My computer will not recognise either of my hdd.....

Hi, bb,

Got any 'Restore' options?

Hello John,

you were quick off the mark!

This is the list I had a choice of:

1) Safe mode

2) Safe mode with networking

3) Safe mode with command prompt

4) Enable logging

5) Enable VGA mode

6) Last known good configuration

7) Directory services restore mode

8) Debugging mode

9) Disable system restart on system failure.

Another choice I could take is to go onto another menu and choose

10) Complete reinstall of windows XP Pro

11) Install Windows Pro over the top of what I have now.

I did not choose to go back to the last best good configuration, because it could mean whatever cause my crash would or could still be waiting in the background to pounce!

I first went for safe mode with command prompt to see if I could find what the cause was.

I run 'chkdsk' and it came back:

Discovered free space marked as allocated, in the volume bitmap. And, window found problems with the file system. Run chkdsk with /f (fix) option to correct these.

However I tried several times to run this prompt and each time it came back within a second saying there was another program using this and the chkdsk/f was not completed. I will try it again later today.

If you know any other prompts I can try I would be grateful please? I have done searches before but they were a long time ago, and I just do not recall what I used and the outcome?

Take care. And, I may go silent as I have fallen asleep or got to bed, admitting defeat, but, there is a glimmer of light in the distance!

Checkdisk needs to run at startup with windows, probably in normal mode, which you don't have, so you are stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea...

Did you make regular saves of your system, can you not restore one of these? Your software will be back again, but you should be able to run OK.

Or use Knoppix to save any important data and then re-install Windows....its often the best way to get rid of a problem and any "clutter" windows has built up!!

If you need any further help, ask.

Hello Andy,

are you OK?...................I like both ideas! But am not ready to reinstall at the moment. I am going to get a cheap laptop, and some substantial external memory before I do the saving stuff and reinstall thing. It is the ideal thing but, I want to properly log what is on my computer, and to do that I may also get a small printer.

This knoppix you mention, I have heard of it but only in passing. Is it an online thing where you upload stuff? Never thought of doing that.

I do have 'normal' mode now. I am in it now. I had to use safe mode to start with because I could get no icons.........bit of a drawback with an icon driven system?

I went into recovery console about 24 hours ago and clicked on a VGA thing, and the graphic started after a few hiccups. Did you read my first post? The graphics were set to minimum size in font about '6', and about 1 cm icons! ..........Still have the 1 cm icons in my start menu on the left when you press start, but that is the least of my worries at the moment.

I am not sure if it is something I instigated but, I was having a general check and peaked in the desktop trash and the was a copy of every .bak file I had in my email. Very odd. I checked the files in my email OE, and they were exactly the same title. Some were quite big. They all have the 'real player' logo and when I left click the windows player opens with a message box saying: "Real Player needs to download new software to play this clip", with 'OK' and 'CANCEL'. I do not trust that so will not be taking the advice to download anything!

And, why should the .BAK files open with real player?

I copied all the files to a new folder on my desktop and prefixed all name with 'aj'. If I find those and or the original OE files in my trash, I know there is something wrong.

I am setting up a new desktop skin using the original windows classic style. Figured it would take less memory and stuff than the new silver, blue and green they use now. Problem is, there is none of my settings saved in the colour palette. If I turn off the properties all colour settings which would usually be saved on the colour pallet itself would still be there. But all the 'colour' squares where you put your choice of colour to set any of the screen by is black. I have a paper list of the setup as I am setting just in case I lose the colour info'. I do not lose the settings, the screen is as I set it earlier, just colour palette info'.

That is about where I am at the moment. It will be a lot easier to sort thing out when I have another computer to work on. Hopefully sometime in the next two weeks I will be getting the one I choose. Only just been looking but have to narrow my choice down some first.

Thanks for reply posting, OK?

Take care and I will be trying things out and listing what I do with pen and paper to look back on.

See ya, gonna get some dinner.

For some reason .bak files are seen as files for the player, it sounds like there has been plash in your Windows......Windows is like that sometimes. A new install will clean up everything.

I assume that you have top quality, updated anti virus software, a software firewall and a hardware firewall!!

I run Dr Web (freeware) once a week as well....it occasionally finds stuff that my anti virus has not found.....it can be downloaded from www.freedrweb.com/

Knoppix can be found and downloaded from here.

Hello Andy,

thanks for getting back to me. If I could be sure the originals from OE were not going to be trashed, I would let these other bak files go. But I don't.

What do you mean by 'plash'?

