hardware failure

Discussion in 'General Hardware' started by radlv, Aug 19, 2005.

  1. radlv

    radlv Geek Trainee

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    Hey, for no apparant reason, I could no longer reboot the computer from the HD (computer starts but cannot go into window ME). I am able to boot the computer with a floppy boot disk and can get into the HD (C drive) in DOS. How can I save the data in the HD? If I get a external HD now and connect it, can I copy the data from my HD to the external drive without activating Window ME? I have tried several HD repair softwares, but none of them worked (all freeze up after a while).
    Thanks
     
  2. pelvis_3

    pelvis_3 HWF Member For Life

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    Do you get any error messages when it tries to load windows?
    -The only way i know of to back up ur data is to put the HDD in another computer and copy the files then!
     
  3. radlv

    radlv Geek Trainee

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    Thanks for the reply.

    Half of the time, the computer dose not even recognize the HD and I would get a "no booting source" message.

    The other half of the time, I would get to the inital window with the big Window ME logo. Then the computer either freezes or gives me a "cannot write to HD" message.
     
  4. pelvis_3

    pelvis_3 HWF Member For Life

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    Make sure the IDE cable is plugged properly!
    Well try the HDD in another computer and see if data can be backed up!
    If all else fails i would suggest a Re-Install of windows, but going by that error message id say its a HDD problem!
     
  5. Matt555

    Matt555 iMod

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    also make sure your bios is set to read from the HDD's type. Mine is a SATA drive and sometimes when my computer crashes and restarts it doesnt recognise a HDD then when i go into the bios it has changed to read only PATA devices so i have to change it back to read PATA and SATA devices.
     
  6. Dave35k

    Dave35k H4ck3r

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    Hello mate you can get a program from your hard drives manufacturer that does certain tests and your hard drive and tell you the problem. It could also be the result of a virus that has overwritten or modified you master boot record or, excuse my abbrieviation "MBR" as it is often referred to by your computer. In addition to the ideas above has your computer undergone a shock like a drop as this can often break or damage a hard drive I would run Check disk and Scan disk of the start up disk to see if any of you hard drive sectors are damaged and repair them. I hope this helps Dave :cool:
     
  7. hardcor

    hardcor Geek Trainee

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    Hello radlv, Try going into your mother boards setup program (CMOS/BIOS) and try resetting the defaults. hit F1 or del at boot to enter that program!

    can you get a directory listing in dos?

    If your familiar with computer hardware i would recommend using another HD in the system, If the power supply will allow it, and seeing if the computer will boot normally.

    if it does maybe the following will help?!?
    Set the "working" HD as the master and the "not so working at the moment one" as slave boot up and you should be able to grab your files. (make sure the slave hd isn't of the NTFS file system, unless the master is!)

    Goodluck and let me know how it goes buddy.

    EDIT: i dont know if an external HD can be accessd in DOS, and if so you'll probably have to load drivers. sorry i'm not to sure there.
     

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