Computer Question...

04 Dec 2012 | US Navy Vet

[US Navy Vet]

Ok I was surfing the net on Friday, when my coputer said that there was an Abobe Update available, when I clicked on it(like I have done quite a few times before) about 15 or so sec later my ENTIRE computer FROZE UP. I let it set for maybe 2 or 3 minutes still froze. I reached back and pulled the power cable to do a "kick it in the nuts" Hard Boot. When it started to boot back up the DREEDED Windows Blue Screen of DEATH came up with a "Unmountable Boot Device" Error. Is the ANY hope of is my computer SCREWED?

[dadgum]

Agreed. Post #9 is best way to start. And, yes, please tell me you backed up regularly...

[Buckeye McFrog]

Software updates are like burritos.
Every once in awhile you get hold of a bad one and
experience indigestion.

[oh8eleven]

And, yes, please tell me you backed up regularly...
Since my first PC XT, have never kept my (data) files on the system - programs only.
No floppies left, but still have some 3.5s (albeit, no drive :)

[Carriage Hill]

I got 10 of the WD® "My Book" 2Tb External Drive units, from Computer City for $39/ea, when they closed. Cheap protection at 5x the price. Just one 2Tb unit will do ya.

[AbolishCSEU]

I can’t begin to tell you how many people have had problems here at work with Adobe Reader version 10.1 and up! Their software keeps getting crappier and crappier. Ditto to msconfig, safe mode and if necessary, recovery/repair. Going forward, ditch adobe reader and try Foxit PDF reader instead!

[Moltke]

Something similar happened to me once when I ‘updated’ Win XP from SP2 to SP3 via the Windows Update service... MBR on the HDD got corrupted. Got the same message you did.

Download the free utility “Partition Table Doctor” and burn it to a CD. Set the CD drive in BIOS as your primary boot device and reboot your PC with the CD in your CD drive.

Choose ‘Repair MBR’ (or something like that) from the menue when PTD has loaded. Should take less than a second and you’re good to go again with your original drive. Remember to reset your HDD as the primary boot device in BIOS when rebooting. Read the online documentation for PTD beforehand.

Had to use PTD a time or two since (for other connected drives), actually. Works like a charm every time.

Good luck.

[Crusher138]

I refuse to say anything about the superiority of any other operating system on the advice of my attorney...

[Mister Da]

How old is the computer & hard drive?

Have you ever “dusted” the INSIDE of your computer? Dust can cause components to overheat. Give it a VERY CAREFUL vacuuming or blow out, avoiding static electricity as you do it. Is your computer near a heat source? Can cool air circulate around it? Make sure all chips & plugs are firmly connected.

If your hard drive/computer is old, it may be failing. Best get a backup if possible.

One more thing: If you don't know what you are doing, fiddling around with it - especially software - can do more damage than good.

Last time I has a similar problem, I spent $75 in a computer shop & got back everything on the system, plus it ran like a new computer. Best $75 I've spent in years. Two years later is is still running, & I was sure it was dead.

[gura]

Bikkuri wins! Since everyone has to use Adobe, it’s a frequent target for trojan attacks.

[KevinB]

Since my first PC XT, have never kept my (data) files on the system - programs only.

Exactly. Partition the HD into C and D. OS and programs go on C and data on D. Back up D regularly. Use free Clonezilla or another imaging program to back up/image the C drive.

[waynesa98]

Ok lots of nonsense, so lets fix this puppy.
Likely not the issue but first things first. Boot to your bios get the model number of the hardrive, make a boot disk from the drive MFG’s diagnostic software and run it. If your good, then you need to get a windows install cd the same one your using. If its vista or 7, there is a built in memory checker run that. If your XP get a memory checker make a boot disk and run it. If all is good, next boot from the install cd/dvd and get to the repair page command prompt, run chkdsk/p or /f (when in doubt /h and let it repair.) then reboot to safe mode. Send me exact error messages including the first 2 of the long alpha numeric strings. Lastly one of the big security holes are plugins like adobe. If your system is post XP, windows defender offline would be another good tool to run to make sure your clean.

If your hard drive is not listed in the bios, likely your hosed. but unplug, open the case, clean the inside(air Vac) remove the drive and look at the board with magnification, any burns its toast, reinstall and retry.
Good luck

[martin_fierro]

“Dreeded coputer.”

This is stuning.

[Bikkuri]

Of course, ;)

But, Adobe is a ‘trusted’ source.. so most people have no problem with clicking on ‘yes’ :p

[Bikkuri]

If you need Adobe for the vids.. then definitely go directly to the website to get what you need.. DON’T update through pop-up ;)

For PDFs, there are other much better (less resources) apps out there..

[Bikkuri]

I second Foxit Reader for PDFs... nothing can match it.. (VERY low resource use, and almost instant view).

[Bikkuri]

I would LOL.. but having a PC prob like this isn’t funny at all >.<

Let this be a learning moment ;)

[Lees Swrd]

I would suggest that anyone who runs Windows have a copy of this I have used it thousands of times to do virus scans,reset passwords and many other fixes!

http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.php?content=TRINITY_RESCUE_KIT____CPR_FOR_YOUR_COMPUTER&front_id=12&lang=en&locale=en/

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Another vote here for Foxit Reader. Couldn’t get Adobe to run due to a registry error all searches couldn’t solve.

[Bikkuri]

I think the Java exploits are as bad, if not worse :/

[al baby]

Spell-check is also malfunctioning on your present computer.

Looked ok to me