And of course when I get the laptop I can take my time and do a proper job. I got a friend who was starting out building computers to build it for me. I was ill for a year after he gave me it and was not able to use it. When I did turn it on the first thing I got was an error message. Something about the print spooler or something. Well, I have never used a printer on it, so what the error message was saying was a mystery. Not a good way on a 'new' well a 15 months old by the time I used it, not a good way to start?

I have always paid an average of around £110.00 a year for anti virus, anti spyware and anti hijacking. plus the Reg cleaners.

I think it was about six months ago I got a major infection because Kaspersky, which I had been using for three years just did not see the infections it let through for a months. Since then I have used about six antivirus and spyware combined. I tried to get AVG but could not update it. I have since had the same thing happen with other anti virus'. The one I have now is Spyware Doctor with anti virus. In addition I use Reg-Cure.

I think I am working with a corrupted Registry and have been told as much, by trails of software to keep me safe. But on trying to do something about it I have found the file, though I no not where it is now, or even what it was, anyway it would not allow me to un-install it. I have at least half a gig of software I want to get rid of but can't. Once I can get what I can off of this desktop machine I designed, in files I want to keep, I can wipe the hdd I am using for most of my stuff and reinstall. It will be the first time I will be able to install what I want, and, unlike the first time where the only control I had was to tell my friend (then was, no more, long story) how many partitions to put on, I can take my time and take six months if I want.

The freedrweb I downloaded and I could not get it to work. It was 3 months ago --ish? My machine may be so screwed it will not accept some apps?

Take care Andy. Looks like we have some company now after all?

Sorry I meant "Splash"....sometimes you get a "combination of circumstances" that blow up (off?) a bit of Windows.....it has always been like that since Win95......

By the way, I see that Seagate has a serious microcode problem with some current disk drives, what drives are you using?

Hello Andy,

By the way, I see that Seagate has a serious microcode problem with some current disk drives, what drives are you using?

I know they are not seagate my friend. Mind, it would either make things obvious to me or complicate things if I did have seagate?

Can you tell me how to get my screen to move as fast as the cursor please Andy? I have altered a few times in the last week but cannot recall how to get it back to normal.

Thank you Andy...........

Hi, bb,

Sounds like you're on the right track.

Re: .bak files - "They all have the 'real player' logo ..." - could be RealPlayer has gotten itself associated with ".bak" file type. Go into 'Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options ...' . Select 'File Types' tab, and wait a bit. A list of file types & associations should come up. Scroll down to '.BAK' (which I think you'll find will be associated with RealPlayer), select it & click on Delete.

Hope this works,

Good luck.

Hello John,

Are you OK?............I went out to buy a ps/2 keyboard and wired mouse because I could do nothing with the page that came up giving me the options.

I got up today and switched on and had a coffee just thinking which of the options would be better to try, you know? I chose the 'VGA' one and bingo! I had my desktop back. All is still not right but at least I can use what is an icon based OS now. I might be able to try some of the other options in 'tandem', but, I just want to chill and try and rake my way through the over 90 mails on here and just a little less on my other email address'.

I wanted to try a different skin so chose the original and set all the colours, sizes and fonts myself. I had no choice really, as all the icon were about 1 cm across, and the typeface was the smallest which I think was a six or eight point? Completely reset all the graphics. It still takes longer than it should in the transition between clicking and getting a page. It seems it is very much slower when the anti virus is running. But it still needs reinstalling really.

I come 'that' close to getting a cheap laptop and an external drive when I was out yesterday. I may still do that as then I will have something to work on to check things out and search etc? It will be a way of double-checking the modem and or router as well.

Keep your thinking cap on please John!.........One good thing was I could get the updates for my anti virus and regcure today.

Anyway, Thanks for your help. Looks like we are a 'band' of two?

Take care..............

Hi, bb - bit lonely here init?

Glad to hear you're on the way, at least getting it all back together. Have you lost anything (except some sleep & maybe a few grey cells)?

If you can stretch to it, the laptop idea is good - especially with an external drive.

This bit is OT wrt the thread - but it seems no-one else is listening, so whatever. I'm spending most of my working week away from 'base', so I rely on laptop. I use a USB external HDD to keep all the work stuff on, and sync it with the desktop machine whenever I get a chance. The desktop PC is also backed up to another external USB HDD, which is only ever powered up & connected for the few minutes it takes to do the backup.

I'll keep thinking (ish!). G'night,

John.

Hello John,

Again!.................This is the second try at sending you this post!

The other one is off into the ether somewhere.

