[Coeco]

So im now sitting on one of the three broken PC's which is an old Acer Laptop who won't start in anything else than safemode (Recieving error before login screen that the system cannot start) And im really just craving for help at the moment.

The second PC is a custom built, pretty old and really modified asus with a Geforce graphcard who suddenly just felt like dying after standing such a long time without usage, when i attempt to start it, i get "DISK BOOT FAILURE" Would it be possible to feed it a W7 install disk and then boot it from that or do i need to get new parts and everything?

The third PC is a Gamer Edition AMD X2 Asus who recently aswell died on me when i attempted to install Comodo Firewall during the Restart-To-Install process. If i tried to do a normal reboot, it'd automatically go into a restarting endless loop. I was prompted to do a system restore to go back into past settings. That made it start up windows and all but when i was in, i could only open certain programs (No .exe files, It would open them up in internet explorer, prompting me to "Download" them, they all being exactly 617 kb) I could however change WHICH program i want to open them in and with that i was able to open some more, such as .txt documents opened in notepand. But i have no idea on what i should take with "Open With" on just standard .exe files..


Will be fun to see if you guys can solve this triple mess-burger. All replies appreciated and i'll try responding as quick as i can.

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Hi Coeco and welcome to Geeks to Go.
We are going to have to designate the 3 computers so we can keep them separate.
For the laptop (computer 1).
What is the error message that you receive?
Since you can get to safe mode, have you tried doing a system restore?
What is the Operating system we are using on this one?

For computer 2 (custom built).
What is the OS on this one?
Disk boot failure is usually an issue that the bios/computer can't find a hard drive to boot to (or bootable CD or floppy).
Is there a non boot floppy/ cd in the drive?
Is the hard drive seen by the bios? To enter bios use esc, del, F10 (most common)
Does the boot order even show the hard drive?
Check the data cables and power cables.
Are the fans spinning?
Do you hear the drive trying to run?

For the 3rd computer (gaming unit)
What OS is on this unit?
Do you have the OS cd? And is it a recovery cd or a full install CD?
Can you get to the properties of the C drive? If so, under the tool tab, run the error checking.


123runner

[123Runner]

Hi Coeco and welcome to Geeks to Go.
We are going to have to designate the 3 computers so we can keep them separate.
For the laptop (computer 1).
What is the error message that you receive?
Since you can get to safe mode, have you tried doing a system restore?
What is the Operating system we are using on this one?

For computer 2 (custom built).
What is the OS on this one?
Disk boot failure is usually an issue that the bios/computer can't find a hard drive to boot to (or bootable CD or floppy).
Is there a non boot floppy/ cd in the drive?
Is the hard drive seen by the bios? To enter bios use esc, del, F10 (most common)
Does the boot order even show the hard drive?
Check the data cables and power cables.
Are the fans spinning?
Do you hear the drive trying to run?

For the 3rd computer (gaming unit)
What OS is on this unit?
Do you have the OS cd? And is it a recovery cd or a full install CD?
Can you get to the properties of the C drive? If so, under the tool tab, run the error checking.


123runner

[happyrock]

I would suggest you open 3 different topics...one for each pc...just to avoid any confusion ...
for the laptop...once you have booted into safe mode check the device manager for any yellow ! or ? marks...
also have you tried system restore yet...
did you add any new software just prior to the problem...
any program updates including windows just prior to the problem...
give us the make and model # of the laptop...

[Digerati]

3 computers, 3 problems, 3 topics.

[rshaffer61]

3 computers in one topic?
Banging your head on the KB would be a vacation for you 123Runner.
I have to side with my fellow Techs on this one.
Split them up and let others help on this one.
Think of it as someone bumping in on the topic on you.
Mass confusion will abound.

[123Runner]

I agree with that, I just forgot to suggest it.

[Coeco]

Thanks alot for the quick respond and im sorry for the messy topic, i'll try to answer all questions as quick and convenient as i can.

For the laptop (computer 1).
What is the error message that you receive?

During the final stages of the desktop startup, it gives me an Explorer.Exe - Program Error saying: The program could not be started correctly (oxc0000142) If i click OK, all i see is a blank screen and if i try to open task manager, i get the same error so its stuck.

