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quartet-man · 08-07-2011, 07:34 PM

A lady at church had one and I am not sure if the hard drive was failing or what. I went to get the data from it a while back and the adapter sparked and bricked the drive. (I have no idea if that was bad before or not, but the first time I was able to see the data on it, but the next day is when the adapter sparked at the APC.

Anyhow, if I can get it going, we could use it at the church. However, there is no recovery media. I have found this: : : Find Restore Disk : : and supposedly can get one for $26.99 postage included.

Well, is there any way I can see if the computer works? I have a hard drive which is erased and formatted, but not as Fat 32 which would be needed if I used one of our WIN 98 SE discs. I am willing to do that if I need to, but is there any other way I can see if the computer would work if I got the XP data disc? It would boot with the Ultimate Boot Disk, but after I formatted the disc, it says press a key to reboot and nothing happens (even with an OEM XP disc in it). This is still with the hard drive connected (even though it is blank).

Nuclear Krusader · 08-07-2011, 07:48 PM

If you've a copy of XP, try installing it (just don't activate it). If it runs, then spend the money on recovery media.

Still, I'd not trust that machine any farther than I could throw it (and I can throw pretty far). Does it have a Worstec, er, Bestec PSU?

Khalil · 08-07-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

It would boot with the Ultimate Boot Disk, but after I formatted the disc, it says press a key to reboot and nothing happens (even with an OEM XP disc in it). This is still with the hard drive connected (even though it is blank).

Go into the bios and change it that the system boots from CD first. When it asks you if you want to boot from cd press enter.

quartet-man · 08-07-2011, 09:04 PM

Nuk, I'm not sure about the PSU. Khalil, it booted from the UBCD with the drive attached, but it wasn't partitioned so that might have made a difference. I will see how to get into bios and see what happens and try the XP installation (without activation).

quartet-man · 08-10-2011, 08:24 AM

I tried installing and it said Boot from ATAPI CD-ROM: No Emulation Press any key to boot from CD A disk read error has occurred. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.
I can't guarantee that this wasn't what happened on her computer to begin with (I know she had some sort of problem with it initially). So, maybe it is an issue with hardware.

EDIT: I just yanked the drives out and scrapped it.

kilgoretrout · 08-11-2011, 08:08 AM

Depending upon the specs, I was going to suggest you try installing linux on it. If it's for your church, there is some free Bible study software available that runs on linux. It's also a very good way of testing out your hardware as it eliminates any software issues you may have with windows. If it runs UBCD it would probably install linux assuming your hard drives are OK.

Nuclear Krusader · 08-12-2011, 12:39 AM

Windows would also install if the drive is OK.

08-07-2011, 07:34 PM	#1
quartet-man Saved by grace Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,549	Pavillion 751N A lady at church had one and I am not sure if the hard drive was failing or what. I went to get the data from it a while back and the adapter sparked and bricked the drive. (I have no idea if that was bad before or not, but the first time I was able to see the data on it, but the next day is when the adapter sparked at the APC. Anyhow, if I can get it going, we could use it at the church. However, there is no recovery media. I have found this: : : Find Restore Disk : : and supposedly can get one for $26.99 postage included. Well, is there any way I can see if the computer works? I have a hard drive which is erased and formatted, but not as Fat 32 which would be needed if I used one of our WIN 98 SE discs. I am willing to do that if I need to, but is there any other way I can see if the computer would work if I got the XP data disc? It would boot with the Ultimate Boot Disk, but after I formatted the disc, it says press a key to reboot and nothing happens (even with an OEM XP disc in it). This is still with the hard drive connected (even though it is blank). __________________ My custom work system: ASUS P7P55D-E LGA 1156 / Intel Core i5-750 / CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) / Windows XP SP3 / SAPPHIRE 100292L Radeon HD 5450 / 2 LITE-ON 24X DVD Writers SATA Model iHAS424-98 / 2 W.D. Caviars Black WD1001FALS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s / Antec Sonata III 500 Black with 500W Power Supply / Rosewill RCR-IC002 74-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB port Last edited by quartet-man; 08-07-2011 at 07:39 PM.

08-07-2011, 07:48 PM	#2
Nuclear Krusader Mondsreitersmann Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Skingrad Posts: 8,969	If you've a copy of XP, try installing it (just don't activate it). If it runs, then spend the money on recovery media. Still, I'd not trust that machine any farther than I could throw it (and I can throw pretty far). Does it have a Worstec, er, Bestec PSU? __________________ Darum still, füg' ich mich, wie Gott es will. Nun, so will ich wacker streiten, und sollt' ich den Tod erleiden, stirbt ein braver Reitersmann.

08-10-2011, 08:24 AM	#5
quartet-man Saved by grace Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,549	I tried installing and it said Boot from ATAPI CD-ROM: No Emulation Press any key to boot from CD A disk read error has occurred. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart. I can't guarantee that this wasn't what happened on her computer to begin with (I know she had some sort of problem with it initially). So, maybe it is an issue with hardware. EDIT: I just yanked the drives out and scrapped it. Last edited by quartet-man; 08-10-2011 at 03:15 PM.

08-11-2011, 08:08 AM	#6
kilgoretrout Member (11 bit) Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,562	Depending upon the specs, I was going to suggest you try installing linux on it. If it's for your church, there is some free Bible study software available that runs on linux. It's also a very good way of testing out your hardware as it eliminates any software issues you may have with windows. If it runs UBCD it would probably install linux assuming your hard drives are OK. Last edited by kilgoretrout; 08-11-2011 at 08:44 AM.

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08-07-2011, 09:04 PM	#4
quartet-man Saved by grace Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,549	Nuk, I'm not sure about the PSU. Khalil, it booted from the UBCD with the drive attached, but it wasn't partitioned so that might have made a difference. I will see how to get into bios and see what happens and try the XP installation (without activation).

08-12-2011, 12:39 AM	#7
Nuclear Krusader Mondsreitersmann Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Skingrad Posts: 8,969	Windows would also install if the drive is OK.

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