My computer just went out

[derf]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Really dude, this isn't the end of your computer, just the OS installation.

Step one: Dowload Ubuntu Linux. You can boot it from the CD, NO INSTALL NEEDED (you'll need access to another computer to download and burn the disk), and with it booted, you can access all your data. You can also wipe the Windows directory (make sure you grab anything in that in terms of prefs or whatever, that you may want first).

Next, boot with a Windows install disk, and follow the prompts to install.

PM me if you need an XP install disk.

Pretty sure im gonna need aan install disk, havnt seen mine since I moved, will let you know tonight

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Pop the lid and see if any of the capacitors on the main board are popped first. If the P/S does this every time that you hit the power button, then it could be a main board rather than power supply.

If it's a notebook, like Drewpy said, then a dead battery can pull the system down too. Pop it out and try running it plugged into the wall.

This. Blown caps are generally pretty easy to spot... Pretty much all three varieties in one picture, how convenient!:

Originally Posted by derf

Pretty sure im gonna need aan install disk, havnt seen mine since I moved, will let you know tonight

Well if you're going to DL Ubuntu, you could just run that as your OS... Given the amount of morons I've seen posting shit online about running it, setup, configuration, and use have to be more friendly then the last time I tried Linux... 10+ years ago.

[derf]

Found an operating system disk, but now I get a diskette drive 0 seek failure, then the blue screen

[Avatard]

The blue screen is the HAL layer failing to load...but this means you're already into the OS boot. Put the Windows CD in the drive, hit the reset button, and when the computer first lights, press DEL to get into the BIOS (or whatever keystroke is prompted onscreen), and make sure the CD is set to bootable in the BIOS.

Edit: If Drive A: is set in the boot search order, turn it off. Sounds like your A: Drive may have shit the bed.

[derf]

No blown caps, and I was able to start formatting my hd

[Avatard]

Formatting, huh? I trust you backed off yer data?

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by derf

No blown caps, and I was able to start formatting my hd

We weren't suggesting you had blown caps... that was in response to the power up issue posted by Pickle. It's amusing that you looked though.

[derf]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Formatting, huh? I trust you backed off yer data?

Yeh, I'm gonna loose a 3 page essay I wrote last week for english and some porn but that's it. I did a backup of all my stuff last week to an external hard drive.

[derf]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

We weren't suggesting you had blown caps... that was in response to the power up issue posted by Pickle. It's amusing that you looked though.

It took all of 2 seconds, the side just slides off, it did give me good reason to clean out 4 years worth of dust accumulation, the heat sink for the processor was completely covered, and I doubt it had any airflow through it as it was.

Other than that, I'm glad I can give you some measure of joy in your otherwise bleak and howell hopeless life

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by derf

It took all of 2 seconds, the side just slides off, it did give me good reason to clean out 4 years worth of dust accumulation, the heat sink for the processor was completely covered, and I doubt it had any airflow through it as it was.

Other than that, I'm glad I can give you some measure of joy in your otherwise bleak and howell hopeless life

No need to get defensive...