I would like something similar to you. Having have a lot more experience since I got the first Laptop, I realise it is not a good idea to really on even the 'stare' HDD I have on my computer. After all, it is no use if I cannot get to it. I hopefully have found a way of retrieving stuff via the recovery console, but, it was a hell of a struggle for the first two day and a bit. How can you go on from where you have no graphics, when it is a graphics based OS? And then to have something stir after 2.5 days (about) was great until I read the bit that your hdd are not found or something.............But I should get round that, if all it is wrong is a graphics one.

Yes I lost quite a few grey cells for sure! I also lost about £50. On trying to get help from Microsoft UK. Bit of a laugh as it was a very nice, but hard to understand, and to be straight, a not very competent helper. He would not talk about the BIOS, and after tacking my money suggested I find a 'local' serviceman. The one thing I can say is his advice to buy a sp2 keyboard was good. But with all the asking and trying to understand his 'very broad Deli tongue', it was a struggle for both of us. In case anyone is thinking I am a racist, get a life. I have 4 Indian friends and racism is not part of who I am! I can understand my friends Native Indian born Parents who can just barely speak English, because I can read their lips and read the body language. You can't do that on the phone. I am sure this man I spoke to was very nice, but his skill was several levels below what I expected.

I think I will still get a laptop. Not sure which yet, but something light. It is a case of being impressed with the advertising pics but, not very impressed with the real thing you know? Not sure how useful an 8"/20 cm screen is? And that is measured diagonally of course. On viewing my thoughts on the really tiny net-books I think they are called, were confirmed. Like looking at side by side 4"/10 cm tiles. It is SOOOOOO tempting to just go and buy the one that looks the best and never mind the cost. But, I know before I buy it is out of date. So my idea was to get a 'disposable' laptop and keep nothing on it other than address' and maybe the odd app'? Use external ssd's to store stuff on. I have half a dozen USB 'disks' which are keys really. On everyday emails etc they take a lot of filing. One is still not full and I have all my email and several batches of correspondence, which I wanted to keep for ref. I still have about 1.5 to 1.8 GB in total. But, small beer when you needs several tens of GBs just for Microsoft OS.

Just for ease and considering I will be using it with my XP, means I will mostly go for XP, possibly better to go for Vista. I would like one with SSD rather than a hdd. But, whether I can get that and vista, it is a pretty big OS even the home which a lot are offering.

Ideally a MAC but, it would mean learning a new system. But there is two MACS I like. The aluminium Apple MAC-Book? Really nice. Apple iMac.

I rather like the Hi-Grade small laptops. Notino W5800P. W5700E, and, µL100. Asus Eee S101, AsusEee901, Asus 'N' series just out, N10, 10"/25 cm screen. N50 is not much more than a netbook but, with a larger screen and with 12 hour battery! I am usually on for around 12 hours so it would be perfect. Samsung NC10, MSI Wind U100. I think they all have the Intel 'Atom' processor but, differ in cost by around £80. When I went to the local PC store they did not have the HI Grade models. Pretty obvious they were selling off the stock they bought in for Xmas as they had very few 'new' laptops.

Some stuff got put in my trash bin but I fished it out. Not had a chance to check anything else.

I have noticed when a thread starts near or at the weekend it often takes some days to get moving. Much the same as a lot of users (as apposed to members) are not around at the weekend either. Maybe they use the works machine to get on-line during the working week?

Thank for the return post John.

Take care.....................

Not Vista. You want to buy a laptop with either a free Linux or no operating system. Then buy XP pro.....

Vista needs all new or updated software to all your XP stuff to work, even then Vista has not proved to be reliable, unless all you want to do is go online and write letters......

Win7 may be available before the year is out, although I would let it see its 2nd Birthday before buying.......

"But there is two MACS I like. The aluminium Apple MAC-Book? Really nice. Apple iMac."

The best thing I ever did with respect to system problems, email and virus and worm and trojan horse problems, is to switch to a MAC, which I did when I first used one, in 1984 - shades of George Orwell. Prior to that I was a big iron supercomputer user - CDC 3600, IBM 360 - and a soldering iron computer user - PDP-8, NOVA, etc. Because the MAC used a specialized operating system, was relatively costly, had very few games, and had a relatively small market share, it was not attractive to the growing legion of hackers and crackers who damaged DOS and now bedevil the Windows World.

My Apple Mail spam filters work amazingly well. I have not received a Viagra ad, or a Bust enhancement ad, or an Exciting Investment Opportunity ad - in a decade or so.

