you can access any functions You’ll need by going to this website and customizing the needed features to get into a bootable XP setup. You ten shoudlbe able to at least access the D drive for somebody’s borrowed XP disk, or to the setup files saved on the HD during original installation.
http://www.bootdisk.com
Good Luck!.
This has worked for others with the same problem, but you will need an XP installation disc.
Insert the disc and run it – enter the recovery console
At the command prompt, type the following:
chkdsk /r /f
chkdsk is a utility to run a disk check from a command prompt. The /r switch tells it to locate bad sectors and try to recover readable data and the /f switch simply fixes general disk errors.
If an XP disc is not an option, try downloading a Linux distro that allows you to run it as a liveCD (meaning the OS runs from a cd-rom instead of a hard drive) and attempt to access the files that way. You may be able to back up important data files and then reformat the drive. Eventually you will still need to re-install Windows unless you plan to go with a different OS. There are free ones available.
One possibility may be that your friend somehow shot his RAM so that now the RAM is no longer functional and the OS can’t boot because of this. If you have the option available to you, try switching out his RAM into another computer to see if you get the same load error on the alternate computer.
Whatever the problem is, the situation does not warrant automatically suspecting that the hard drive has gone bad. Any of the chips on the motherboard could have gone bad, in which case, your computer will not be able to start up due to a hardware error that leaves the startup operating incomplete. Thus, it would be good to attempt to transfer the hard drive to another computer to see if the contents are still accessible and, if so, copy the contents over.
damn i was gonna mention the hard drive option….but nvm, sorry
have you tried removing the Bios Battery or setting the jumper to clear on the cmos.
Also in the bios set everything to default.
then restart. It not your going to have to get a XP CD and run a
repair and choose fixmbr and fixboot
You might be able to save some HD files with getdataback.com Other than that your computer just made sweet love to your anus!
This happened to me on my old computer and this is what a friend did. He took my hard-drive out and put it in his computer as a slave, then booted up using his hard-drive. We were able to get into my HD and copy files I needed over to his HD and then onto disk. I ended up buying a new drive but if you can get your hands on a Windows disk you should be able to format the HD and install it.