URGENT: Computer messed..... - Printable Version
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URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 02:48 AM
I have windows xp pro. I had no problems. I unplugged the energy to the computer...replugged it...then I couldnt play my game...then it was slow as hell...then it would jam and I wouldnt be able to use my mouse. I made a new account cause it was only one account...it did it there...did that again...did it again. I re-installed windows....and it wouldnt read the cd at the start so I needed to do that while windows was running...it didnt have an option to re-format c so it left ALL my files. now its the same thing.......what do I do???? 
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 02:52 AM
whats the power supply like on the PC? a power supply if faulty can play havoc with the PC. , by reinstalling Windows its prolly Corrupted the whole windows install,
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 02:54 AM
its fine. its not the power. its the windows. it literlly messed up EVERYTHING except msn messenger...which got messed up in the windows reinstall
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 02:58 AM
when you reinstalled Windows, it woulda created another Dir, instead of having C:/Windows you'll have C:/Windows/blah blah/ my advice would be to format the whole HDD, i dont think a System restore will fix this, all you can do is, really take the HDD out an get someone to format the whole HDD an reinstall a fresh WindblozeXP on the HDD an reconnect it to the PC,
Have a look in your BIOS, refer to your BIOS manual for the correct settings,
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Joa on 03-02-2005 at 03:02 AM
i agree with Demz,
i would go for a complete reinstallation, -from the six windows xp boot disks.. this should allow you to format all the drives.
Edit: try this, it should work.. but if it doesnt than you must do like Demz said above, take out u'r hd and get somebody to format it for you
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 03:15 AM
first: I dont have a bios manual because I got my computer made by some dude who didnt give me anything....Im going to fix that when he answers his phone. second: it formatted the c://windows file and put a new one at that location. third: Im 13 only so taking out that hard drive...Id rather not my dad would kill me fourth: the guy gave me only an iligal windows zp pro cd...complete but iligal (refer to "first") so I dont have boot disks. Before this I reinstalled windows because it was corrupted...all I had to do was stick the cd into the drive, reboot, and the ms dos thing BEFORE the windows started would "boot from cd" now it doesnt say that.... Id like to fix that because in THAT installation I CAN format the c drive....since Im not on it at the time.
EDIT: but for the idae of taking it out...my uncle could do it for me
but if theres a way for me to be able to format plz tell me....and that guy better answer
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Joa on 03-02-2005 at 03:24 AM
you can get boot disks from the official site though, just download them onto floppys
just click here
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 03:25 AM
u know the site?
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 03:25 AM
by installing a illegal burnt copy you always run the risk of files that windows Needs to run properly wont work,,
Secondly, if you say you reinstalled WindowsXP from this illegal copy. you wouldnt have formatted the HDD completly, unless when you reinstalled Windows you had a second Activation Crack? coz after you use the first activation it wont be activated again, after that, , what i shoulda said, an i'd check if you can to see how many Drives you have on windows. you may have ended up with 2 the Main one which is C:/Windows an C:/Windows/Blah blah/ . you can get into your BIOS an it should say there who the mnanufacurer is, ,, go to there website an look at the online manual
windows XP boot disk can be downloaded from ,, is Microsoft download site,
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 03:27 AM
nope...all the files are on the copy.....got it checked by a proffesional family member.... he works nights so thats why I cant ask him right now.... usually if I run the windows cd from before windows starts I have the option of reformatting...I cant do that it doesnt boot from cd...
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 03:30 AM
okz.. do this instead of formatting. get into a Dos Prompt by pressing R an then do a HDD CHKDSK = CheckDisk, if you know how to do that,
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 03:36 AM
I dont
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 03:37 AM
best u dont play with it then, i'd be getting some1 older to fix this problem that knows somethingbout what there doing
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 03:39 AM
all I want is a way to format my drive...if theres a program or something out there for me plz tell me about it
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 03:44 AM
did you look at the microsoft Download page for a Bootdisk
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Joa on 03-02-2005 at 03:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by lou_habs
all I want is a way to format my drive...if theres a program or something out there for me plz tell me about it
from the boot disks, get them onto floppy's from here
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-02-2005 at 03:46 AM
THANK YOu!
