Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

[Stumbleweed]

So my computer seems to have randomly died. I restarted it yesterday (just the normal CTRL + ALT + DEL restart) because my bluetooth mouse/keyboard stopped responding, which happens from time to time. Anyway, when I restarted it, it never got past the black DOS-like screens at the beginning and it now just sticks at "Boot from CD/DVD" and the flashing cursor. The HD, my external HD, the RAM, and everything else seems to show up properly on the startup screens as it should.

I tried re-seating my RAM, my video card, disconnecting and reconnecting the hard drive... nothing has made a difference. At this point, I'm assuming that my hard drive just crapped out, but the light still flashes in the early stages of startup but sits idle once it gets to the boot from CD/DVD message... just confusing. I disconnected the hard drive and it still functioned basicaly the same though, so that's still my assumption.

So my question is this -- am I right that my HD basically fried itself? If so, since it still shows some activity, would I be able to have someone restore it so I can at least transfer my OS and system stuff to another HD? I was planning a barebones build anyway, but that's coming sooner than later after this incident...

[fishepa]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

Sounds like you need to get a new hard drive and install the OS on the new one, then use your current one as a slave to see if you can restore any data from it. I hope you have a backup of your important data.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

All my pictures, music, movies, etc. and most of the stuff I'd be really pissed to lose is on my external HD. But no, I didn't actually back up my C drive. I'd have to get all my programs and key things again. The real issue for me is that I was planning to just pop my HD into a barebones build so I don't have to pay for Windows XP again... if it's totally shot, I'll have to buy a new computer including the OS, which is about 1/4 of the total cost...

Someone mentioned that my external HD might be causing the issue -- that it's trying to start from that instead of from the regular HD. They suggested going into the BIOS to make sure it's showing on the boot list as well, so I'm going to try that stuff after work tonight.

[fishepa]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

You won't have to pay for XP again. Just call them and tell them that your hard drive failed and you have to reinstall the OS, they won't make you pay for another license.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

Yeah, the issue is that I bought my PC off of CraigsList 2 years ago and don't have my Windows codes, disc, etc. If my HD is dead, I'm probably hosed. If I registered it properly (can't remember if I did, but I don't think so), would they be able to give me the codes to get another copy?

[fishepa]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

Yeah, the issue is that I bought my PC off of CraigsList 2 years ago and don't have my Windows codes, disc, etc. If my HD is dead, I'm probably hosed. If I registered it properly (can't remember if I did, but I don't think so), would they be able to give me the codes to get another copy?

Not sure, wouldn't hurt to try.

[p_rushing]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

You can try, but most likely not.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

Update: I went into my BIOS and my external HD was listed as first in priority over my regular HD for some reason. Not sure how that changed after a simple restart, but I fixed that and changed the boot order slightly to specs that were recommended. SO happy that it wasn't a dead HD, because that would've been a huge pain in my ***. Gonna need that HD and my OS when I build my new gaming rig for NBA 2K9...

[mattsb84]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

Update: I went into my BIOS and my external HD was listed as first in priority over my regular HD for some reason. Not sure how that changed after a simple restart, but I fixed that and changed the boot order slightly to specs that were recommended. SO happy that it wasn't a dead HD, because that would've been a huge pain in my ***. Gonna need that HD and my OS when I build my new gaming rig for NBA 2K9...

I hope you don't plan on using the HD/OS without doing a clean install of the OS on that drive. That's a BSOD waiting to happen.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

BSOD?

And if I don't have the XP disc, how can I do a clean install? I guess I could torrent a copy or something like that, but I didn't want to have to do that. Would the issues arise from having a different motherboard, etc?

EDIT: Blue Screen of Death... forgot about that acronym. Anything I can do without having to buy another copy of XP? If I get my S/N and other codes from my current PC, could I transfer the license to my new computer?

[mattsb84]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

Go buy it? It will save you future hassle and pirating the most important piece of software for your pc is dumb. And if you're going to a new PC, I'd recommend Vista 64.

Yes, the primary issue would be the motherboard swap. Not saying you can't do it, but be prepared for stuff to not work or crash. Best practice is to do a clean install of everything when swapping motherboards or doing complete system overhauls.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

Okay thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I'm just getting an entire computer for less than $300 shipped and didn't want to spend $150 on an OS... kinda defeats the purpose of saving so much money building it myself.

[mattsb84]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

What are the specs on the new computer?

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

(copied from the NBA 2K9 PC thread)

Okay, I think I finally settled on a PC to build in large part to play this game. I just wanted to check with you knowledgeable types and ensure that this will run it well at high to very high settings:

Pentium D 940 3.2 GHz dual core
3 GB DDR2 RAM
450W Power Supply
HIS Radeon HD 3650 IceQ Turbo Video Card (512 MB GDDR3) PCIe 2.0

Here's the barebones package that I'm planning on buying -- just adding a cooling fan and the video card basically (gonna use my old hard drive and DVD drive until I buy a BluRay drive): http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=B450-2372%20A

[snepp]

Re: Major PC Issues (Help Needed)

I suggest you find your product key now while you have the chance, write it down, and stick it someplace safe. You can always get a copy of the appropriate media later.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/tp/topkeyfinder.htm