Computer Help

[Canadian Turbo]

When I started up my computer this morning it seemed to be working fine, then I attempted to enter a work program and it gave me a message about not having a printer installed or default one selected so I could not enter that program. I was able to print in Excel but still gave me some errors first, thus I decided to do a restart. On restart the Windows XP black screen works then when it transitions to the blue screen for the login it just sits blank on that blue screen, and I have left it for 20 minutes or so with nothing happening.

I have tried re-booting and it gives me a message about Windows not loading properly and asking me if I want to go into Safe Mode, which I have tried but seems nothing loaded in Safe Mode either on my first attempt.

I believe the machine did an auto update 2 days ago and yesterdays virus scan was clear, any ideas?

[longsock]

Re: Computer Help

you'll need to do a system recovery

[timdog]

Re: Computer Help

that does not sound good. if you could get into safe mode it would make things alot easier. i would attempt that again.

if you can get into safe mode, try seeing if you have any hardware conflicts (if so, just uninstall the device in device manager). or maybe a service/application is causing issues. go start > run and type 'msconfig' and select 'diagnostic startup' and then see if you can boot into windows normally. if it works then that will have atleast helped you determine the issue.

could be something with your printer as well but probably not likely. make sure any peripherals such as your printer and other usb devices (besides obviously your keyboard and mouse) are not plugged in when booting up and see if that gets you any further.

thats all i can think of when i'm not standing right at the computer.

[stefan]

Re: Computer Help

sound more hardware-ish than something the update would have buggered. If it is hardware, it can be tough to diagnose.

If you are trying to rule stuff out, I found this helpful to rule out failing RAM.

http://www.memtest86.com/

go to their d/l section and you can download a cd image and burn a bootable CD that will just start doing tests right at boot up (if you computer is set up to boot from a cd). There is a section where is counts errors. If that number is >0, ram is damaged. Let it run for a while (it goes until you stop it).

It's a pretty harmless application. Has helped me a lot, as for me at least, when the computer all of a sudden glitches out at boot, it has often been RAM trouble.

Obviously, it could be a lot of other things.....

[R_Ethug]

Re: Computer Help

blair try and boot into safemode.. if it comes up ok.. simply reboot and try booting normally and see if it comes up OK



(next step buy a new macbook plastic unibody) jk.. i'll help you finger it out but i won't charge my normal consultant fee haha

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Computer Help

Safe mode will not boot fully so had to call in some tech help, just waiting on them, good thing someone is on holidays this week and have a free machine to use.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Kor]

Re: Computer Help

No safe mode = boned.

If your tech is coming in you should get them to upgrade you to Windows 7 today!

[bart]

Re: Computer Help

geek squad?? LOL mr blair you been downloading something you weren't supposed to at work lol thats what you get for clicking YES to every dialog box that comes up hahaha jk

[canuck699]

Re: Computer Help

I know this used to work in older Windows (windows 2000), but Hold the Left Shift Button, soon as the "loading windows XP" screen disapears and the blue one does. This should bypass any startup programs. Just hold it till windows comes up.

Just in case its a program waiting to install.

Also remove any printers or extra devices plugged in (external hard drives or printers etc). They might be waiting for a response on re installing them.

[turbomeyers]

Re: Computer Help

just start up your mac thats what i do when my pc craps out

[Satnam]

Re: Computer Help

hard drive is the most common, stop using it, at least data can be recovered before it completely dies.
Memory - yes if it's overclocked and driven at higher voltage

[Khyron]

Re: Computer Help

just start up your mac thats what i do when my pc craps out

Considering the mac uses the exact same hard drives, ram and everything else (or worse) your odds are no better.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Computer Help

Machine is pooched, most likely a hardware issue so probably ordering a Dell XPS with Windows 7 shortly so I should be able to migrate my data over. I am on a twin machine of mine at the moment and it is showing some similar symptoms too so I am going to replace it too.

[stefan]

Re: Computer Help

Windows 7. Should come with one of these IMO.