And as far as I know, I have been completely immune from viruses and their ilk. That may change, since Apple switched to the "C" operating system, a year or two ago. "C" programmers are SHELL happy, and generally very bright. I have known them to change college grades in the hyper protected academic environments of MIT, UWM, and my own Cooper Union. If they can do that, they can make Apple juice. So far, they have been more interested in games and one-upmanship, than in crushing Apples. I hope it stays that way. My best insurance is that these geniuses seem to like Apple, iPhones and iPods; and detest Microsoft.

This is a long way of saying that if computer problems are bugging you, try a 24 inch iMac. Gorgeous display, wicked fast, easy set up, and no longer super costly. You will have some re-learning to do, but when I use friend's PCs (or even a high end SUN Solaris Workstation), I find my Mac vastly preferable to the PCs, (and easy outdone by the SUN, but it costs much much more, and requires a LOT of re-learning.)

Cheers, RGC

Hello MechanicOfNY:

I will probably get one of the mini PCs to get me out of trouble. But I have said all along I would love a MAC. The only thing that was better built was an English (be murdered for saying this) Bentley. Can't afford one well, to be honest I can, and it looks really nice om my mantle piece!

I am not sure I would get one in my tiny lounge? I looked at them before Xmas and, the 24" which has the computer or, I should say 'MAC' is behind the screen. Is that the one you mean? Or are you talking of a desktop MAC with a 24" Monitor? I will have to get myself a MAC Magazine!

Always wanted a MAC but could never afford one. They are so much cheaper than they were. Still not in the bargain isle but, price-wise match up to any top end PC, which are not cheap! I am not necessarily after 'cheap'. I want and planned on getting a MAC because they seem immune to virus'. As you say people get MACs because they are a relatively small 'club' compared to the billions of Machines with Microsoft OS. I must say, unless something is done by government status people I can see the Microsoft system start to crash after such intense scrutiny by spammers and virus and Trojan Writers. It would only take one server to topple and the others would fall like domino's. Someone has already hacked into Microsoft haven't they? I think a lot of Microsoft's over large apps are a lot to do with trying to keep one step ahead, you know? I know it is good for business to sell a hundred different versions of the Microsoft software Operating systems, but, You have to wonder did they have to do it that way. ^ different versions would have been more then enough. It is getting harder and harder to actually find what you need on Microsoft's sites.

I was like most people, scared of computers in case I did something wrong. I realised soon after I got my first it was not like that. Get lost and just press the red X?

I was never a hands-on type with the insides of computers. No one ever told me anything, but I learned more from a free advert through the front door selling Mobo's and memory etc, than I would have thought possible. I sat down for two days and had my computer designed in three. I knew what case I wanted. again all ally and very well made Cooler Master, hear of them? Problem is with what I have is the fan on the CPU resonates at just the right/wrong frequency for the case. I have four fans and they are all the same make. This annoying one needs to work slightly slower or faster, and it may cure the hum?

Are MACs solid state drives? I know they have some with hdd but my ideal would be to get one with SSD A hundred gigs would do me fine. It has taken me 6 years tto only part fill a pretty small hdd on mine. Anything extra will be that, extra and to make things more convenient for me. That and perhaps blue-ray? Not sure about that. I may use one for again convenience but, I want to save what I can to ssd. I have some usb drives. most are around 250 Mb but I have some 125 and a couple of 500 Mbs as well. Be nice to use three or so for different files?

I hope you make sense of what I have written. I thought and typed at the same time, and it doesn't not always make for understandable reading from me!

Keep in touch please, OK? And thanks for the help and advice! There is some very kind people on CR4!

Take care.......................

Hi "babybear"

Mac do have a 64G SSD available.

I too would love a Mac, but can't afford it.

Take care

Hello sceptic,

How you doing?......................

Had a couple blue screens tonight and this is the first time I have been on-line since I woke at 20:00 2/2/09.

Thank for getting in touch. I have a little mag with all the MACs but not sure how up to date it is, as is was enclosed in my of my computer mags. Not seen any ssd's in there. Now I know they do them I will see if they have them on-line, thanks.

Heh, can you (or anyone else reading this ) remind me how to get my screen to scroll up and down instead of rolling in waves as it is doing please? I have altered this several times to see what happens in the last week, but forgot what I did!

Take care.........................

Hello sceptic,

Mac do have a 64G SSD available.

Do you know I had a full 6 gigs in my first computer!

Take care. I want to get a MAC with these fitted. I have seen one but I will have to check to see which it was. I am pretty sure it was a laptop. But I want one SSD to start to copy my files and get them off the machine to do a full reinstall.

