My gramma is having problems with her computer. When started a black screen is displayed with the message "a problem with hard drive has been detected. consult the troublshooting section of your users manual. Press enter to continue." When I press enter, it goes to the Windows XP starting page and just sits there. I'm not computer savvy at all... I need detailed help!!
2007-12-31 07:23:24 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Sounds like her hard drive has bit the dust. You can try doing a scandisk or chkdsk on it, or even try reinstalling everything from your gramma's original "restore" discs, but even if that works I'd give serious thought to replacing the hard drive because if it isn't dead already, it most likely WILL be soon.
Hard drives aren't that tough to replace. Head to your local computer store and buy one of like size and type (IDE or SATA). The instructions that come WITH the new hard drive make it extremely simple to install. If need be most new hard drives are backed by tech support from their respective companies and they will march you through the process.
I just replaced a hard drive in a friend of mine's PC. Her's did pretty much what you say your gramma's is doing. I took out the old drive, inserted the new one, loaded up the operating system and voila! All was well again!
And yes, IF your gramma has anything of value on that old hard drive, she will more than likely lose it...unless she can get to it to back it up before you replace the drive.
Good luck.
2007-12-31 07:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by KOKOMOJO 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My old computer doesn't like to boot up either, so when I turn it on, I immediately start pressing the F8 Key on the keyboard, so when the screen comes up, choose last known good configuration, if that doesn't boot you up, then it's probably time for a new hard drive.
Tell Grandma, it's time she learned how to back everything up to either a CD, DVD, or an external harddrive. You learn this hard way by losing everything. PS, I'm a grandma too so I know she can do it.
2007-12-31 16:18:36 · answer #2 · answered by snowwillow20 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The hard drive could be going bad or possibly a file for booting has been corrupted. However, if you can't boot up, there is not much you can do unless you knew how to fix it with another operating system that could boot from a cd. What I would do in your case is run your restore disc if you have one. You will lose everything, but at least you will be able to start fresh with windows again. If it won't work, then it probably is a bad hard drive or connection. Either way, if you get a new hard drive, you still need either your restore disc or a windows disc.
2007-12-31 15:56:20 · answer #3 · answered by Another computer builder 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is there a floppy disk in the floppy drive? If so, take it out and see what happens.
2007-12-31 15:30:18 · answer #4 · answered by GJneedsanswers 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like a virus to me! are you running a virus program that is up to date?
2007-12-31 15:27:45 · answer #5 · answered by Stan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try going to system restore
2007-12-31 15:26:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