Software or Hardware Problem - Computer FUBAR

Red Mage Black · 06-20-2013, 08:39 PM

Situation: Lights went out for a week due to stuff. Computer was previously fine. Now, when the lights came back on, it came on fine. It was slowing a little, nothing that happened before. I tried restarting because I thought it would fix what was wrong. Well, now it won't start up at all.

Okay, lets start from the top, what's going on:

- Comes on, does IDE configuration after being unplugged longer than 5 minutes, but this was nothing unusual for me00.

- Neither was the 'low system voltage' message I get upon startup.
*Or the disk0(floppy) drive error for that matter.

- Getting System Configuration error.

- Everything at least seems to check out in the BIOS configuration, except for the pain of constantly having to set the date/time.

- When I get to the partition choices, everything seems to check out, except for a few things:
* Safe Mode and Safe Mode + Networking, both load up the drivers and whatnot, then just freeze when they get to the last one. No dice.
* Startup Normally + Startup (Last Good Configuration), it sticks on the OS loadup screen and doesn't move anywhere even after setting up the BIOS with the correct date/time.
*Trying to open up the recovery console nets me a 'NTLDR File Missing' error before restarting the computer.

Took a look at the stuff inside and everything appears to be in order. No more dust than usual for a Dell.

This is really starting to tick me off. I just went a whole week with no power, so I didn't really need this. I've tried forking around with BIOS settings and nothing has changed. I really need this.

---------- Post added at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 PM ----------

So, I ran a diagnostic tool and it's telling me a whole buttload of segments are unreadable. My guess? The OS is corrupted. So... I guess I'll just fresh install something else. Someone is letting me borrow their tower to download linux stuff. Won't be gaming for a while anyway, at least until I can get a new computer. Not sure what happened. Losing a LOT of data though. Suppose it can't be helped.

Aldurin · 06-20-2013, 09:36 PM

Check your power supply, it's likely on the edge of death given your power outage and the "low system voltage" message. Also check to see if the battery that preserves your BIOS settings is out, since having to reset stuff like date and time might be a problem with that.

Or your shit may be fucked, but those are just my theories.

MasterOfMagic · 06-20-2013, 11:32 PM

Low voltage warning, and losing BIOS settings sounds like your BIOS battery is dying (or dead more like), just need to replace it. Its a little watch battery on the motherboard. This could also cause the NTLDR error, so I would check it first. Replacing the battery would be pretty quick and cheap.

Otherwise, sounds like power went out while the hard drive was active, which can fuck up the filesystem. You could probably recover with a windows recovery CD, you'd just need to figure out which files were corrupted. If you google the error along with the version of windows you have, you'll get step by step instructions on what to do to fix it. (basically rewrite the files that got messed up)

If those don't work, then the Hard Drive would have to be shot. But that seems unlikely?

Grandmaster_Skweeb · 06-21-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aldurin

Check your power supply, it's likely on the edge of death given your power outage and the "low system voltage" message. Also check to see if the battery that preserves your BIOS settings is out, since having to reset stuff like date and time might be a problem with that.

A bit of clarification on this one, when the power supply goes out or is on its last legs it doesn't give any system warnings. It either works or doesn't. When the power supply is going out it is pretty easy to diagnose.

MasterOfMagic hit the button on the nose with the low system voltage warning. Your CMOS battery is pretty much kaput. A myriad of problems can arise from that alone.

Before reformatting and reinstallation of an OS at least try doing a windows repair. Might not help, but then again I've saved a number of computers with that before. Worth a shot.

06-20-2013, 08:39 PM	#1
Red Mage Black Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Where the Sun isn't so warm. Posts: 2,673	Software or Hardware Problem - Computer FUBAR Situation: Lights went out for a week due to stuff. Computer was previously fine. Now, when the lights came back on, it came on fine. It was slowing a little, nothing that happened before. I tried restarting because I thought it would fix what was wrong. Well, now it won't start up at all. Okay, lets start from the top, what's going on: - Comes on, does IDE configuration after being unplugged longer than 5 minutes, but this was nothing unusual for me00. - Neither was the 'low system voltage' message I get upon startup. Or the disk0(floppy) drive error for that matter. - Getting System Configuration error. - Everything at least seems to check out in the BIOS configuration, except for the pain of constantly having to set the date/time. - When I get to the partition choices, everything seems to check out, except for a few things: Safe Mode and Safe Mode + Networking, both load up the drivers and whatnot, then just freeze when they get to the last one. No dice. * Startup Normally + Startup (Last Good Configuration), it sticks on the OS loadup screen and doesn't move anywhere even after setting up the BIOS with the correct date/time. *Trying to open up the recovery console nets me a 'NTLDR File Missing' error before restarting the computer. Took a look at the stuff inside and everything appears to be in order. No more dust than usual for a Dell. This is really starting to tick me off. I just went a whole week with no power, so I didn't really need this. I've tried forking around with BIOS settings and nothing has changed. I really need this. ---------- Post added at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 PM ---------- So, I ran a diagnostic tool and it's telling me a whole buttload of segments are unreadable. My guess? The OS is corrupted. So... I guess I'll just fresh install something else. Someone is letting me borrow their tower to download linux stuff. Won't be gaming for a while anyway, at least until I can get a new computer. Not sure what happened. Losing a LOT of data though. Suppose it can't be helped.

06-20-2013, 11:32 PM	#3
MasterOfMagic ahahah Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,456	Low voltage warning, and losing BIOS settings sounds like your BIOS battery is dying (or dead more like), just need to replace it. Its a little watch battery on the motherboard. This could also cause the NTLDR error, so I would check it first. Replacing the battery would be pretty quick and cheap. Otherwise, sounds like power went out while the hard drive was active, which can fuck up the filesystem. You could probably recover with a windows recovery CD, you'd just need to figure out which files were corrupted. If you google the error along with the version of windows you have, you'll get step by step instructions on what to do to fix it. (basically rewrite the files that got messed up) If those don't work, then the Hard Drive would have to be shot. But that seems unlikely? Last edited by MasterOfMagic; 06-20-2013 at 11:34 PM.

06-20-2013, 09:36 PM	#2
Aldurin Lakitu Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4,648	Check your power supply, it's likely on the edge of death given your power outage and the "low system voltage" message. Also check to see if the battery that preserves your BIOS settings is out, since having to reset stuff like date and time might be a problem with that. Or your shit may be fucked, but those are just my theories.