Take care...............

did you ever get the mac. i have 3. Yes, trained by IBM, Microsoft, & many schools. you can always put a MAC OS ON any pc frame that runs an intel chip

Well I'm listening alright but have no clue and even less suggestions. I'll watch this space so that I know what to do when it happens to me. Not that I will remember but I'll just listen and see what sticks.

The "Dude" is always gaming so I better learn fast! Good luck, Ky.

Hello ky,

How are you doing?........................If I heard this I would not have believed it!

Thinking about it just makes thing worse. Because you see a message on the screen, generated by the HDD's it says you do not have, or to be exact the exact phrase was Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed on your computer.

I had to change the order of the disks booted in the BIOS, before this would work. The amount of time I had was about 45 seconds for the CDROM to start spinning but, it took about 60 seconds until the CDROM was ready to talk to the 'invisible. HDDs.

The boot was pretty fast cos' there was no graphics booting. Just the BIOS sequence of about four pages before a note popped on the screen "Input not supported".

The disks were originally in this order:

1) Floo......removed this, I do not use it!-0-

2) DVDROM.......................... Moved to 2

3) CD ......moved to first boot..............1

4) HDD '0'...................Stayed the same 4

5) HDD '1'...................Stayed the same 5.

I did this one at a time then rebooted to see if what I was doing made the CCROM start faster, as I was at that moment and for almost 24 hours trying to get the Windows install disk to play. But, with the Windows CD in I got a choice of do you want to die by shooting with a 9mm, or shotgun!

It actually said on the recovery console: This portion of setup program prepares windows XP to run on your computer.

1) To setup windows press enter.

2) To repair a windows installation using recovery console press R.

3) To quite setup press F3.

I made a lot of changes in the BIOS.............but, one at a time only! If it did not do what I wanted after turning it off, I rebooted and turned it back on. At one time or another I altered about a quarter of the bios. But, in total the only changes were the ones regarding the disk boot order.

I honestly had to repeatedly ask myself "is this a dream"? Except the phrases were a bit more 'colourfull'!..................

Because I was responding to messages telling me at one time I did not have any hdd.

Followed by a phrase which came from that hdd! When I say "telling me at one time I did not have any hdd", that window actually came up about 30 times.

It was and is so surreal!!!!!!

See my second post for detail of the graphics when I did eventually get back to the desktop.

I know if someone was familiar with the BIOS they would have known what to choose in the first instance. I did not know what to do so it was partly intuition and partly luck. Intuitive luck. Is there such a thing?

In the next post or two I will write what I did, right or wrong. I am sure it could be the basis for a stage play!

Take care.............

dear friend this type of problem may occur due to corrupt registry. to solve it u have to login in safe mode and then run the restore utility to restore your old settings: you will find that inside accesories>system tools>backup and restore there you will find a restore point, select that and start that. when the system is restored, boot normally

Hello Guest,

Can I ask you to read the post I sent to 'ky', as it was meant for you also. I cannot duplicate posts you see?

In direct answer to your post and instruction....................

I have been trying for at least 6 months to mend my corrupt Registry but, for several reasons I was not allowed to complete the task. It may be different now? I hope so! I know one of the reasons I had a note pop up saying that know changes were made to the Registry because another apps was using it.

I want a rest really. I have taken 3 days or so working round the clock and need to catch up on sleep! I will give it another few days, then will try and report the conclusion of my mending the registry.

Thank you for your post to me!

Take care...................

Hi babybear,

I's so sorry to know of your problems. Have no clue how to sort this out. I'd reinstall everything. It's the mess though. I know.

I agree with what Andy Germany has said - Vista is a dead horse even in Microsoft's innocent eyes (it seems they've already realized this and trying switch us on Windows 7).

Regarding netbook which I'm thinkin' also to purchase I've got stuck between Acer and Samsung . Latter is dearer but has very good battery performance (6 hours) as Acer's only 2-2.5 or so.

As for OS. You can buy and install MacOS on Intel platform, but I'd suggest you linux for first trying out to. I do not like Ubuntu, but it seems it's had been designed for easy migration from MS. Support is good and there's a lot of free support over the web. You can install one along windows, you can import all your windows' accounts there. Therefore Ubuntu is believed as a quite decent OS to be switched to with less inconvenience for newbie.

You would install SuSE 11.1 (from Germany originated linux distro which is very reliable and advanced). On my opinion very easy to install and work (maybe not so ad promoted as Ubuntu).

of what I'm sure - since any linux distro has installed you'll forget as class of endless rebooting and sad stalling of your system.

