We had a thunderstorm the other night and i shutdown our computer durring a bootup cycle. now it won't even start up. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't get past the You shutdown wrong screen. sent it out to a supposed computer nurd but he can't do anything for some reason. we also sent our old computer with it, windows and me because i thought it might be usefull. he has tried a few things but has as of yet been unable to get it to start. i don't want to loose all our pictures and things in there.

our newer computer has, the one that died is XP the older one is ME. because the the newer one would not boot i sugjested taking the hard drive out of the older one and having that as the boot drive and then use the other one as a read only hard drive so that at least we can save and transfer all of our old info onto a new one when we buy one next month, if we can't save the old one. will that work? or any other ideas to save all our info?

this is steve, i can't remember my old password, it was saved on our computer and not writen down anywhere so any posts from me will be under Melanie's username with my name at the bottom

thanks for any help

Steve

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My other vehicle is a broom.

Pretty sure you can put in the broken computers hard drive in the good one as a "slave" drive and copy all the vital files to the good computer.

You may have to reinstall your operating system to get the broken one running again, do you have your old disks? Though I would think the computer geek would have checked that.

BTW I'm no expert on computers, so you may want to wait for some other responses.

[This message has been edited by newf (edited 08-25-2011).]

The power surge probably fried the power supply. You could try swapping the power supply from the old computer into the new one, if it's compatible. Either that, or maybe your computer "nurd" buddy has a spare power supply he can test it with.

no it is starting, if the power sipply was fried it wouldn't even start. had that happen on the last one. this is different it says the system shutdown wrong and it trys to reboot but won't. the operating system startup mode died. it works just keep jumping from that screen counts down to start in the last working mode then trys to load but goes right back to the same you sutdown wrong screen again, no matter how many times you try it or ways you try it.

steve

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My other vehicle is a broom.

If you're trying to boot ME and read the XP drive, that may not work depending on how the XP drive is formatted (FAT32 or NTFS). There are NTFS readers for windows 98/ME, I can't vouch for any of them as I haven't used them.

What you can try doing first, is boot the XP machine, and rapidly hit F8 when it's booting up. If done correctly, you should get a list of options with things like:
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Last Known Good Configuration
etc.
Select "Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure" (or similar wording), then let it boot. You should get a blue screen of death that looks something like this:
http://i29.tinypic.com/2nu52s.png
The first hex number after the STOP: is the most important, as well as the wording near the top (whatever is where SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED is in the picture). Reply with that info and we should be able to help you further.

Have the computer geek friend do a surface scan on the hard drive, to check for bad sectors. He should know what I'm talking about. If the scan turns up clean, try a repair install of Windows. It'll replace all the critical operating system files, without disturbing all your other files.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 08-25-2011).]

I agree, tap the F8 key, if you hear a Beeeep,Beeeeep, pause a second or two and keep taping.Try either a normal boot or boot into safe mode (use the arrow keys to navigate) and restart.All your programs,softwear,pictures are still there as long as you dont format the hard drive,if you happen to reinstall windows,but I wouldnt do that just yet.I have other sugestions.If your hard drive died, you could probubley buy a the same model number off ebay and replace the board.

[This message has been edited by James Bond 007 (edited 08-25-2011).]

<argh, this was supposed to be an edit, not a new post>

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 08-25-2011).]

Steve, PM sent

Dang, send the drive to me, if it gets that far into the boot process, I can easily copy your data for you...

Static bag, then bubble wrap, in a box, then send it to meee

The past year (as of this morning) I've recovered the data from 17 out of 18 "dead" drives. (That one had already gone to DriveSavers, and even they couldn't restore it)
Your drive sounds like it should be relatively simple to recover.

That data is critical - I'd rather you send it to me - I'll recover your stuff

Rather then have you try to repair the drive (and possibly erase your data)

it'll be easier for me to recover your data, then have to first unerase the oopsies and recover the data...


it would be my pleasure to help you guys out...

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 08-25-2011).]

quote Originally posted by FieroRumor: Dang, send the drive to me, if it gets that far into the boot process, I can easily copy your data for you... Static bag, then bubble wrap, in a box, then send it to meee The past year (as of this morning) I've recovered the data from 17 out of 18 "dead" drives. (That one had already gone to DriveSavers, and even they couldn't restore it) Your drive sounds like it should be relatively simple to recover. That data is critical - I'd rather you send it to me - I'll recover your stuff Rather then have you try to repair the drive (and possibly erase your data) it'll be easier for me to recover your data, then have to first unerase the oopsies and recover the data... it would be my pleasure to help you guys out...

Dam
I love this forum, and all you guys. Rumor i will call the guy who has both of the computers in the morning first thing. i can take the harddrive out and send it to you ASAP NY is closer thaqn CA and i know you can do the best you can. not anything against ISMA but if you can save this you got 5 lbs of bacon coming your way as soon as the pigs come back from the butcher.

when i get it back are there any things i should do to save all of our stuff in case this ever happens again.

this forum rules.

thanks again everyone of you who posted and offered help.
oh ya where the hell do i get a static bag? can i get them at like wal mart or do i need to go to a computer store?
steve

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My other vehicle is a broom.

[This message has been edited by fierowitch (edited 08-25-2011).]

I will PM you my address. I will also offer advice as to how to avoid this from happening again in the future.

You don't NEED a static bag, but I recommend it. I can send you one tomorrow, just PM me your address.

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 08-25-2011).]

PM sent rumor and thanks again, i don't know what i would do without you guys.

steve

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My other vehicle is a broom.

PM or email Cliff----he can send your old password to you.

Dang! All you guys have plusses from me, otherwise I'd be handing them out to you all again
Thanks for helping my old( ) friend out..always there for us, aren't you?
God Bless
Nick

You didnt make a recovery disc? Or get one when purchased?

