How can I save my computer?
I have an older refurbished HP compaq nc6000. The most recent time I tried turning it on, it shows the screen where it warns you that Windows did not start successfully and gives me the option to start normally or with safe mode. Starting it normally makes it act as though it will load, but the computer quickly flashes blue and goes back to the prvious warning screen. Safe mode, last known good configuration, and every other option does the exact same thing. Is my computer kaput? Have I lost all my files? The blue screen that flashes quickly doesn’t look quite like the blue screen of death, but I’m afraid that’s what it may be. Is there anything I can do?
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I am not a computer guru. But I have had a similar problem.
What i would recommend is start your computer in safe mode. Copy all your files.
Then remove everything and re-install windows (here is your chance to upgrade) and your files.
My brother did this for me and it seems to have worked fine.
Safe mode works?
Reformat with a Windows disc and thats it.
@RedPowerLady, the computer won’t even load in safe mode at all. It just goes back to the same message again after I tell it to load in safe mode.
Even if safe mode wont work, you can still reformat if you have a windows disc, XP or Vista (depending if system can run Vista)
Usually reformatting erases EVERYTHING and gives it a fresh start. You need to take the windows disc that the system might have came with, or any windows disc for that matter and load it in the system as it boots up it will ask you if you want to format the C drive.
If you cant get into safe mode, youd have to most likely pay someone to hook up that HD to another PC and try and save some of the files but nothing is 100%. Id say count your losses and reformat.
If you reformat, your files are gone. I don’t know if there’s a way around your problem, but your files may be salvageable. You (or a computer store or savvy friend) will need to remove the hard drive, put it into a hard drive enclosure, then copy all the files from it. A computer repair ship will do this for a modest fee, I expect (cheaper than buying the enclosure?).
I woke up one morning and the leftover old computer i had from my daughter, had over 800 viruses on it and the big red trojan. i then decided it was time for a change. i took the computer way back in the woods and fired two rounds into. dead. dead trojan. i then went to a used computer store and located an almost new windows xp with all the trimmings. i purchased it and you are reading this answer from it. sometimes, you have to do just what you have to do. if you buy another computer, be sure to install the best AVG anit-virus system. my works great and the red trojan is now ruining someone elses computer, not mine.
This site seems to say that I can boot from the XP startup disc and use an “R” option to run a repair thing that won’t mess with my files apparently. Am I reading that right?
It won’t mess with your personal folders, no. The only big problem comes in if you updated your system with a service pack that the CD doesn’t have. It will overwrite newer files (from a Service Pack) with older ones on the disc and create a mixed working environment. This usually doesn’t work.
If it’s at all possible, use a CD that has the same Service Pack that you had already.
Thanks @mrentropy, I’m trying to track down the startup disc now to give it a shot.
I set the computer to not automatically restart upon failure so I could read the blue screen. It says UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME.
If mrentropy’s suggestiong does not work and you cannot load in either safe mode or regular mode then I would recommend taking to a repair shop to save your files. What a huge bummer!
If you’re getting an Unmountable boot volume error it could be that the drive is damaged (if it’s an old drive, it could be this) or you changed it from being in IDE (or ATA) mode to.. Um. the newer one. AHCI or something. If you made changes in the BIOS that could be the issue.
If it’s damaged you could buy yourself a new hard drive to replace the old one, hook the old one up as a slave, and then copy the files off of it that way.
Grab yourself a copy of a linux live cd (ubuntu has always worked for this for me) and an external hard drive, then get your files the heck off that computer. It sounds kind of like a hardware error to me, which means if you don’t act fast and keep trying different things, your files are going to go kasplooie really quickly.
if you don’t mind me asking, what’s the plan of attack?
@reactor5, I’m going to try and track down a startup disc and run the repair feature.
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