my pc only flashes selftest during start up, computer is running but, unable to go any further than self test?

Question

I have already bought a new pc, but would like to retrive files from old pc, please help!!

Answer 1

Probably some part is not responding like your cd-rom, or your hard disk, Open your pc, just detach data cables from CD-Rom/RW and then try to boot again, normally it would work, if not, try detaching Hard Disk and computer should give this kind of message "Non Boot Disk or no operating system found", if this is the case, check your cable and hard disk,.....i hope this would work-----------if this is too difficult, just take your hard disk to some technical person and ask him to make a data cd for you

Answer 2

Ok try doing this ...

Disconnect ALL the cables from your old computer.
Now re-plugin only the Monitor cable. Try to start your computer and see if its doing the same.
If it is doing the same, shut down computer and plugin Keyboard and mouse cables.
Start your computer again. As soon as it shows ANYTHING on the screen, tap on F8
You will see the Safe Mode Options screen.
Try to start computer with those options. Try every available option one by one.
If this does not work, check in BIOS. You may access BIOS by pressing DEL or F2 or F12. Check if the system is showing the Hard Drive listed. Check it in Boot Options.
If you see nothing wrong in BIOS or dont understand what to see and what not, Find your Operating System CD (Win XP or whatever OS you have on old computer).
Change the boot options in BIOS and make your CD Drive the first bootable device and pop the CD in CD Drive.
Restart computer after saving changes in BIOS.
Press the key when computer says "Press a key to start with CD ROM".
Wait for a minute or two. When you see the options, press R.
Login as administrator. If you provided any password, use it or if not, then leave the password blank and simply hit enter.
Which windows installation you would like to logon to?
Press 1 and hit enter.
You should get C: prompt
Type the following on
C: and it should look like ..
C: chkdsk /r (after typing chkdsk /r hit enter)
This will run a test and the test may take some time unless the hard drive has completely failed.
If Hard drive is 20GB - Test will take 20 minutes.
If Hard drive is 40GB - Test will take 40 minutes.
If Hard drive is 80GB - Test will take 60 minutes.
If Hard drive is 100GB - Test will take 90 minutes.
Be Patient.
Once the test is complete,
on C: prompt, type another command ...
C: fixboot c: (after typing fixboot c: hit enter)
This will take only 10 secs at the most.
Once this is done, type Exit and hit enter
THe computer will restart.
MOST probably, this will work and you will see the desktop.

Otherwise, do what others have suggested, take out the hard drive from your old computer and put it in your new computer.
I hope your old computer and new computer have similar type of Hard Drives. In case if your Old computer has a IDE hard drive and the new one has SATA, God help!
Well, not really, take the old hard drive to best buy or circuit city and get all the data retrieved on CDs.
I hope this helps ... Good Luck!

Answer 3

The PC will bot up like normal, and show the splash screen where it checks the memory etc... then nothing? no warnings, no beeps, nothing?


I would reccomend removing the hard drive from your old computer and installing it on your new one, not as a replacement, but in addition to the one your new comp came with. This will let you get the files from your old drive.

If you are unsure about doing this yourself, take it to a shop. It should not be more than 20 minutes of labor to do.

Answer 4

Use an external HD case, and put the old HD in it, you can then copy the files you need, or use the old drive as a backup drive.

This is a fairly inexpensive enclosure.
I-rocks 3.5in Aluminum USB 2.0 HDD Encl, Black
Price: $27.99

This is the most inexpensive solution. It is the one I use.
Vantec IDE To USB 2.0 Adapter
Price: $19.97
This one is also good for testing hard drives.

Answer 5

Pop the disk drive out of the old PC and install it as a second drive in the new PC.

It may not be readable, but it's worth a try.