You would buy one for just ridiculous money (incomparable with what you've paid for contradictory MS support service). Take a look here. You'd download DVD image for free from any site you'd look for by yourself.

And don't forget - any PC's troubles aren't worth good sleep.

regards, caramba

Hello caramba,

I cannot thank you enough with the other four respondents I know as well as the guest. Kindness is 'oozing' from my screen

I am not sure what make of computer I will get but I like the build quality of the samsung. It is a whole different thing reading and seeing pictures than it is seeing them side by side with other similar machines. Things like texture and shape also come into it but, there is very little to choose with the ultra minis and the start of so called 'proper' laptops, is there really? I may choose a slightly larger one because my eyes are not good. But no larger than 14/15" at most. Probably around 12" or just under. Depends on the screen and the package.

I do spend a lot of time using it so I don't want to be happy with the one I get, apart from the visual side you know?

It will be an adjunct to the one I have now, and will have nothing substantial saved other than some emails and pics I use like on cr4 for instance.

I was stunned when it happened because there was no sign of it. I Had answered what posts I could and was trying to list and download 12 hotfixes, which for some reason have not or, cannot be downloaded auto'? Well, you can read it in the first two posts.

I will look at the site you sent. I like Linux because it is so much smaller an OS than its rivals. But I have not used it ever. Not even seen it on a screen. I want to get SSD solid state drive built in if possible and there is only Linux and xp which offer a 16GB to 20GB SSD. Part of the problem I may have, though I have not found it to be the case yet, it the certainty my main drive which has less than about 50GB on will pack up soon. I think I will swap the main and slave over. The second hdd I have not used for more than an hour or so, so that should be like new. It is 150GB and I have divided it in half. I will have to ask but I would like to leave the OS on the 70GB hdd and load the xp pro I have, or home perhaps, onto one virtual drive and use the other half for saving and moving stuff around.

I have had two hdds from the start so I would not think Microsoft would object if I was to copy the OS and still be using the same machine for XP at least.

I want to get some breathing space, and that is what the laptop will give me. I have some copies of OE which I have kept after I lost all the files and email with the first Trojan attack. Makes me angry it always seems to find me out even though I go out of my way to get the best Anti virus and anti spyware I can. I know others do not even have antivirus, which is asking for trouble, but, they do nor care. All their time is used playing games. But one day they are going to be gaming and the same thing as happened to me will happen to them and they will just have to go and steal another I guess? Some of the morals leave a lot to be desired, thats for sure!

I am going to have a rest, and I am still catching up on sleep as on two nights I worked right through on one and had about two hours sleep the second night.

Thank you for your kind words caramba.

Take care my friend.............

If you are using hard disk drives that are sata instead of ide you will get that message on boot, that doesn't mean that they won't be recognized. Booting in recovery mode will only give you the dos prompt. If that is what you are trying to do, you can accomplish the same thing by booting with the original os disk and going into recovery mode from there. You can also perform a repair of the os using that disk which will not erase your current settings or files. My guess is that you have an issue with your ati drivers, they are notoriously finicky. I would try booting in safe mode with networking; uninstall the ati drivers completely, uninstall the hotfix patch you applied and any other software or drivers you have installed since having issues. Then go to the ati site, or to your computer manufacuters website and download the original video drivers for your computer. If you are using an aftermarket video card, download their drivers. Reboot your computer (in safe mode if necessary) and reinstall the ati drivers. Also check your hardware by right clicking on computer under the start menu and clicking on the properties tab and then hardware tab to see if you have any conflicts under your hardware. If you see a red or yello note by any of them, reinstall them or update the drivers as necessary from the manufacturers web site. If this fails use original os disk to do a windows repair (which will not damage any installed files). The process for that depends on the version of the os you are using.

Hello Thewoodmaster:

Thank you for getting in touch to help and give advice. I appreciate it very much!

I have IDE drives. I am not really an expert at DOS. I can find my way round but it takes a lot longer!

