BleepingComputer.com: Computer won't get past startup....

You said: "Would it be less expensive ........"
It seems that you do need a new hard drive, and depending on your recovery options, you may need to purchase either recovery disks from the computer manufacturer or a new retail Windows installation. That cost is certainly not inconsiderable, so it is worthwhile weighing up your options at this time.

I'm sorry, but I must be off to get some sleep for now, but I will try to reply in the morning. If not, then tomorrow evening.

This post has been edited by AustrAlien: 27 August 2011 - 08:42 AM

AustrAlien, on 27 August 2011 - 08:41 AM, said:

No problem~~definitely get some sleep!

I am just working on this as I can between my job and everything else I have going on. And I like to sleep too I did have a couple things I WISH I would have gotten off it before when I had Windows up and running, but sadly right now I can't seem to get it to come up again after I did those last tests...but I am still trying. They are not all that important, just "kinda nice if I had it" type stuff...

I know the computer is fairly old (bought it in 2004) and so I am thinking it probably isn't worth the expense of buying a hard drive since an "out of the box" computer with the same memory/ram/whathaveyou can be had for pretty cheap at this point... eh...I just don't know...

I will let you know if I have any luck getting into Windows again tonight or not..

errr...wait...I found a recovery CD that I apparently burned in 2005 (forgot I had it, not even sure what the heck I did to get it....jeesh, sorry ) When I put it the recovery CD from 2005 in and boot it, computer tells me:

No hard disk found.
System Restore cannot be continued!
Press a key to continue.

So I give up...any ideas on hard drive versus give it up and buy a new computer? I obviously can't get you the system info at this point since I can't get into windows anymore. Unless there is another way. Arrrrgh. I just...give up!

If you get a chance to give me your take on all this, I would appreciate it!

Kaylur, on 27 August 2011 - 06:11 PM, said:

I don't have any time right now ... must be away ... but you might wish to try the following to retrieve anything else you may wish to have from the "ailing" hard drive.

If your computer is not able to boot into Windows or simply not able to access the internet, you can use a LIVE Linux operating system run from a bootable CD or flashdrive instead of Windows, to access the internet, to access files on the HDD(s) and do other tasks.

Using a working computer:

• If you wish to use a LIVE CD ...
  
  • Download the Linux version of your choice (usually an .ISO image file).
    
    • There are many options to use for a LIVE CD. I suggest that you try one of the following:
      
      • Puppy Linux (download file size 128 MB)
        
      • Ubuntu (download file size almost 700 MB)
    
    
  • Burn the .ISO image to CD: If you do not already have a suitable burning program for writing .ISO images to disc ...
    
    • Download and install ImgBurn.
      
    • Ensure that you UN-check the box agreeing to install the Ask toolbar during the installation.
      
    • Place a new (blank) CD disc in the drive tray.
      
    • Choose Write image file to disc.
      
      • Under Source, click on the Browse button: Navigate to and select the .ISO file that you wish to burn.
        
      • Place a check-mark in the box beside Verify.
      
      
    • Click
    
    
  • When the CD has been burned and verified as successful, it will be bootable.
  
  
• OR ... if you wish to use a LIVE flashdrive ...
  
  • Go to UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads and at the top of the page, click on Download (for Windows) to download the application.
    
  • Follow the instructions further down the page under the heading Installation & Screenshots.
    
  • Run the application to download and install the Linux version of choice to your flashdrive.
    
    • I suggest that you try one of the following:
      
      • Puppy Linux (download file size 128 MB)
        
      • Ubuntu (download file size almost 700 MB).

Boot the problematic machine from the LIVE CD or flashdrive.

(You may have to configure the Boot Menu or BIOS Setup Menu to boot first from the optical/CD drive or the flashdrive, which ever you are using.)

• Choose to run the Linux operating system from the CD or flashdrive without making any changes to your computer.
  Do NOT install Linux on your hard drive.

• When the Linux operating system loads ...
  
  • You will be able to navigate to all the files on your HDD.
    
  • You can backup your files by copying them to a flashdrive or an external hard drive.
    
  • Before using the internet (if you choose to use Puppy, for example) you may have to:
    
    • Configure/set up the internet connection
      
    • Download a favourite browser
      (With Ubuntu the foregoing should not be necessary.)

Thanks! I will try this after work tonight & see if I can get those files...

You may find the following guide useful:
Recover files from Windows XP hard disk using Puppy Linux

The easiest way to copy files/folders in Puppy is to drag-and-drop from one window to another. To do this open a window showing what you want to copy. Open another window showing the location that you wish to copy to .... and move the windows so that you can conveniently see both at the same time.

Now, simply drag the items you wish to copy from one window into the other. Simple.

Thank you for all your help!
we've decided that it just can't be saved and we'll just save time and effort and buy a new computer.

I don't know enough about computers to be comfortable pulling cords inside of it (even though it's already broken). Thanks for working with me through this !