Computer Boot up
 

Whats up with my computer.
It groans and moans, when starting up,

shows a screen wth choices of start,
last known good config or safe mode etc tried F8 just goes beserk

takes 5 or 6 reboots to get in.

Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Hi Retlaw

Walk me through teh exact startup,

You get BIOS screen first,

then do you get a Grub bootloader or have you removed this from your attempt with Ubuntu?


I'm assuming you then get a "Windows didn't start correctly" type screen with options of last known good config and a selection of "Safe modes"

What are you choosing at this point.

Is this XP we are talking or an older OS

do you get teh black loading screen with teh horizontal side to side progress bar thing?

At what point does it fail

Does it just automatically reboot or does it hang and you have to reset it?

When it does go in are there any error messages?

when you mention it 'moaning and groaning' where from, teh CD drive? teh Hard disk, teh fans inside teh base unit?

Ian

Re: Computer Boot up
 

It sounds like your hard drive could be on it's way out if it's rumbling a bit and not letting you boot up straight away, I have a spare hard drive you could try I think it has xp on it, if you want to try it I'm down town this afternoon and you can borrow it.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Hi Retlaw

Walk me through teh exact startup,

> You get BIOS screen first,

Not until I have stopped and started 3 times. checked bios everythings ok.

> then do you get a Grub bootloader or have you removed this from your
> attempt with Ubuntu?
Don't know what a Grub bootloader is.

> I'm assuming you then get a "Windows didn't start correctly" type
> screen with options of last known good config and a selection of "Safe .
> modes"

Yes
> What are you choosing at this point.

Everything one after the other, (keeps coming back to that screen), till it suddenly decides to boot up then crash, next bootup its ok
> Is this XP we are talking or an older OS
WINXP service pack 1

> do you get teh black loading screen with teh horizontal side to side
> progress bar thing?
Yes then it some times freezes
> At what point does it fail
After 3rd run across
> Does it just automatically reboot or does it hang and you have to reset
> it?
Hangs up and I then reset.

> When it does go in are there any error messages?
Not seen any.

> when you mention it 'moaning and groaning' where from, teh CD drive?
> teh Hard disk, teh fans inside teh base unit?

Hard to tell where the noise comes from, but its not the fans, had the cover off, cleaned out the dust, checked all connectors, unpluged and plugged back in a few. Checked the on board battery, that shows 3 volts.

Ive also done a non destrutive restore from a separate partition 4 times, but it does'nt rewrite the registry properly. I have a set of CD's which I created when I bought it, that is a destructive restore to the day I purchased it.

I'll await your reply before I do that.

Retlaw.



Ian[/quote]

Re: Computer Boot up
 

You sure? the BIOS/POST ( POWER ON SELF TEST) is the very first thing your PC does on startup before it even knows anything about an OS. If you have issues getting this far then its a fundamental hardware fault.

When you installed Ubuntu, did you get an 'extra' menu asking if you wanted Windows or Ubuntu when you started up. This is Grub.

Interestingly, Julie WinXP started doing this some time ago, we found we had to constantly go into recovery mode and go back a day even though no updates had been installed in that time. Never got to teh bottom of it and she now uses Linux :D

How loud is this 'noise', loud enough to worry or a gentle moan? ( You have checked its not the missus asking you something haven't you? :D )

Ian

Re: Computer Boot up
 

You sure? the BIOS/POST ( POWER ON SELF TEST) is the very first thing your PC does on startup before it even knows anything about an OS. If you have issues getting this far then its a fundamental hardware fault.

Thought it might be the vid card acting when I don't get the screen right away. After that I get the F1 & F10 options.

When you installed Ubuntu, did you get an 'extra' menu asking if you wanted Windows or Ubuntu when you started up. This is Grub.

It did once or twice but only showed the Windows line.

Interestingly, Julie WinXP started doing this some time ago, we found we had to constantly go into recovery mode and go back a day even though no updates had been installed in that time. Never got to teh bottom of it and she now uses Linux :D

It wouldn't let me use recovery, tried umpteen different dates

How loud is this 'noise', loud enough to worry or a gentle moan? ( You have checked its not the missus asking you something haven't you? :D )

She'd better not speak when I'm messing with the computer.
It sometimes sounds like chattering teeth, after a while you hear the drive start up then the dvd spins.
Every 12 month since I got this thing it does a wobbler, I think Gates has lines of code saying its time for a new computer, lets have some fun.

Ian[/quote]

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Hope you get your computer fixed soon, please let us know, in simplistic terms what was wrong.


http://planetsmilies.net/confused-smiley-17433.gif

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Hope you get your computer fixed soon, please let us know, in simplistic terms what was wrong.http://planetsmilies.net/confused-smiley-17433.gif

So do I, its been at it slowly getting worse, this past fortnight, did 3 non destuctive restores before it dawned, that Roxio was acting up, it was always the last prog I reinstalled, tested every program as I reinstalled, there was a line of code in registry starting with {4D36E965-11, that had a fault in it, then had to do another restore, & it started to get really daft, I dont think restores really do fully restore, I think theres sumat in the registry I don't fully understand. System Suite has checked the Drive and every thing else, says theres nowt wrong.

