Posted on 07/29/2012 1:25:08 PM PDT by trussell
HELP PLEASE. My laptop computer suddenly went blue screen of death with a message that some error was detected and windows was being disabled (or shut down) to protect my computer. I rebooted, same thing. I unplugged, pulled the battery and waited, then plugged it all back in and again, same message. I tried to start in safe mode...an option came up to "repair your computer", I chose that option. It says "windows is installing files", then the "microsoft windows" with the scrolling lights, then the same blue screen message. So, I tried in safe mode again, only choosing safe mode instead of the "repair your computer" option. Same response.
This response has been the same through all the attempts.
I pulled the hard drive and put it back in...I pulled the memory chips and reset them. Please. All of my work search files (resumes, cover letters, work history etc...) are on that computer. All of my Parole board files from the attacker on parole are on that computer. All of my pictures, are on that computer. I use to have an external hard drive, but something happened and it quit working. I can't buy a new computer because I am looking for work. and I can't look for work if my computer is gone :(
Please...I know there are many computer savvy people here. Please help me if anything can be done.
That’s just what I was going to suggest :-)
There are several Linux based rescue disks out there, some a lot smaller than Ubuntu.
Just search using this string and google will turn up lots of them.
“linux emergence boot repair rescue disk”
Or perhaps this one will do the trick...the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows.
http://www.ubcd4win.com/
Is that Peggy's sister?
My desktop XP died around Thanksgiving. Luckily, I had just ordered a new Win7.
I had partitioned my XP drive in to C: for the OS and D: for the data. The C: partition was the one that apparently died. I did try to connect another drive but it would not work, so I think it was a compound problem with the motherboard/controller and/or drive.
I ordered a IDE 2 USB cable. It cost about $20. I was able to access all of the data on the D: partition but nothing from the C:
Those IDE 2 USB cables have several adapters for various drive connection sizes. Note that it took a long while for my new Win7 to read the data on the drive.
Dell laptops I have done well with and out of the hundreds I put in place for SC DSS last year, maybe a dozen had problems, mostly a bad image but a few had legitimate bad boards or damage from shipping/handling.
My last laptop was a $30 Dell D810 that I swapped out the optical drive for and it gave me 2 years of solid service. I wiped it and gave it to a computerless friend of mine. Last I heard it was still going.
It is HP/Compaqs to be very wary of.
I should add one thing. 32Gb memory sticks are reasonable now, even for us who are unemployed and underfunded. For between $20 and $25 you can backup a LOT of data. You just have to be willing and able to do it regularly. Assuming that it is a recoverable hardware or software problem.
What is the Brand, Model and age of the laptop? The operating system?
Frankly, the easier one to fix is a computer going bad because a decent computer shop can copy a good HDD onto a new / used computer of equal or better capacity. Cost you some money, yes, but you can call various computer shops in your area and ask if they can see if your HDD is still good. Hint: If you heard strange or grinding noises prior to your Blue Screen of Death (BSD) most likely it is bad HDD.
If it is a bad HDD, your hurt just got exponential without backup. There are HDD recovery shops that can copy contents from a bad HDD to a new replacement. They take long time frames (you ship your HDD to them) and cost in the 4 digits and up.
You could try calling your local library and asking for local area computer clubs. Since this is a BSD, ignore the ones for Apple. Go to a meeting and throw yourself to their mercy by explaining your plight and asking if any of them could help you. There are geeks amongst us that can do wonderful things. Be prepared to promise a wonderful dinner at the best restaurant you can afford if successful as well as paying for replacement HDD. A good geek will also take the old computer to make sure that it did not cause the original damage. THIS WILL TAKE TIME!
Now, to all of those who have read this far - how safe is YOUR DATA!?!?!?
I run disk image (bootable) backups religiously on naked HDDs using external docks and then store these HDDs in my fire-resistant safe. I am never more than a week (usually less) from the last backup and I have multiple HDDs so that the week-ago backup is still in the safe while I backup.
If this seems like too much, here is a random bing search hit that rates 10 online backup services. I can NOT recommend any as I don't use any of them. Your call.
Hope that this was worth reading. Bona fides: 30+ year computer programmer and paid consultant. I have been in this place when there were none of these options and I swore (MANY TIMES) not to be there again. DO NOT THINK THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN TO YOU - IT WILL!
