[Cw2k6]

I have an e-machines e4036 xp media centre.

It's completely broken and won't start up in any mode, it just goes to a black screen with different recovery options on and they all just restart it. So I've decided to simply use the system restore disk, and try from the beginning. BUUUT the disk simply freezes on the 'please wait' screen.

Somebody please help me! I've posted on here before trying to get help with the black screen bit, but that post kinda died, so can someone help me just restore the thing lol.
If you need any specific details then just say.

Cheers, Craig

[Advertisements]

It was not really a question of the previous thread just dying, but after I had to leave it, due to other commitments and someone else took over, your last post possibly gave the impression it was fixed. As you mentioned "Cheers I do not have the BSOD any longer."
However, to get back to the problem, take the hard drive out of the computer and slave it to another machine.
Access the hard drive. DO NOT of course try to open the WINDOWS. Simply go to your Documents, Pictures, Music, etc. and copy those to either DVD`s OR a backup drive. etc. You can either do that using XP copy OR you can use one of the many Disk Image programs. For instance if it is a Western Digital disk, on their website is their copy of Acronis.
THEN when you have your personal files and all data copied to another drive. CHECKING of course that they have copied. FORMAT that disc using Control Panel, Administrative Functions, Computer Management, Disk Management. Partition it as you wish. MAKE ONE of the partitions primary, formatted in NTFS Put it back in the old computer. Boot to setup check the disk is shown, as partitioned. Install XP to the Primary partition.

[Macboatmaster]

It was not really a question of the previous thread just dying, but after I had to leave it, due to other commitments and someone else took over, your last post possibly gave the impression it was fixed. As you mentioned "Cheers I do not have the BSOD any longer."
However, to get back to the problem, take the hard drive out of the computer and slave it to another machine.
Access the hard drive. DO NOT of course try to open the WINDOWS. Simply go to your Documents, Pictures, Music, etc. and copy those to either DVD`s OR a backup drive. etc. You can either do that using XP copy OR you can use one of the many Disk Image programs. For instance if it is a Western Digital disk, on their website is their copy of Acronis.
THEN when you have your personal files and all data copied to another drive. CHECKING of course that they have copied. FORMAT that disc using Control Panel, Administrative Functions, Computer Management, Disk Management. Partition it as you wish. MAKE ONE of the partitions primary, formatted in NTFS Put it back in the old computer. Boot to setup check the disk is shown, as partitioned. Install XP to the Primary partition.

[Cw2k6]

Thanks mate. Not sure if all that would be possible as I don't have another computer I can put the hard drive in, but I shall try. Thanks for your time anyway.

[Macboatmaster]

Without another computer to slave the hard drive to and recover by image etc what you need, your ONLY other option is to try a "boot CD" and see if you can then run utilities from there. The problem with that is, that you will require another computer to make the boot CD.

[Cw2k6]

Ah.. Life really can just be annoying lol. So out of interest do you know what has happened to my computer? There was a storm before it broke.. So I'm guessing it was that? Cheers for your help with this mate by the way.

[Macboatmaster]

My opinion is that the power cut or whatever it was caused the problem in the first place. The use of the system restore disc, may now be preventing the loading of anything.
Without the facility to use a Windows XP CD or whatever the actual variant of XP, Media etc it is, OR to make a boot CD, such as ? which boots into a Mini Windows, but then shows ALL your HDD and programs etc it maybe that you are stuck.
I am sure if you ask around someone near to you is going to make the CD for you.
OR lend you an XP installation disc to run Recovery Console.
Alternatively E Machines I think, come with a built in Recovery, but it is likely that the only option is going to mean you lose everything and reinstall the operating system.
Your best way forward, is the suggestion in my post 2.
Link to boot CD
http://www.hirensbootcd.net/