If no one comes up with a solution, soon I'm going to do a restore from the CD roms I made when I got it.
All my History & Military stuff is backed up every day to a 20gig portable hard drive.
Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Do you sometimes burn it to a DVD or CD as well just in case? I would not trust just a portable hard drive for something that important.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Given the value of your information Retlaw I would take Neils advice. We got a portable hard drive and it went within a couple of months.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Online storage, its the future!!! ( well, actually its the past for a lot of us :D )

Re: Computer Boot up
 

its broken :rolleyes:

so is mine :(

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Yes Neil.
Every thing is backed up to DVD and on a 16gig memory stick as well.
I've backup DVD's all over the house, some are locked in a filing cabinet in the library.
One thing for all DVD & CD users, watch where you store them, when you write to these disks, the laser changes the colour of the dye on the disk.
I tried an experiment, left a disk on the window ledge for a week, and it was unusable, even the plastic boxes you get DVD's in wont protect them for long in bright light.

Experts reckon the life of a CD or DVD is around 5 years, checked some backups I've had for 6 years in a drawer, & there Ok.

Retlaw

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Did a complete restore to day one of the computer, at 0100 hrs when I switched off it was working Ok. This morning I could'nt get in, kept giving me the run around, After more than a dozen attempts I finally got in ran diagnostics from Systen Suite, could'nt find any thing wrong with the drive or the monitor, memory etc, switched off and tried again , nil, bought a new computer in PCWorlds sale, just one thing, cant use my key board, I need a ps2 to usb adaptor, Maplin have run out, PCWorld don't do adaptors, so I'm scratting away on the midjet keyboard, and its a pain in the you know what.

This Bl@@@y Vista, made a mistake in seting up my email account and can't get back to the setup to change smtp settings.



AND ACCYwebs Changed, the opening screen is all wrong, dammed great google bar along the top, colours are different, can't find any button to click on that gives me a choice to go to what I'm used to.

Retlaw

Re: Computer Boot up
 

I take it it's a usb keyboard? if so I've got an adapter you can have.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Yes Less its a usb keyboard, they are useless, I've typed 3 times as many letters thanI need to compose a reply.

My keyboard has a 5 din connector, is the adaptor 5 din female to USB.

Walter

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Help
Can't set up my email account.

Made a typo in smtp, now its giving me the runaround, been throu control panel, tools menu in email can't get back to the setup page.

Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Right in that case this one won't do, it's the opposite way round to what you describe.
:(

Re: Computer Boot up
 

When you say 5 pin din are the pins in a semicircle - if so thats an old AT keyboard. I can probably find you a 5 pin Din to mini ATX type keyboard. Or just buy a keyboard in Asda for about £5

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Thanks Neil, but I'm using one of the dammed keyboards.

They are a pain in the u know what, their too small for my fingers, type several letters to get the right one.

The adaptor I need is 5 din mini to female 5 pin then to usb.
I have one of the others, I know such things exist, they make them for laptops, so you can plug mouse & keyboard into two fly leads and the the usb into the computer.

Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

It will be easier to buy a new keyboard. Does the new PC only have USB ports?

They sell the adapter you want at cpc

PRO SIGNAL|USB-0044S|USB TO SINGLE PS/2 ADAPTOR | CPC

PRO SIGNAL|USB-072|PS/2 & RS-232 TO USB CONVERTER | CPC

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Found the site that sells the one I'm after.
www.cablesandmore.co.uk

Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Open Windows Mail, click Tools (at the top) then accounts, then highlight your email account and select Properties (on the right). Make your changes there.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Tried that it would'nt let me do it, I eventually deleted all the accounts, then it allowed me to start again.

Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Perhaps if you struggle with standard keyboards one of these might interest you? A bit expensive but if they help??

Large Key Keyboards | Large Print Keyboards

:)

Re: Computer Boot up
 

And I thought I was having trouble with mine blue screening after it telling me AUTOCHK is missing or corrupt. After all the agro Retlaw has been through I feel lucky.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

I an still confused what you are after. Is it one of these - if so you can have this one.
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...-up-at_atx.jpg

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Sorry Neil, thats not it either, I was trying to explain to my daughter, and she could'nt get her head round what I meant,
this is how I made her understand, if I stick the ps2 5din connector up the dogs backside and stick her tounge in the usb port, thats what I need, so the penny dropped and she said come here Eedie, we have a surprise for you.

There's a picture of the one I mean at www.cablesandmore.co.uk two flying leads with female ps2 connectors. and a usb at the other end.
Retlaw

Re: Computer Boot up
 

You mean this?

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Yes, thems um, PCworld don't do adaptors an such, yet they are the biggest creators of the problem.
Maplin are out of stock.

Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

the first cpc link was what you need but does just the keyboard.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

My daughter managed to get me aan adaptor just like the one Neil showed, Darwen St Blackburn.
Trouble is the new computer is up the creek, took it back to PCWorld, told them it kept crashing, found out that the updates had trashed my web conection, went through set up with my ISP and they couldn't find any thing wrong, rolled back to before the updates, and web worked, then before I could turn of updates it did it again 49 downloads and could'nt stop it. Finally had to roll back to the beginning again, then it trashed all my picture files, renamed them mixed them up, you name it, it did it.

Told PCWorld to take that bloody Vista off, and put XP on, they will do it monday, said they need to send for some drivers t make XP run on the new Advent.
While there I got a gadjet to put hard drives in and attach to cxomputer with USB, took the drive out of the old computer, and it works perfectly, so whatever was causing the funny boot up and silly noises was after Bios, and before it read the bootup from C: , got me puzzled.

Retlaw.

Re: Computer Boot up
 

Is it only me that is finding more and more legit PCs being screwed by windows update?????????

Julie laptop is now on Ubuntu becasue it had/s issues after windows update, works perfectly in Ubuntu.

I'm actually rather glad I'm sort of retiring from supporting Windows with all the issues of late