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Topic: Help!! Can't get my PC up and running! (Read 415 times)
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Tees
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1442
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Hi Rootschatters!
Help! I do not know what happened to my PC but it was just fine earlier this day.
I have to unplug it whenever there is a thunderstorm or rainstorm to avoid any electricity surge which could damage PC. Today we had it.
When I decided that I should get on-line tonight, I plug it in like I always do. The monitor simply shows one sentence: Hit Key F1 for reboot, or F2 for (forgot what it is).
I hit Key F1.
Nothing came up. Then I had to go to F2 and it does not help much. It says there is no memory or something to that effect.
The trouble is that I have two memory boxes (forget the proper technical term for them)--one is useless but used as a back-up and other is perfectly good.
I would like your help to disconnect one box in order to get my memory box restored. I am not sure how to go about it--how does one open the PC case in order to disconnect the wires of the primary memory from the secondary memory?
Now I am worried about losing a valuable data especially photos I have been working on.
So...I am somewhat optimistic that I could get my PC back to work if I were to disconnect the boxes. I would need your help and the instructions.
It would be very much appreciated!
I won't be easy when I go to sleep tonight.
I shall check on this post sometimes tomorrow afternoon.
Regards,
Worried Tees
PS Thankfully I still have a very old laptop that I can use. Appreciate any help! I am stuck now because I cannot contact my usual contacts.
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« Last Edit: Friday 22 August 08 07:26 BST (UK) by Tees »
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Tees
RootsChat Aristocrat
Offline
Posts: 1442
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Hi again,
What's the best way to prevent the electricity surge?
It is very common around here...wondering how to do it without having to unplug every time.
My mind is getting sleepy yet I cannot sleep because of my worries about this beloved PC.
And is there a cheap way to back-up all of your files including the e-mails & contacts? Without a fancy gadget doing it for you?
I will make sure to save everything on CDs from today on.
I realise I am thick in letting my friend left my old primary (now secondary) memory in my PC.
I suspect it is the culprit. Think disconnecting it will do a trick.
But I do not know how to open the PC case nor to disconnect the wires. Is it easy to do?
I would be most grateful for any advice and help here. You will do me a great favour by saving precious old photos and other datas I collected over the time on my family and other friends'. (I meant as in the family history stuff.)
Kind regards,
Tees the Worried
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Newf
RootsChat Marquessate
 Online
Posts: 13367
Tiny Avatar to help reduce resource utilisation.
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The trouble is that I have two memory boxes (forget the proper technical term for them)--one is useless but used as a back-up and other is perfectly good.
I think you mean the hard disks / drives..... Memory is the word for the computers RAM, storage is the word for disks ....
If the drives are both internal, then you can either physically disconnect the ribbon cables - but I dont recommend it as yopu seem a littel unfamiliar with things - or you can use the BIOS to disable it..... typically hold down the DEL key whilst booting up and BIOS menus will present itself - again if you are unsure, get an expert to do it....
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk PLEDGER – 1678, Gt BardField, Essex EVERETT - 1830, Scoles, Norfolk & Epping, SX OSGATHORPE - 1825, North Kensington LILLEY – 1711, Ickleton, Cambs DAVISON – 1700-1710, Horncastle & Coningsby, Lincs BOWER – 1690-1700, Killinworth, Lincs CHASE – 1735, Kings Lynn, Norfolk LAIRD – 1777, Portsmouth, Hants & Kings Lynn, Norfolk GOWENLOCK – |
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Nick29
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1146
Not long now !
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Hi again,
What's the best way to prevent the electricity surge?
It is very common around here...wondering how to do it without having to unplug every time.
There are electrical power-strips with surge suppression built-in which will deal with mild power surges and spikes, and many of them include free damage insurance. To protect yourself against mild to medium power surges requires an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with surge suppression which is more expensive because it contains batteries which will take over for a short time and close your computer down safely if the power fails.
The links I've supplied are for an English supplier - your profile doesn't say which country you're located.
Just a thought - how old is the PC ? If you left it unplugged for a while, and you're getting the "Press F1....." message, it could be that your CMOS battery has run down, and the PC has lost its BIOS settings.
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Field - Luton & Islington Hole - Somerset, Suffolk & Surrey Farnish, Parker, Cattermole, Last, Wasp, Church - Suffolk Martin - Eltham & Greenwich, Kent (London) Lewin/Lowin/Lowen - Hertfordhire Stead - Greenwich, London (Kent) & Maidstone Wood - Hertfordshire Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Sherwood
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 211
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First of all, don't panic. Chances are that your data is fine, you just can't get to it at the moment.
Your "memory boxes" will be hard drives. The computer probably had just the one to start with and your friend added a second drive because the first one wasn't big enough. If the first one was really "useless", I suspect you wouldn't be using it as a backup, so I'll assume "useless" means too small to use as a primary hard drive.