Since you can get to safe mode, have you tried doing a system restore?

I've tried it once before but it didn't have any restore points since its generally just really old and doesn't do it automatically

What is the Operating system we are using on this one?

It has a standard version of vista although it was built for XP. Worked without problems until now.



For computer 2 (custom built).
What is the OS on this one?

Windows Vista Pro/Ultimate if im not too wrong

Disk boot failure is usually an issue that the bios/computer can't find a hard drive to boot to (or bootable CD or floppy).

Would it work if i gave it a W7 / Vista install disk? Im really not good with repairing dead computers

Is there a non boot floppy/ cd in the drive?

No

Is the hard drive seen by the bios? To enter bios use esc, del, F10 (most common)

It won't let me bring the bios up, just instantly starts up saying Disk Boot Failure

Does the boot order even show the hard drive?

I don't think so?..

Check the data cables and power cables.

I'll have a friend over and he can check them

Are the fans spinning?

Yes, all of the fans are running, including the graphics card fan

Do you hear the drive trying to run?

It's a really silent computer and im not good with hardware, i'll have a friend over to take a look at it soon hopefully

For the 3rd computer (gaming unit)
What OS is on this unit?

Windows 7

Do you have the OS cd? And is it a recovery cd or a full install CD?

I think i have a windows vista recovery CD but i doubt it will work and since the computer is working fine except when it restarts, i really don't want to degrade its OS

Can you get to the properties of the C drive? If so, under the tool tab, run the error checking.

That only brings me to Folder Options, any guide to do that for W7?

Another quick question, can this DVD burn images onto CD's? Dvd: Sony Nec Optiarc DVD-RW

Thanks once again for the response, i suck at the hardware part with computers.

[123Runner]

This is going to get messy real quick.

We need you to create 3 separate posts for the 3 separate computer issues. That is the only way that we are going to keep the issues straight,

Once you have the posts created, then you can copy and paste the questions that are appropriate for each computer into there own post.
We can then answer and assist with the issues.

Thanks
123runner

[Coeco]

For the laptop (computer 1).
What is the error message that you receive?

During the final stages of the desktop startup, it gives me an Explorer.Exe - Program Error saying: The program could not be started correctly (oxc0000142) If i click OK, all i see is a blank screen and if i try to open task manager, i get the same error so its stuck.

Since you can get to safe mode, have you tried doing a system restore?

I've tried it once before but it didn't have any restore points since its generally just really old and doesn't do it automatically

What is the Operating system we are using on this one?

It has a standard version of vista although it was built for XP. Worked without problems until now.

[Coeco]

For computer 2 (custom built).
What is the OS on this one?

Windows Vista Pro/Ultimate if im not too wrong

Disk boot failure is usually an issue that the bios/computer can't find a hard drive to boot to (or bootable CD or floppy).

Would it work if i gave it a W7 / Vista install disk? Im really not good with repairing dead computers

Is there a non boot floppy/ cd in the drive?

No

Is the hard drive seen by the bios? To enter bios use esc, del, F10 (most common)

It won't let me bring the bios up, just instantly starts up saying Disk Boot Failure

Does the boot order even show the hard drive?

I don't think so?..

Check the data cables and power cables.

I'll have a friend over and he can check them

Are the fans spinning?

Yes, all of the fans are running, including the graphics card fan

Do you hear the drive trying to run?

It's a really silent computer and im not good with hardware, i'll have a friend over to take a look at it soon hopefully

[Coeco]

For the 3rd computer (gaming unit)
What OS is on this unit?

Windows 7

Do you have the OS cd? And is it a recovery cd or a full install CD?

I think i have a windows vista recovery CD but i doubt it will work and since the computer is working fine except when it restarts, i really don't want to degrade its OS

Can you get to the properties of the C drive? If so, under the tool tab, run the error checking.

That only brings me to Folder Options, any guide to do that for W7?



Another quick question, can this DVD burn images onto CD's? Dvd: Sony Nec Optiarc DVD-RW

[cbarnard]

Hi Coeco

What the other staff and members mean is:

Each computer has a problem therefore you new to create 2 other NEW TOPICS in the appropriate forums. One topic for each computer...

Sorry for the confusion good luck...