Re: Computer failed

From: w_tom (w_tom1_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 02/13/05 

Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 13:31:18 -0500

  This is the point at which you start collecting facts before
trying to fix anything. Trying to fix something at this point
may only complicate the problem.

  You can boot from the CD. Good. If your computer
manufacturer is responsible, then download comprehensive
diagnostics and test your hardware. That is hardware test
without any complications from Windows. The procedure is to
break a system down into parts and diagnose each part
separately.

  If you do not have a responsible computer manufacturer, then
download comprehensive diagnostics from the individual
component manufacturers. Some of the diagnostics to be run
first are for hard drive and memory. And, of course, one
always inspects the foundation of an unstable house. For a
computer, that means two minutes to confirm power supply
voltages with the ubiquitous 3.5 digit multimeter.

  Once hardware integrity is confirmed, then move on to
software complications. However I suspect you will isolate
hardware problems first.

  Programs such as DOS want to see everything about a drive or
declare everything defective. However neat little DOS
programs such as IDEINFO, IDENTIFY, 4DRVUTIL, or DUG_IDE
(usually found in freeware web sites) will simply talk to a
hard drive computer and report back what is read. For
example, a valid model number and serial number from the
Maxtor drive means an IDE interface is functional and that a
Maxtor drive problem may exist in the 'disk computer to disk
platter' interface. IOW the problem then does not include
your motherboard or IDE cable. Again, an example of breaking
the problem down into parts, testing those parts, and finding
the one part that has failed.

  Is it the IDE interface or the disk drive computer? How
would you know doing what you have been? Don't try to fix
anything until you have first confirmed hardware integrity.

Geri k wrote:
> I'm trying to get a computer started again which just stopped
> working. It tells me that I should start in recovery, but only
> restarts over and over when I hit a button. Although the maxtor
> hard drive shows up in the initial screen, I can't find a letter
> name for the hard drive in DOS. I've tried using xp CD and
> floppy but can't get her going. The PC tells me that
> \windows\system32\config\system is missing, so I thought I could
> try and copy it from the XP CD (Drive: R) onto hard drive, but
> with no access to the hard drive I'm now lost.
>
> Grateful of any assistance, thanking you in advance.