Edit: it doesnt fit on a floppy..../me takes out an empty cd rom and sticks it in the burner
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Joa on 03-02-2005 at 03:53 AM
quote:
Originally posted by lou_habs
Edit: it doesnt fit on a floppy..../me takes out an empty cd rom and sticks it in the burner
THAT WONT WORK!!
download the file, run it and it will tell you to put in floppys (6 of them)
Edit: make sure they don't have anything of them, you need 6 clean floppys
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by SikStyles on 03-02-2005 at 04:04 AM
now unpluggin was stupid ...it can harm ur computer very badly as u can see...some files might be corrupt or sometin
get a new comp 
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by matty on 03-02-2005 at 04:23 AM
Windows 98se Boot Disk
Download this to your PC and run it. It will write a bootdisk to your PC.
If the filesystem is NTFS of your C Drive you will have to use FDisk to remove the partitions.
If you can wait until I can get home I can type out all the steps you will need to wipe out everything and reinstall windows.
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 04:29 AM
he wont know how to use that matty
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by matty on 03-02-2005 at 05:07 AM
quote:That is why I am going to write up an entire howto on how to do it.
Originally posted by Demz
he wont know how to use that matty
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 05:21 AM
Nice of u to do that anywya 
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by matty on 03-02-2005 at 08:16 AM
The following app was made by BelgiumBoy_007, visit the author's site at www.bartnet.be.
Copyright 2003 BartNet Corp
Note: I have just edited the code to serve our purpose here.
Step #1:
Download and execute this file. This file will display your drive configuration. If any of the drives File System is NTFS then you will have to do a different step when deleting your partitions.
Step #2:
Download and save this file to your desktop. (Right click > Save Target As). Insert a blank floppy disk. Make sure it is not write protected. Once you have a blank floppy disk inserted into your floppy drive double click on the file to create your bootdisk. Once your boot disk is created reboot your computer with your brand new floppy disk inserted in the drive.
Step #3:
Note: By proceeding through this document you will be erasing the Hard Disk Drive, which means that all data will be lost and is unrecoverable. I nor the Members of this forum are responsible for any damage caused to your computer, which that should happen but we still are not responsible.
If you do not wish to continue then simply eject the floppy disk and Press CTRL+ALT+DEL.
Now once the PC has rebooted into DOS you will notice that your PC is sitting at an A Prompt (A:\>). Also above this you notice that it says something along the lines of the following:
code:
MSCDEX Version 2.25
CopyrightMicrosoft Corp. 1986-1995. All Rights Reserved.
Drive R: Driver BANANA unit 0
This is indicating that your CD Rom drive letter now is R instead of what it previously was known as in Windows. This is only temporary so do not worry about it to much until later on in the document.
Now the following part will be to delete all the partitions on your drive. This assuming that you have a valid copy of Windows XP and not a OEM based PC that has a Recovery Partition where you tap a key on boot up and it will allow you to recover it.
Now earlier on I had you run a program that would say if any of the partitions were of an NTFS File System if they were then follow the next part. If there were not any partitions that were of an NTFS File Skip the part that is in blue text since it wont apply to you.
Now because NTFS partitions are not readable by DOS they are treated differently.
At the A Prompt (A:\>). type in fdisk and press Enter.
A screen will popup saying that you have a drive larger then 512MBs and if you would like to enable large disk support. Press Y and hit enter.
Now the FDISK Menu is up. and looks like the following.
![[Image: FDISK_001.gif]](http://matty.msgpluszone-int.com/Plus!/fdisk/FDISK_001.gif)
The first thing we want to do is check to see what the partition table is like. So press the number 4 and press enter. You will see something like this.
![[Image: FDISK_DriveConfig.gif]](http://matty.msgpluszone-int.com/Plus!/fdisk/FDISK_DriveConfig.gif)
Now if you have more then 1 item listed it means you have more work todo. Now if you only have 1 Partition like I do then it will be easier. At this point you want to be concerned about 2 things. The Type and the amount. You will want to remember these for the next part so go ahead and write them down if needed.
Now that we have them written down go ahead and press the Escape key on your keyboard.
Now that we are back at the Main Menu you will want to press 3 to Delete Partitions and then Enter.
The next screen you will see is as follows.
![[Image: FDISK_002.gif]](http://matty.msgpluszone-int.com/Plus!/fdisk/FDISK_002.gif)
Now if you only had 1 item listed and its type was PRI DOS then then in this Menu Press 1 then Enter.
It will ask which Partition you would like to delete like it does in my screenshot below.
