My husband turned on my Dell XPS desktop a couple of days ago to check his email The computer appeared to be running something (restore, defrag, etc). He became impatient and shut down the computer. When he turned it back on, it took him to the repair computer or start normally. He tried start normally and when that didn't happen quickly enough for him, he shut it down again and restarted it. This time he selected a repair. Since that time, the computer will not boot up at all. It shows the Dell startup then goes to a black screen and comes back to a screen that says select f1 to continue or f5 to do a diagnosis. I ran that and it showed problems with the cd drive. I went into the setup and it shows the following drives: 1.ST3500630AS 2. Onboard SATA Hard Drive (not present) 3. Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive 4.USB Device 5.Onboard or USB Floppy Drive (not present). When I run a repair, it hangs on the black screen with cursor. I cannot access my c prompt, safe drive, or cd drive. I am at a total loss as to what to do. My computer has all of my tax info and other documents that I cannot afford to lose. I am trying not to reload Vista which I am not sure I could do anyway since it doesn't recognize that drive. I had Kaspersky anti-virus installed on the computer and it has been great about blocking any viruses until now. I don't know if this is a virus or a machine malfunction. I do know that I had no indication of any issues with my computer prior to this. I was running Windows Vista 32 bit. I would appreciate any suggestions you can provide. I had a computer problem similar to this several years ago on another computer and you were able to repair it.
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Computer won't boot up and black screen with pointer
(46 posts)
With that much abuse, what do you expect. You were lucky that your husband did not throw the thing out of the window.
Since about everything has been done wrong on the system, you best bet is to reinstall. It is impossible to backtrack all the damage that was done.
If you first have to recover data, post back and I tell you how to do that.
Q: are you familiar with Linux ?? If not, we'd use another tool for the data recovery.
You are correct about the damage. This happened a few years ago on another computer. Someone on this site was actually able to provide the necessary steps and tools needed to correct the problem. They walked me through it step by step. It was a miracle. I do need to recover the data. I have too much important information on it to lose it. This is a good lesson for me also. Backup your files!! I kept procrastinating and then this happened. I am not familiar with Linux, but I am very good at following instructions or reading directions and learning by reading manuals. I also don't know how to give up. Did I accidentally mark this as solved? As far as I can tell, the problem has not been resolved.
You may try to load a Restore Point, that may save your system and you files. Start your PC and tap F10 over and over until the prompt asks you to select the option. Select Restore System to a prior point and select the latest. I just hope you have a Restore point on your PC!!! And I suggest putting a padlock on it!
The easiest way to recover your data would be with an image that you make with Macrium from xxxxx.
1. Download that xxxxx on another PC and burn it to a CD (e.g. with ImgBurn, which is very easy to use).
2. Load from that CD (you have to change the BIOS boot sequence to load from the CD/DVD reader) and select the XP environment (first entry on the screen - after the title)
3. On the bottom right of the XP screen there is a dark icon for the programs. Click on that and go up to the Recovery section (I think that is what it is called - it is the second or third from the top) and find Macrium (which is Macrium 4.2)
4. Make an image of any or all partitions of your disk to an external disk. Here is a tutorial on how to deal with Macrium 4.2. This tutorial has a couple of steps that are slightly different because it refers to the installed version of Macrium.
Note: If the disk has serious physical damage, this will not work and you may be out of luck.
5. The image you can mount on any system by double clicking on it. It will then show in Computer like any other volume/partition from where you can pick your data.
Edit by mod. link deleted.That is illegal software, and you should know better.
@whs,
I remember three years ago when I almost got banded from the HTG Forum for even mentioning Hxxxxx Boot Disc because it was supposedly considered illegal software way back then.
Glad to see Times Have Changed. (LOL) (LOL) :) :)
Your solution is a Good one for sure !!!!
Rick P.
Hmm, I did not know that the 'H" CD is not legal. My understanding was that this issue went away after release 11.0 - and now we are at release 15.1 which is being distributed by many reputable sites. So is there really a problem ??
And LH, put my link back. I think you are wrong.
Mike, you are right that there are some links that are a bit questionable. But that's why I posted a safe link that I have used myself to make sure the OP did not have to Google it and fall into a trap.
LH, could you tell us which part you think is still not legal. The free Macrium 4.2 I referred to is certainly not a problem. It is available for free from many sites.
I did the repair again and it actually went a little further into it. It asked for verification of US keyboard then came to a place where it asked to load fonts for the appropriate operating system listed (there wasn't any listed). I attempted to go to my cd drive to load the drivers, but it did not recognize the disc as being loaded. I attempted to go the backup drive (X)and reload from there, but I could not locate a file with the drivers. I am no expert on computers so I can only do the things I am familiar with doing. My principal method of education on computers is through reading the manuals and OJT. I tried F10 on bootup, but that did not do anything. Any more suggestions anyone? I refuse to believe this is not repairable. I am also not convinced that this could not have been a virus attack. It ran for quite a while without doing anything at the time my husband shut it down. He watches a lot of videos posted on Facebook page.
LH, Regarding the 'H' problem, here is the view of one of my Australian friends who is a Windows Guru which sums it up. We must not be more catholic than the pope.
"" Anyway, in my opinion, no one in their right mind would use the mini XP or DOS environments as an OS substitute. Therefore, MS revenue is not being cannibalized in any way. These tools facilitate the maintenance of legal, paid MS operating systems.
Therefore, in my opinion:
Morally = no problem
Legally = ??????????? MS would surely act if their interests were targeted.
This may be such an insignificant issue for MS they don't waste their time on it.
Hxxx is a great all in one tool. ""
Edited by mod.
whs, please remember that this is The Geeks site. And he is respected by MS. Please do not corrupt his site with anything that could upset that.
And if you continue on this course you will get a 30 day ban. And that is not a unilateral decision.
Apologies to juhank48 that this had to come up in your thread.
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