PC has gone belly up?

Question

if you see my last 2 postings, my PC won't boot all the way, and I'm using Task Manager to open any files I want to use. This method doesn't let me use all my files, but I can play music files, sometimes I can open Internet Explorer.

Before I buy any new bits, I thin ktrying to reinstall Windows is the thing to do. However, when i try to boot off the Windows CD rom, it stalls on the blue screen at the set-up stage, where it asks what kind of installation I want.

I can open CMD prompt through Task manager, what is the exact procedure for formatting, then reinstalling Windows?

Sorry this may be a sort of repeat posting but I'm loathe to try it unless I know exactly what I'm doing.

I'm thinking it's a motherboard or CPU problem maybe.

Cheers

Answer 1

Try this,
Get a bootable floppy and get the win98 boot disk then start it with CD support.
If you need I can zip it up and send it to you.
I had a similar issue and doing it that way helped me get past the BSOD.
If you want to reinstall windows you need to wipe the disk. use the listed program to help. You could also try system restore to go back to the configuration you had before this happened. if it was caused by software then this should fix it.
If not go get a new Hard drive, it is cheaper and less stressful that trying to go through totally wiping a disk . then use the old HD as the D: drive and you can access files from the new system

Answer 2

Your motherboard and CPU are fine if you can make it this far. You don't need to buy anything. Just need to reinstall windows. Remember that if you reinstall windows you will lose all your data/music/pictures. Did you back this information up on CD/DVD? I would reformat your harddrive and reinstall windows. Just remember if you have Windows XP to also go download "Service Pack 1" and "Service Pack 2". I am not sure what Operating System you have.

With Windows XP, you want to "delete partition" and then add a new one, using NTSF (quick). You should get this option from the setup screen.

Answer 3

I'm a big fan of Linux live disks. If you have the capability to download files try to download a CD of Knoppix. Burn the iso to a CD and boot to it. If it works okay then you have a software problem with Windows. If it doesn't work then you have a hardware problem. I think it may be a memory problem. Download memtest86+, boot to it and run it over night. This will test the memory. If bad replace, if not it is another problem. I wouldn't buy a new computer until you try a few free tests.

Answer 4

Have not seen previous postings. Three suggestions. Remove the hard drive and using a friends computer copy the important files you want to save, to another disk. Reformat disk from friends computer if having problems on yours. Reinstall drive and start afresh with your installation CD. You could try repairing your installation by using something like the Ultimate Boot Disk, If you have another hard drive try installing Windows on that, change existing drive to "slave" by moving the small connector on the drive itself. You can then transfer your music files My docs etc to new installation

Answer 5

the first thing you can try to format the drive is if you have a windows 98 startup disk, boot from this then type in at cmd prompt fdisk... delete all the partitions and logical drives then proceed to boot the windows install from the cd.. the problem that your having is that you harddrive is having a nervous brakedown and just needs to be cured with a full format...i have this problem all the time...

Answer 6

you are to low on memory take some big files/programs of you say music how many have you to many i bet

Answer 7

i think it needs reformatting this is usually just as effective as buying a new one