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Dang! All you guys have plusses from me, otherwise I'd be handing them out to you all again Thanks for helping my old( ) friend out..always there for us, aren't you? God Bless Nick

No Sh!t, same here Nick, i love this place and how we all try to help each other when we need it.

sterve
dam i hate this keyboard, laptop, everything is so small, and i can't spell to good to begin with so this makes everything i post look even worse
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My other vehicle is a broom.

[This message has been edited by fierowitch (edited 08-26-2011).]

You guys anywhere close to me?

quote Originally posted by User00013170: You guys anywhere close to me?

They are in the very NE part of the country--Maine I believe.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: They are in the very NE part of the country--Maine I believe.

Ok, forget that idea. i was going to offer to stop in and help..

Please PM me your address so i can send out that static bag...

thanks

quote Originally posted by FieroRumor: Please PM me your address so i can send out that static bag... thanks

pm sent

thanks again chris

steve

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My other vehicle is a broom.

I always unplug my computers when im not using them and always during a storm. Do you also have a surge protector to plug it into? Check your home insurance...most times storm damage is covered, even on tvs and DVD players.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: I always unplug my computers when im not using them and always during a storm. Do you also have a surge protector to plug it into? Check your home insurance...most times storm damage is covered, even on tvs and DVD players.

ya we have a surge protector but melanie is paranoid and insists we shut everything down including the surge protector
ya we had thought about filing a claim but for just a few hundred dollars didn't think it would really be worth it. i looked the other day at wally world and to replace the tower with something comparable it would be 3 to 400. unless i wanted something state of the art and to be honest we don;t do a lot of high tech things.

thanks for the idea, and if rumor can't fix it we may buy another but we are both hopeing he can at least save the pictures and documents we have in it.

steve

[This message has been edited by fierowitch (edited 08-29-2011).]

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: I always unplug my computers when im not using them and always during a storm. Do you also have a surge protector to plug it into? Check your home insurance...most times storm damage is covered, even on tvs and DVD players.

I do the same thing,I allso unglug everything of value and even disconnect any coax cables and phone line.I dont want any way for a voltage spike, to fry my electronics.

Now what am I supposed to do when I want to contact Melanie?!

(I kid of course)... good luck on getting your system restored!

If you have a dell computer, I can make a recovery disk for it as I have an XP "repair disk" for Dell.

Let me know if I can help, if not at least I was brave in the attempt. lol

quote Originally posted by blakeinspace: Now what am I supposed to do when I want to contact Melanie?! (I kid of course)... good luck on getting your system restored!

smart ass



steve

So, the hard drive arrived today.

Initial comments:

Wow, do you guys smoke in your house?

The drive was pretty brown and sooty. I'm afraid what the inside of that pc looks like!

ok, time to do what I do

So I cleaned it off with a data-restorative rag of magical intent, and started the fun.

Slipped it oh so lovingly into the external adapter-thingie.

No terrible awful sounds as it spun up. (good sign)

Windows detected the drive and installed (good sign)

Windows told me I had to format it before I could use it - (that's not so fantastic, wonder how it's formatted, hafta check...)
(ugh)
Second (recovery) partition was discovered and was accessible (meh, I don't care about THAT one...)

Did some checkin' pokin' proddin' (all VERY VERY official technical procedures) but

Still no dice on the main partition...

So,
Before I launched into it with my Hard Drive Recovery 'Tools of Terror', I plugged it into my MAC, and it instantly found both drives. (This is GOOD NEWS)

I backed up your "documents" folder.

I'll go grab all the other folders.
When I'm done, I'll see if I can clone the drive and some other stuff, but
it appears all your data is "happy". (another highly technical term)


Lesson(s) learned here:

1. Backup your data
2. Don't poo poo MACS (or Windows) - they're just machines and are both serve purposes
3.The Magic Anti-Static Bag of Healing WORKED!


I'm juggling a half dozen cats at the moment, but I'll update you later on today as to what I recovered...

edit:
I'm recovering your "Deskup" folder on it, and OMG...Did I just see my BattleStar Galactica game on there?!?!?!?!?


Wow. not even sure why seeing that gave me some shivers and goosebumps

oh

very important note:
I'm not looking TOO closely at the files - Not gonna look at any pics or whatnot, don't worry.


I'm just very very very relieved that I was able to get your stuff back.

TGIF....(I wish)

I'll update you later...

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 09-13-2011).]

Rumor, Thanke for the good news update and the laugh. I really needed the laugh today.
Melanie

quote Originally posted by FieroRumor: it appears all your data is "happy". (another highly technical term)

Happy Data huh, WTF have you been smoking?

Thanks again for looking at it and save whatever you can, I hate this laptop and hope you can cure that so I can put the tower back here

quote Originally posted by FieroRumor: So I cleaned it off with a data-restorative rag of magical intent, and started the fun. 3.The Magic Anti-Static Bag of Healing WORKED!

You know you really ain’t right, you know that right? What did you do get into some of those "magic shrumes" (that's a technical term) from that guy here in Maine?

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/088062.html

Again I needed the laugh to thanks Chris.
Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.

Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 09-13-2011).]

data's copying over ok so far.

Had a few issues

but nothing major

One file kept barking at me, made me hafta start the copyin' process over *grrr* but I took care of it

Update later

quote Originally posted by fierowitch: ya we have a surge protector but melanie is paranoid and insists we shut everything down including the surge protector *snip*

I unplug them.

I think of it like this; that lightning bolt traveled several miles to get to you. Do you really think that a 25 cent of silicon, or an airgap of less than 1/4 inch is going to stop it?

[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 09-13-2011).]

Is the data still "happy"?
Do you have a magic anti static bag of healing that is human size? We could use one.(lol)