![[Image: FDISK_003.gif]](http://matty.msgpluszone-int.com/Plus!/fdisk/FDISK_003.gif)
Type in the Number 1 and press Enter. If it Asks you for the Volume Label type in exactly what you see at the top in volume label and press enter. If there is No volume label then simply press enter.
Now if the Partition is NTFS or NON DOS as it would be stated in FDISK then instead of pressing Number 1, you would press Number 4 then Enter. Then number 1 and enter.
Now if you have more then 1 item (or partition listed) then what you need to do is the following. In the Delete Partitions or Logical Drives you need need to select option 3 until there are no Logial DOS drives to delete. Then press option 2 to delete the Extended Partition. (The Logial DOS drive deleting is the same as the Primary, it asks the Drive Number and the Volume Label)
Note: After you delete a partition you are taken back to the Main Menu so you need to go through the options again.
Wow! that took alot of typing just to delete those dump partitions. Now we get to create them. At the Main Menu Press number 1 then enter. When it prompts you to enter in any information just simply press enter. It will verify the size and everything then create it.
Now after you have successfully created your partitions you will be taken back to a the Main Menu where it says press Escape to Exit Fdisk. So Press Escape and it will say you need to reboot before changes are made. Press Escape again and you will be back at an A Prompt (A:\>). At this time just press CTRL+ALT+DEL BUT leave the floppy disk inserted.
Step #4:
Now much like last time we are at the A Prompt (A:\>).
Now that we have a C Drive again we can proceed to format it so that we can write information to it. What you want to do is the following. At the A Prompt type in format c: /autotest then press enter. This will format the drive without asking any questions which will speed it up.
Step #5:
Now once the drive is formated you will be yet again at an A Prompt. Here you will want to type in 2 things:
smartdrv then press enter
then type smartdrv.exe then press enter. Some text will appear and it looks like a help file thats ok.
Now insert your Windows XP CD Rom. Now remember that our Drive Letters start at R. So if you only have one CD Drive then you will want to type in the following commands. Otherwise change R: with your CD Drive letter.
Commands to type:
At the A Prompt: type r: and press enter.
At the R Prompt: type cd i386 and press enter.
At the R:\i386 Prompt: type winnt and press enter.
It will ask you where you want to copy the files from just hit enter. (It will say R:\i386). At this time you can eject your floppy disk. The windows XP Installation will copy all of your files to your Hard Disk Drive and once it is done it will say you need to restart. Once it restarts it will act as if you actually have the CD Rom inserted and go through its normal setup where you have to agree to the license agreement and so far.
Good Luck with this.
Matty
Images are Copywritten Me and were taken on a Windows 2000 Professional Virtual Machine loaded into VMWare.
This is one long ass document. I said I would write it
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-02-2005 at 08:18 AM
thats good info matty, maybe this should go into Sticky in the tech area?
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-03-2005 at 12:32 AM
I fixed my problem....thanks. Matty you put all that for no reason I did something...dont know what lol but it fixed itself. so thanks! and maybe it should go sticky
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by lopardo on 03-03-2005 at 12:51 AM
BTW, he could have formatted or repartitioned his hard disk from the Windows XP setup by starting it from the CD... He should have checked that the CD-ROM drive was first in the boot list in the BIOS setup (you can get there usually by pressing DEL when the machine starts).
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-03-2005 at 12:53 AM
umm, i dun think they would have thought of that Lopardo,
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by lopardo on 03-03-2005 at 12:55 AM
I mean, there is no need to use the setup diskettes, if you can boot from the CD 
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-03-2005 at 12:57 AM
i think he did say he couldnt or wasnt having any luck booting from CD?
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by lopardo on 03-03-2005 at 01:02 AM
quote:If it worked once, then it should work again. Probably it's because the CD-ROM drive isn't before the HD in the boot list in the BIOS setup.
Originally posted by lou_habs
Before this I reinstalled windows because it was corrupted...all I had to do was stick the cd into the drive, reboot, and the ms dos thing BEFORE the windows started would "boot from cd" now it doesnt say that....
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Hank on 03-03-2005 at 01:26 AM
thats what i thought the BIOS prolly had changed , thats why i told him to refer to his BIOS manual, but he said he didnt know how to get into his BIOS?.. so i assume some1 else fixed the problem
RE: URGENT: Computer messed..... by Lou on 03-03-2005 at 01:35 AM
No I did go in the bios. lol. I put boot from cdrom first but it wouldnt detect the cdrom drive untill windows loaded or something...lol. anyway I COULDNT boot from cd but I COULD get into bios