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Computer will not load Windows


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#1
aprilcs

aprilcs

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Hello,

Can someone please help me.
My niece tried to install Google Chrome on my dad's (5 yrs +) Dell Demensions 4550 running XP Home Edition. When it seemed to her that the installation was not working she restarted the computer. Now all it does is hang up at the Windows loading screen for a while and then restarts by itself and goes to a black screen that gives you the choice of running Windows normally, in safe mode, or last known config. None of these work.
The only thing I could think to do was run the diagnostics disc that came with the computer. After 5 hours the results stated that everything was working except the IDE drive. It said it failed every test in 2 specific sectors because "the drive could not be accessed or was write protected."
Could it possibly be a virus or some other villian? Is the hard drive gone for good? Please help.

aprilcs
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#2
happyrock

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go into the bios and set the first boot device to your cd drive...the hard drive 2nd...

go here..download the following file: rc.iso....then run chkdsk /r
from the rc.iso cd...be sure the bios is set to boot from the cd drive first...

if you don't have a burning program that will burn .ISO files go here and get burncdcc ..a small FAST no frills iso burning program...

NOTE...do not put a blank cd in until burncdcc opens the tray for you
1. Start BurnCDCC
2. Browse to the ISO file you want to burn on cd/dvd ....in this case its rc.iso
3. Select the ISO file
4. click on Start

make sure in the bios the cd drive is the first boot device....put the cd in the cd drive..boot your computer....

boot from the rc.iso cd....
type in chkdsk /r press enter
note the single space before the /

While chkdsk is running, you will see a light blue window with a dark blue band at the top and bottom. Chkdsk will display the specific stage it is checking as well as the percentage of completion of the stage. You cannot do anything else on your computer while chkdsk is running. When chkdsk is finished, it will automatically reboot your computer.
NOTE this can take a long time to complete..it may even appear to hang or get stuck at a certain % for a couple of hours...then complete
it may even back up and go over the same area...this is normal...let it run...there are 5 stages
DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER WHILE RUNNING CHKDSK or you can have severe problems...
nojoy...
boot from the cd again...
then type fixmbr press enter...reboot
no joy ....boot from the cd again...
type in fixboot press enter...reboot
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#3
aprilcs

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Dear Happyrock,

Thanks a million!!! I am finally up and running. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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#4
extempers

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hi im using your advice from this thread
http://www.geekstogo...ws-t231104.html

but im not getting to the C: screen

I'm getting H:MiniNT>


it doesn't allow me to put in chkdsk/r only chkdsk and it says volume is fine


what do i do?
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#5
rshaffer61

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Direct to: extempers

Please start your own topic
Although your issue may seem similar there can be other factors that may need to be resolved.
By bumping on someone's topic it makes it confusing for the tech to understand who they are helping. This can in turn cause the wrong support to be given and can cause instability or worse to happen to your system.
As you can now see the same steps do not work for everyone. Your system looks as though it has a recovery partition on it.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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#6
happyrock

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your welcome...and thanks for letting us know... :)
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