As for disconnecting during thunder storms - probably a waste of time and more likely to introduce problems (I've come across several electrical devices - TVs, videos, etc. - that won't work after disconnection for a time - some folk discover this when returning from holidays). The only real danger is if you get a direct lightning strike to the house and then a broken PC is the least of your worries (provided you did indeed backup your data). Personally I never unplug my PC unless I'm going to take it to pieces or I need to plug something else in.
Backing up data: Consider any of the following:
- USB memory stick
- CD-R, CD-RW
- DVD-R, DVD-RW
- External hard drive
- Second internal drive (doesn't help if PC stolen)
- On-line storage (many sites offering storage, some free with limitations)
Now to the main topic, how to get your PC back up and running.
You are getting something on the screen so it is likely that there is power to the motherboard and it is able to run some software called the boot code. Part of this boot code is called POST (Power On Self Test). This checks for bits and pieces that it need to be operational to get going, e.g. a keyboard, a screen and some memory. Importantly, as suggested by Nick29, it needs to find some valid data in the "BIOS" (Basic Input Output System). This includes time and date and what hard drives, etc. are connected. The BIOS information is retained when power is off by a little battery (usually a "button cell"). If that battery goes flat, the BIOS settings are lost and the PC doesn't know what to do next so it displays a message for you to enter the BIOS and put the settings right. This very much depends on the type of motherboard (the main circuit board). Modern ones will automatically detect hard drives, etc. and all you would need to do is set the time and date.
Of course your BIOS could be fine and the problem caused by a faulty memory module or something else (i.e. meaning someone has got to get the cover off and delve inside).
Anyway, I'm getting a bit techy now so the best thing is for you to switch on and write down exactly what is appearing on the screen then post it here. I'm sure we can at least eliminate some possibilities. The make/model and approximate age of the PC might help as well.
Sherwood.
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CRESSWELL/CRESWELL (Nottingham), MARTIN (Nottingham), ARGENT (Derby), DEXTER (Derby), BAINES (Uppingham), NUTT (Uppingham), LENAGHAN/LENAGAN/LANEHEN, etc (Ireland and Stamford), WINTERS (Nottingham), SLANEY (Nottingham), BULL (Yorkshire), MITCHELL (Yorkshire) Any Census image extracts and information in transcriptions are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Nick29
RootsChat Aristocrat
Offline
Posts: 1146
Not long now !
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As for disconnecting during thunder storms - probably a waste of time and more likely to introduce problems (I've come across several electrical devices - TVs, videos, etc. - that won't work after disconnection for a time - some folk discover this when returning from holidays). The only real danger is if you get a direct lightning strike to the house and then a broken PC is the least of your worries (provided you did indeed backup your data).
Sorry, but I totally disagree. A couple of years ago we had a cloud to cloud strike near the house which did not strike the house at all, but it still caused damage which ran into hundreds of pounds. The strike damaged a DECT base unit (the power supply failed), an ADSL modem/router, a Sky HD box (it wouldn't dial out any more), and an ADSL microfilter failed in a bizarre way which caused me to call in BT to find the problem.
A cloud to cloud lightning discharge will induce high voltages in any nearby wiring, which can cause damage to electronic equipment, and to people. Many people have been killed or injured whilst using a land-line phone during electrical storms.
Most of this damage will be covered by your household insurance, but to avoid aggrevation I would advise removing all phone, aerial and power connections to your electronic equipment when you hear a storm approaching, but do not try to unplug whilst a storm is close by, and do not use land-line phone equipment when there is an electrical storm nearby !
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Field - Luton & Islington Hole - Somerset, Suffolk & Surrey Farnish, Parker, Cattermole, Last, Wasp, Church - Suffolk Martin - Eltham & Greenwich, Kent (London) Lewin/Lowin/Lowen - Hertfordhire Stead - Greenwich, London (Kent) & Maidstone Wood - Hertfordshire Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Sherwood
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 211
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Hi Nick,
Fair enough, I guess it's a matter of opinion though I guess your personal experience may have made you more wary. The worst I've had from nearby or overhead thunderstorms is the house alarm going off and needing a power disconnect to reset it. I'm not saying that lightning can't do damage without direct strike because I know it can. To unplug or leave alone - it's just a decision based on risk. Our difference is that I think the risk is low whereas you think it is higher.
Anyway, enough of that, let's get back to the thread topic and hope Tees gets the PC up and running again to continue the important work of genealogy!
Kind regards,
Sherwood.
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CRESSWELL/CRESWELL (Nottingham), MARTIN (Nottingham), ARGENT (Derby), DEXTER (Derby), BAINES (Uppingham), NUTT (Uppingham), LENAGHAN/LENAGAN/LANEHEN, etc (Ireland and Stamford), WINTERS (Nottingham), SLANEY (Nottingham), BULL (Yorkshire), MITCHELL (Yorkshire) Any Census image extracts and information in transcriptions are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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