I had this crash which was so well, instant. I was working on trying to un-install ITA driver and un-install software. I had taken the main ATI off with it a week ago. But after un-installing they were fighting to get me to sign them back onto my machine. I figured I may need them so put them back on. I was then hit with an error message about my OE. I have not been able to make proper connections for several weeks and was downloading or looking for updates and hot-fixes which Belark Advisor had told me I had not had downloaded. I got the error message and was just reading it when everything went off. I think I put the error massage on the first post on this thread. it refers to Microsoft Office Hot-fix Installer,

The floating message I had after the crash was: "Input is not Supported" I did not know enough about DOS to understand this message at all. But after several hours where I was trying to understand what had happened and what the message meant. The only possible way I knew I could get back into the computer was via my original Microsoft XP disk. I have all my original software disks. I could not figure how to get back it for a day. I then got the recovery console or a message from it after the hundreds of reboots. And I could see no way in which is why I had no other knowledge of what to do.

The message: This portion of the setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer.

1) To setup windows nor press enter.

2) To repair a windows xp installation using Recovery Console now press 'R''.

3) To quit setup without installation of windows press F3.

That was the first message and it appeared to me I has no choice but, to reinstall. I had to get into the BIOS to alter the boot disks. From the BIOS I chose to go into cmd prompt. From there I was able to get a logon screen. but on coming out of cmd I was straight back to the bouncing massage "input is not supported". By then I know I just had to press F8 directly after pressing the reboot button. It took 6 times to get it but I did. I then removed my xp disk and got 9 choices. I went into cmd with networking. I had got into cmd from the screen before as it was the only way I could get updates for over a month.

I stayed in cmd with networking and got back on-line for over three days. I was on-line for a few hours catching up with mail and CR4 posts and went into the recovery console as I knew the was a choice to get into the VGA. I did that and all my icons appeared. I could now use the graphics and I have not done more since. I am catching up on sleep as I worked through two nights.

My next thing is to do as you say and get into safe mode from the cmd, and un-install the two small files, one drivers and the other the uninstaller........Can but try eh?

I have the Sapphire ATI card drivers on an original disk, if I use that to install the original ATI, as I removed the software a month ago, I will know where to go for drivers. I have clicked on my computer via the short cut on my desktop and checked the hardware several times. But I have not done so for over six months.

Thanks for your positive and help attitude!

Take care................................

Eventually, if you get that "setup did not find any hard drives. check to see they are connected" massage, it most likely means corrupt boot-sector.

Yes, that old shit again.

Probably by a virus or other malware.

In order to re-build a valid boot-sector, you'll have to re-partition (preferably on slightly different volume-sizes - just to be on the safe side), then re-format, and then re-install the OS.

Hello Yuval:

Eventually, if you get that "setup did not find any hard drives. check to see they are connected" massage, it most likely means corrupt boot-sector.

Thank you for getting in touch Yuval, very kind.

As you will see from the other posts it desperately needs a reinstall. But I need to get a cheap computer to help me do it. That is what I will be looking at in the next few weeks. Well, hopefully more like two!

Take care my friend..............

Why would you need another computer for this ?

If your hard-disk is correctly wired to the IDE cable and it's jumpers are correctly according to the cable's slave/master connected devices, say, for example, HDD=Master and CDR=Slave, you can boot from the setup CD (set the BIOS to boot from the CD first, then from the HDD) and get going.

If on the other hand you use a SATA hard-disk, the only difference is that you'll have to use the setup CD in conjunction with the SATA driver, usually written on a floppy.

The Win 2000, XP and Vista setup CD has their own partitioning programs set as part of the setup procedure.

Hello Yuval,

I have been promising myself a Xmas pressie and got nothing for xmas anyway, and, I would be able to take my time over doing my desktop as is, (not the 'shit' machine at the moment). It will give me access to you and others on CR4 for that help if and when I need it. When this crashed it took over a day to get through to Microsoft and it cost me £50.00 ! And I got no real help. It will be that extra bit of confidence, you know? I have decided on the samsung NC10 BTW.

Take care my friend....................

Oh you can do lots of fun stuff having two computers.

I have been recommending this to my friends for years.

It was once (early 1980's) said that "the computer is the ultimate toy" - but I say it's two computers.

Today, even an oven has an Operating System...

Hello Yuval,

Yes I know what you mean about most things having computers now, even fridges.

Can you tell me how to adjust my screen , I want it to move as fast as the cursor but it takes several seconds to page up and page down. I was altering it a week ago and set it back to normal after I finished. But I cant recall what to do, any ideas? Please?

Your friend BB

It depends on the application you use, because each application, be it, say, Word, Photoshop, or any other, has it's own zoom, scroll, and hover systems, which you have to adjust withing the application itself, usually in the "Preferences" section.

