Computer Problem

[TB Roye]

I popped a circuit breaker in the bedrooms this morning. The caused LOML's computer to shut down. Tried to restart it and it tries to load XP and the we get a screen giving option on how to load Windows. "Start Window Normally" "Last known good Configuration" and the various safe modes. No mater which one you choose, Widows tries to load and then back to the screen with the options. I have the XP cd but don't want to risk loosing what she has on the Hard Drive if I can help it. Mainly games, pictures, and a huge list of favorite websites. no files of any documents or finiancial stuff. I would just like to resorte to a previous good configuration. Any help would be appriciated

Tom

[Cochese]

It's been awhile since I used the XP disc, but I think you can use it to repair without losing anything. If in doubt, don't do it though.

You should be able to, at worst, replace the hard drive with another, load XP back on it (one hardware replacement shouldn't trigger the activation process, unless you've changed other things) from scratch and use the original drive as a secondary or use an external solution to recover the data. Then you could use that drive as an essential backup drive.

YMMV. I moved on to Win7 quite a while ago.

[radhak]

If you are unable to load into a safe mode, then the Win-XP CD's repair option is a necessary step. It should not destroy anything on your machine, at all. In fact, when you boot with the CD and choose the 'Repair Installation', you are using it exactly as they had envisioned : it should simply replace some drivers etc that were corrupted during the power spike/outage.

I could go out on a limb and say that even if you had to re-install XP, it would only force you to also re-install all your programs (MS Office, Picasa, etc), and not cause you any loss of data files, images, etc. Yes, if you use IE, then you might lose your 'favorites', but only if you had to re-install XP completely from scratch (not with the repair option).

[BobSch]

As soon as you get the machine back up I'd suggest backing up all your data.

[TB Roye]

Tried booting with the CD. Got a blue screen of death. Say there is a problem and it shut down Window to protect the computer. At bottom there is a message about some PCI device and location xxxxxx and so on. I think it may be the video card as that is all that is in there. Will pull it apart in the morning and see what I can see. I have my old computer as a back up so I can switch Hard Drive and try it.

Tom

[JSUPreston]

It's possible that when the breaker popped, the machine took a surge. If possible, you may want to swap things like power supply and memory out to see if that gets you up and going. I'd try the power supply first.

[TB Roye]

Power supply is OK, so is the memory. Something took a hit possibly the mother board. I have decide to go to my favorite Computer shop and get a new computer and then transfer LOML stuff off the old HD to the new one. I also will be putting Win 7 on it. Even using the XP CD to boot from it won't boot completely where I can do something to fix it even in safe mode. I get a stop error screen and a bunch of technical stuff the last line being

PCI.SYS address F76B60BF AT F76AF00, DATE STAMP 3b7d855c could that be a memory location?


Tom

[jziegler]

PCI.SYS address F76B60BF AT F76AF00, DATE STAMP 3b7d855c could that be a memory location?

Tom

PCI.SYS is a system device driver that would be used on an systems after say the mid-90s. So there is an error loading that, and the F7... numbers are probably a memory location or offset within the driver. Looking for windows xp pci.sys, I found this article from MS:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;330181

So, basically you need to remove all expansion cards from their slots (if there are any) and see if that works. It could also be a memory module error. In many modern systems, any PCI devices are actually on the motherboard, so all you would be able to do is replace that.

It is amazing how much information is on the web about troubleshooting various windows blue screens. I've had a few nasty ones at work (I develop specialized add on cards as part of my job) and there is usually something out there to give you some idea what's going on.

[JSUPreston]

I'm with jzeigler...there's so much pci stuff on the motherboards these days that you can't remove (but possibly disable in the bios), that it makes sense to swap the motherboard. If you're interested in getting that machine back up and running, I'd bet someone on eBay is selling that same board.

[crokett]

Pull whatever PCI cards are in the system, if any, except the video card. Disable all the onboard devices, except the HDD and possibly USB ports if you have a USB keyboard and mouse. Then try to boot. If it boots, start enabling/adding back devices one at a time till it breaks again. If it doesn't boot, you probably need a new motherboard.

[Rich P]

If you want to check out hardware components, download UBCD (Ultimate Boot CD), create a bootable CD and use that to start your problem machine. There are a variety of test and diagnostic tools you can try. Years ago I built an XP machine and had major stability problems after installing the OS (BSOD). UBCD pinned it down to a memory problem. Took the sticks back to Fry's, got a different brand and problem solved.

[radhak]

If you want to check out hardware components, download UBCD (Ultimate Boot CD), create a bootable CD and use that to start your problem machine. There are a variety of test and diagnostic tools you can try. Years ago I built an XP machine and had major stability problems after installing the OS (BSOD). UBCD pinned it down to a memory problem. Took the sticks back to Fry's, got a different brand and problem solved.

That looks like a great resource! I might run it on my own machine.

Thanks for posting.

[TB Roye]

Built her a new computer as the HD was corrupted and couldn't get into. Also looks like there was something else going on with the MB. Built a new computer, larger HD, more memory and Win 7. Got it together tested installed Win 7 and the added the old HD as SATA 2 Win 7 found it and did Check Disk fixed all kinds of problems. Was able to get her pictures and Internet Favorites off and on to the new system. Pulled the old HD out and then did a backup with Click Free. I will install the old HD in old Computer and see what happens now. If I can get it working I will give it to one of grandkids. LOML is happy so that is all that matter. Been a while since I had built one so had a few problems didn't know there was a seperated power plug on the new one besides the old ATX 20 pin on so I could get it to bood at first. read he manual a there it was a 4pin 12v plug. That Serial ATA setup is sure nice with the smaller cables, of course no floppy or any of the IDE stuff in the new one but there is a IDE cable receptical on the MB incase I need it. Thanks for all the help and sugestions.

Tom

[chopnhack]

A final suggestion that I believe no one has mentioned yet... get a UPS for the new unit That way even if there is a surge/dip or complete outage your covered.

[JSUPreston]

Chop, you're right. A decent UPS from a local store shouldn't run more than about $50 and will not only protect the computer from spikes, etc., but will also shut down the computer gracefully during a power outage (if you get the one with software and cable). Definately worth the money.