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The Computer is Broken. Seems to be Circling the Drain in a Loop. TECH PING LIST SUPERSTARS
03.02.08 | chickensoup

Posted on 03/02/2008 3:52:23 PM PST by Chickensoup

Help!

Came home last night. Turned on the trusty computer and up came a long message, white on black saying: We apologize for the inconvience but Windows did not start successflly... with several option to start.

None of them work.

It then loops to the windows xp screen

Then to an ad for the mainboard

then to a scan devices screen

then to some sort of listing

This morning there was a listing that on each line named had a number of the programs I run at the end of each line. It has not come up this time.

The hard disk comes on for the main board screen and the listing screen


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computer; computerhelp
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To: Chickensoup
I will ping you to talk about it

Anytime at all. Always glad to help. Backup and Recovery plus information management is what I do.

141 posted on 03/02/2008 6:43:07 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Great spirits will always encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds.)
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To: editor-surveyor

What’s a command mode?


142 posted on 03/02/2008 6:47:41 PM PST by papasmurf (I'm not worried anymore. I read Obama's "Blueprint for Change".)
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To: papasmurf

Dos prompt C:>


143 posted on 03/02/2008 6:51:56 PM PST by tsmith130
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To: Chickensoup; rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

Sorry I am so late to the party. I was out with the family this evening. However, I am still pinging the list to show that the poster has received what looks like a fix and the solution is in the thread.

144 posted on 03/02/2008 6:55:20 PM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: tsmith130

That’s a command prompt indicating you are currently in the root of the C drive.


145 posted on 03/02/2008 7:02:22 PM PST by papasmurf (I'm not worried anymore. I read Obama's "Blueprint for Change".)
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To: Chickensoup
I am uncomfortable putting any strain on the drive until you are quite certain the drive is not failing. Getting the data off would be my first concern, then a full test of the hard drive.

You would do better to shut the box off, rather than leave it run. There is still a fair chance that you are losing the hard drive, and leaving it spinning is to invite disaster, especially so if the box is making weird noises, or if the OS is operating in a slow or erratic way. I doubt that you have further problems, but safe is better than sorry.

Is it possible for you to purchase an USB external hard drive? They run circa 120-150 US$. Would prefer a Maxtor or Seagate solution. If so, then tomorrow is another day. Purchase the ext drive, back up your stuff, then continue on course. If not, does your computer have the ability to burn CD or DVD? if so, this would be cheaper than the ext drive option.

After the full boat drive check, THEN you could most certainly scan for viruses. I would also recommend that you download and use "AVG Anti-Spyware", which is different from AVG Anti-virus. A very good companion to any anti-virus.

146 posted on 03/02/2008 7:06:27 PM PST by roamer_1 (Conservative always, Republican no more.)
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To: Chickensoup
"Will do. I am posting from the poor baby now."

Now get a "one touch" USB drive to transfer all your important files to so that you won't ever be totally stranded again. Be sure to use the "export" functions on your browser for your favorites, and on your email program for your address book. Also backup the 'user' data in the windows subdirectories.

147 posted on 03/02/2008 7:07:41 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
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To: papasmurf

Yes, I believe that is what the poster was referring to when he typed ‘command mode’. Then again, I could be wrong. ;o)


148 posted on 03/02/2008 7:10:58 PM PST by tsmith130
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
A router to go between your cable or DSL modem and the PC. It will have a built in NAT firewall. Very handy thing to have from a security standpoint. ZoneAlarm and a NAT firewall are a great One-Two punch.

With your permission .... I would like to contact you tomorrow on this subject matter.

149 posted on 03/02/2008 7:11:44 PM PST by Boston Blackie
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To: papasmurf
"What’s a command mode?"

That's where you can run the diagnostics, such as chkdsk. You could also do a reformat, but it would only be by actually running the command "format" or "fdisk." It doesn't run without issuing the command.

150 posted on 03/02/2008 7:15:59 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
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To: tsmith130

It’s always interesting to see someone giving advice for trouble shooting a machine, and find out that he doesn’t even know what command mode is.