I’m a believer in live disc OS’s
then install a sensible linux and ditch that windown crap
I may have one dual boot machine here (I'd have to check), but everything runs linux all the time on my estate.
/johnny
I was having a similar problem with an older Toshiba laptop a few years ago (my first laptop, so it was a learning experience).
What fixed my problem was getting the dust bunnies out of the case.. I broke it down as much as I could used a PC safe duster.. then a can of pressurized air.. After that, I places a small USB fan near the laptop and had it blowing UNDER the laptopn (they make platforms you can use instead).
That fixed my problem, although in your case, it could be somethiung totally different... and even if what I described is the original cause, the overheating and the following shutdown (plus repair) could have corrupted lots of data on your HD.
SO... first clean it out as best as you can, and then work on reparing any damage it may have caused.
Hope you get it fixed soon ;)
Are you familiar with the expression.... FO?
I have addressed that risk as follows : I have both a new Desktop and a new laptop. Both are Windows 7. I bought a 32Gb USB stick for each, and I update modified files for each one to its own separate stick once a week. A few truly critical folders I update as soon as they change, updating the changed files only. I also make data DVDs (25c for reliable ones in bulk) at least every three months of all photo folders family and otherwise.
I should add that I keep a copy of my critical files, mortgage, payments list and passwords file in password-protected form on BOTH computers.
Been there. Don't want to repeat.
Doing a google search for that particular file came up with a lot of instances of a virus that attaches itself via a 0kb file in the windows/system32/drivers folder. I used one of the many bootable/scandisks(Hirens)but did not find any such file.
Fortunately I had an external backup drive hooked to this PC and Acronis software doing an automatic backup. Unfortunately I had not turned on the ext. drive in more than a month and so any data since then was not copied.
Now, after trying several fixes, I figure I must have made things worse, and though the files are visible using the above third party utilities(outside of Windows Repair Console), the drive is now listed as "unallocated"(must have messed up the partition somewhere along the line).
Anyway, I eventually went out and bought a new hard drive and copied the(minus one month of data)to it from my backup ext. drive.
Now I am still hoping to recover the bad hard drive, with little success so far.
None of this probably helps with your issue, I only offer this(as someone else suggested)DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL A PROFESSIONAL HAS A CHANCE TO EVALUATE AND PROPOSE A SOLUTION...or you too may make a bad situation...worse.
You present quite a problem. What OS is do you have on this PC?
If sounds like boot file failures. Most of the time even if the drive can’t be repaired you can still recover the data. I got an adapter to run a hard drive on a USB port for about $35. It doesn’t have a cover because it is designed for repair work. It is good for both ide and sata drives.
Do you have any DVD’s that have the SO files? If so the easiest repair would be to replace the old hard drive and new build. And then recover data from old drive.
Your files are on the hard drive not the computer.
Look online for a cheap alternative to tide you over until you get a job.
I’ve seen Windows XP machines go for $50. Nothing wrong with them. In fact, look at major computer manufacturers, Amazon and Frys.com. they will have cheap alternatives that you can use for now.
You will still need an external hard drive enclosure to recover your info on the disk.
Don’t take it to a nerd and expect they will get everything you need. Besides, they charge $300 for bare service and $1,500 to get everything.
Look for the external hard drive enclosure at the same places above. $50-$75 bucks or just start asking around. You might have a friend who just happens to have one or you can get one super cheap on Craigslist.
No harm or foul intended. I have had my share of moderate to serious PC problems as well and, looking back, I probably should have tried not to get so worked up, since it just made things worse.
Bob??? I got swammy...
I work on a lot of dells (authorized/certified repair contractor)
Many times blue screen of death errors are NOT hardware faults. They are failed updates or corrupted files.
You are getting there BUT what do you do in the brief frantic moments when you smell smoke? Do you have those DVDs & USB sticks in a “Go Bag” beside your bed?
If this is your method, buy a rated safe with a reasonable fire resistance. Me, I got one that will tolerate 90 minutes of 2k F and since my house would never burn that hot or that long, I hope that no 747 nose dives on me.
Your choice of either external backups or confident in home storage resistant to home disaster. Yes, it is unlikely BUT do you feel lucky?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.