- - - -

If it's about the screen properties in Windows, you right-click on an empty space on the Desktop area, left-click "Properties", and then left-click "Settings" for resolution and colour-depth, or in "Settings" on "Advanced" for your video-card user-interface. You may also use any other available tabs in "Properties" such as "Themes", "Desktop", "Screen Saver" and "Appearance" to set all the rest of your Windows User-Interface visual style.

The Mouse setting is in: Start > Control Panel > Mouse

Then my suggestion would be to do a repair reinstall which will reinstall winwows without removing your settings and programs.

Make sure your cd or dvd rom is set to the first boot device in bios.

Insert your windows xp cd and restart.

Choose to boot from the cd.

When you have the option choose to install windows, use the install by pressing enter, do not use recovery option.

When you get the option on where to install it, choose the hard drive and partition where the original windows was installed.

It should ask you about repairing the windows that is there.

It may also ask you about leaving the original master boot record, or replacing it, choose to replace it.

Windows will then do what appears to be a regular installation, but when it is complete, your files and settings will still be intact.

When you are done with the install, make sure you have a run a reliable antivirus and run malwarebytes (freeware) to make sure you don't have any trojans or viruses.

Then immediately back up your personal information and files. If you have some kind of hardware failure occuring it could crash again at any moment.

Once you have all of your files backed up, run ccleaner (freeware). Make sure you do this before running chkdsk as a reinstall leaves a lot of crap on your hard drive that chkdsk could literally spend hours fumbling with.

Open my computer on the start menu, right click the drive with the os, and click on properties. Under tools tab use error checking to make sure you don't have bad sectors on your disk.

This will make windows usable if you have no hardware failure issues. If you still cannot boot from the hard drive, my guess would be either a ide controller issue with the mother board or a physical disk drive failure. I will watch the post to see how you are doing.

Hello Thewoodmaster:

Really appreciate the detailed instructions my friend, thanks.

I altered the CD drive to be the first boot when I was in BIOS three days ago. Had to for it to boot from CD.

I want to get another computer to help when I get any probs. So I will get it in the next two days or so, before the weekend if I can. Had another prob tonight. And got the BSD!. Was able to get restarted following the multi choice menu on the recovery console. Working ok now. Well, a bit slow, but its working!.

Really I am so pleased you have all rallied round to help in my 'crisis'! Thanks. All these posts are being copied into my wen mail for future ref'!

Everyones been working hard today, I was on at 02:00 ish? And had 90 mails to go through, which I am still doing! This is the second, so wish me luck.

Take care....................

Hi there. Ronny here fron SA.

I have had similar problems in the past. Even a blue screen from an AMD at the time.

It seems that the Antivirus programs do not "net" all the little critters in the system and this is the end result.

I have also, like you, sat for days trying to fix the problem.

Please take it from me.... It will not fix completely and you will have endless problems.

Recover ur info either by a recovery program, and format the drive after which you can reload.

The XP Pro has a formatting option built in and it is much less frustrating than what u are up to.

If the recovery program wont recover all your data, piggyback your drives on another PC.

Good luck.

Ronny

Hello Guest Ronny,

Are you a member? You should join! NOW!

Thanks for your help and getting in touch. I know my machine is in dire need of a reinstall. I just want to get something to transfer my files to, and another computer to help as needed. Had to pay Microsoft £50 and the new mini netbooks are not much more! It would be 'insurance' and give me that little extra confidence to get on with the job.

I am sorry to hear you had similar probs, but glad!........You can help because you know what I am talking about.

A memory problem (MINE not the computers) does not help. And I write everything down, as I know five minutes later I will or, probably will not recall the sequence of what happened and what I did to get right again, you understand? I may need to get a cheap but more up to date VGA card. Not sure if ATI do drivers for mine anymore. I was looking over a year ago and found one but a year is a long time in computing!

When it crashed I had no notice of it. And no BSD. I have had a couple tonight but not when it crash six days ago. As far as I can recall, on trying to reboot all I got was a white note which moved round the screen like a screen saver, saying input not accepted or something similar.

Take care and as I said to the previous poster, I will be keeping all these posts as they are so informative. Thank you for your time! Whats the weather like there on SA? Here in the UK it is about to get very cold indeed so they say!

Take care and good luck..................................

The idea is not bad provided a good antivirus program is run on both the PC and the disk first just to make sure that no viruses are in residence.

A good free one that works well is Dr Web free....search using those words and you will find it on the web....

The Knoppix CD has also an antivirs program, but I personally have never used it....

If you reformat your HD, to make sure that it is REALLY clean, reformat the disk and the boot record (seperately of course) using Knoppix and fat 32. Then let XP reformat to NTF, nothing should live through that.....