Cost to repair of just replace?

Question

My Dell Dimension PC with XP, now stops at boot up to say some disks are not working. But after a while it lets me boot by pressing F1. Once this stops working, about how much will it cost to fix or should I just buy another PC for $300?

Answer 1

Buying a new unit is unecessary.
But there are some options...

1. attempt a hardware solution.
disconnect all but your C: drive and try to boot again. If successful, reattach each drive one at a time, and reboot after each.
1a If you get the error on the first try, reloading the XP will be annoying but fairly easy. There is a REPAIR option that will not alter your data. BUT, be sure to attach a drive and copy as much of your main drive as possible.
1b If the error is in another harddrive save the contents on another drive and format the offender, and reload its data.

2. Replace the C: drive with a new one. Reload the operating system, and later install the original and copy the data (except th Windows folder) and format the older drive.

3.Take it to a repair man and get an estimate for replacing the drive and having them transfer the files. Most good servicers will not charge for an estimate. Possibly a discount if you buy the harddrive from the location.

Answer 2

it sounds like computer is trying to boot from a drive and as no disk is in a drive it requires you to press f1. you can keep doing this forever and it wi get no worse or you can go into the bios and select 1st boot from hard drive and this should fix the problem

Answer 3

Well I really don't know what's going on in your pc. If it were me I would make sure its just not a bad drive which can be replaced for less than a hundred bucks or is it just that you have to reformat the drive and reinstall windows still cheaper than three hundred.

Answer 4

Replace the drive that doesn't work

Answer 5

Ignore it. As long as everything you need works, don't worry. If the CD or floppy has quit, replace them.