Can't use my own comp!!!

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Fishman

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:sl:
Right now I'm posting from my dad's computer, since my own one's not working!
I switched the computer off normally, and then tried to switch it back on again right after, but it didn't work. So I turned off the socket on the wall and turned it back on again, and then turned the computer on. But it still won't work, it keeps telling me to 'insert boot diskette'. My dad is coming back from China tommorow Insha'Allaah, but he would probably need to sleep because of the jetlag. Can you help me?
:w:
 
:sl:

um i *think* if u have a floopy disk in the computer when you try to turn it on it wont turn on properly... :? im really not sure about this though lol since the days of floppy disks are long over for me and i havent used one in yrs...

u might wanna check that out anyway though
 
:sl:

um i *think* if u have a floopy disk in the computer when you try to turn it on it wont turn on properly... :? im really not sure about this though lol since the days of floppy disks are long over for me and i havent used one in yrs...

u might wanna check that out anyway though
:sl:
I don't have any floppy disks to put in.

I have XP btw.
:w:
 
^but then it doesnt say INSERT BOOT DISKETTE.

i guess u hv disturbed the boot sector of ur drive...
n ur comp is unable to detect ur boot drive[hard disk].

go thru SYSTEM [BIOS] SETUP n do the hard disk detection process to chk if its still detecting the disk.
:sl:
It does say 'insert boot diskette', I just don't know where that is.

I don't know how to do check for hard disks. Can you please explain to me brother?
:w:
 
Restart the PC, hold down del while it is starting, that will start it in set up mode. Instead of trying to explain hands on is better. go through the options read carefully as you do things, if in doubt dont' do anything.

If you get totaly lost hit esc until it stops doing anything then hit the F10 key and that will bring you back to where you were.

Now what you want to do is get into the bios menu where it tells you what HDD you have. Do not use auto-detect go to each one and click detect drive.

If it does detect your HDD it will probably restart. I agree with zAk the critter probably isn't detecting the HDD on its own. any you may have to sort of jump start it and remind it that it does have a HDD
 
I forgot to ask what Operating system are you using?
 
he sed it was XP in post 3.
wont hitting F10 prompt him to save changes n exit setup :?

Good point. I'm just used to always saving my changes. I was leading him astray. What he will want to do is scroll down on the right side and close without saving.

Glad you mentioned that zAk. The nice thing tho is as a last resort he can always restore defaults and at least get it back to where it was when it left the factory.
 
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I still don't understand. It doesn't say anything about hard disks, except that 'S.M.A.R.T' for hard disks is disabled.
:w:
 

Glad you mentioned that zAk. The nice thing tho is as a last resort he can always restore defaults and at least get it back to where it was when it left the factory.

:sl:
How do I do that? Will it delete all the stuff I saved on the computer?

I have two hard disks and no battery, so may that be part of the problem?
:w:
 
If your comp can't detect the hard drive, you can use Boot Sector to format it. If that doesn't work then your Boot Sector is corrupt. Or there could be a problem with Windows.

I'm not too sure about all this though or how it's done. :embarrass

Hopefully Woodrow br will guide you on what to do. Good Luck!
 
:sl:
How do I do that? Will it delete all the stuff I saved on the computer?

I have two hard disks and no battery, so may that be part of the problem?
:w:

While you are in set-up you are running strictly on the Mother-board system. Nothing there should delete the HDD. Yes you do want S.M.A.R.T. disabled.

While you are there in the lower right you should see where it says to restore defaults. I forgot which F key it will be.

However since it is showing you that smart is disabled I suspect it is detecting the HDD and it sounds like the boot sector of windows is corrupted. What OS are you running?
 
I just saw you are on XP, do you know how to do a system restore?
 
The good part is XP is a pretty stable system, so unless there is a physical damage to the HDD it is restorable to the last time it started successfully.

Here is a link to Microsofts trouble shooting start-up problems with XP. It is long. But, it explains a lot better than I can.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/
 
The good part is XP is a pretty stable system, so unless there is a physical damage to the HDD it is restorable to the last time it started successfully.

Here is a link to Microsofts trouble shooting start-up problems with XP. It is long. But, it explains a lot better than I can.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/
:sl:
How do you do a system restore?

I didn't understand that link, except for CGI and the like I don't really know much about computers.
:w:
 
:sl:
How do you do a system restore?

I didn't understand that link, except for CGI and the like I don't really know much about computers.
:w:

Use the Last Known Good Configuration tool to restore the operation of Windows XP
If Windows does not start, try to restore operation of Windows XP by using the Last Known Good configuration. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Start the computer, and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
2. Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then click OK.
3. If a start menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP, and then click OK
 
Use the Last Known Good Configuration tool to restore the operation of Windows XP
If Windows does not start, try to restore operation of Windows XP by using the Last Known Good configuration. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Start the computer, and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
2. Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then click OK.
3. If a start menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP, and then click OK
:sl:
I can't find the last known good configuration thing. I can find optimal settings and best performance settings though.
:w:
 
:sl:
I can't find the last known good configuration thing. I can find optimal settings and best performance settings though.
:w:

Don't touch those yet. Sounds like you still got into the BIOS menu. Try to hold the F8 key down and while holding it down restart
 
since it has not opened into the windows mode just use the off/on switch.
 

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