151 posted on 03/02/2008 7:18:49 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
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To: Chickensoup
A hardware firewall is another layer of defense, on top of what you have on individual computers. It sits between the net (your cable/DSL modem), and all the systems in your household.

A hardware firewall is also known as a router, a gateway, a NAT (network address Translation - all computers in the household have a single address known to the net; local address' are hidden). A router with rules. Rules that try to hide your household's existence on the net. It doesn't respond to pings, ports are closed, logs (incoming and outgoing) are kept, and blanket domains (sites, or domains you don't want the young ones to visit) can be blocked, etc.

Computer security, as in any defense; is layered. The more layered the better. And while layers do add a level of complexity or inconvenience to your system; once learned, layers are good.

But even that, is no substitute for smart browsing. If you use a browser such as Firefox, another layer would be something like "NoScript". An extension that allows you to temporarily or permanently allow, or disallow the execution of Java, JavaScript and Flash plugins, depending on the sites you visits. White list and black listing.

As I mentioned previously, IE and Windows, by default, are not security friendly. It is up to you to secure them through the mechanisms available to them. <

If you don't feel what is provided it good enough, look for alternatives.

152 posted on 03/02/2008 7:25:12 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: tsmith130

I figured that, but was just funnin’ him. In either case, most recovery CD’s don’t boot to a drive. Rather, they allow you to install/reinstall OEM software, drivers, etc, and reformat reinstall the OS.


153 posted on 03/02/2008 7:26:04 PM PST by papasmurf (I'm not worried anymore. I read Obama's "Blueprint for Change".)
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To: editor-surveyor

You must be confused. There is no such thing as command mode on a PC. What you are probably referring to is the “command prompt”. And, again, your confusion is obvious, you might be referring to the repair console when stating that a recovery CD boots to a command prompt.

I saw your smart azz post about me, you should really make sure your azz can cash your mouth’s checks before you write them.


154 posted on 03/02/2008 7:30:14 PM PST by papasmurf (I'm not worried anymore. I read Obama's "Blueprint for Change".)
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To: Chickensoup
last back up was in 2006

Damn....do you also get on the internet with this machine?

155 posted on 03/02/2008 7:33:33 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Chickensoup

I suggest this website for a look concerning malware and viruses

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/index.php

You will need to register. Then you want to go to the cybersafety forum. There you can start a thread.

Describe the problem, what you have done. Also download “Hijack This” (from link at the site.) Run a scan, which will create a log that you can post in your thread. That will get you started

I have used that site a couple of times and they are very good. It’s a bit slow - they are all volunteers.. But, they helped me get rid of several problems that had cropped up.

In fact, my AVG was infected.


156 posted on 03/02/2008 7:34:59 PM PST by don-o (My son, Ben, reports to Parris Island on June 30.)
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To: roamer_1
Drive failures typically don't put up ads, cause loops, or any of the other symptoms mentioned.

Backing up "important" data is always a good thing. And while whole system backups are good for drive failure, important (personal only) data backups are also good in case you have to wipe a system because of virus infestation.

Better to rebuild a system from the ground up and just restore the important data, rather than risk restoring the whole system restore that might have hidden dangers.

Layered defense.

My $0.02

157 posted on 03/02/2008 7:36:13 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: roamer_1

I will turn it off tonight and get what I need tomorow.

I will do what you say tommorow

Thank you so much


158 posted on 03/02/2008 7:42:09 PM PST by Chickensoup (If it is not permitted, it is prohibited. Only the government can permit....)
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To: Chickensoup
You haven't said anything about the age of the PC that has difficulty...I assume you have at least two...

Also just for clarification how to you connect...thru dialup?

159 posted on 03/02/2008 7:43:26 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: AFreeBird

Thank you!


160 posted on 03/02/2008 7:43:35 PM PST by Chickensoup (If it is not permitted, it is prohibited. Only the government can permit....)
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