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So hopefully a tech minded Dakkaite can help me here. I was just browsing Steam and my comp crashed. Would. Not. Do. Anything. So I cut the power and started it back up. Here's where the story gets awesome: Comp won't boot up now. Or rather - if I let it try and boot up normally, it sits on a black screen for about 5-10 minutes before changing over to a light blue (think Windows 95-98 stock background). My HP System restore screen comes up, but it craps out because, apparently, I can't divide by zero (I know, I laughed too )

Now here's the odd thing - it only boots up that far if I have my Kingston USB Media stick plugged in (Had it running the system boost app when I crashed). If I try to boot up my comp without it, I get an error message during startup that says "BOOTMGR MISSING. CTRL+ALT+DEL TO RESTART". Well I plugged the media stick into my old lady's laptop (heh) and checked to see if there was anything on it. Nada. No files whatsoever.

I don't want to take it in to a repair shop because I'll have to pay repair time + any parts + storage for the time it sits on the shelf until they get to fixing it. Ends up being around the same as a new PC. On the other hand, I can't even do a factory restore (Thus deleting all my games and saved files) at the moment.

If anyone thinks they can offer help, drop me a PM with a request for any additional info you'll need before you can try to shed some light on this

What version of windows does it run?

In any case, it looks like the Cold Shutdown has fried something in the boot partition and it thinks it needs the USB stick to work. It could be possible that some boot files got moved to the USB stick and are hidden (windows hides boot files even if you show "Hidden" files).

Your best best is, unfortunately, to boot up, backup all your important stuff to DVD or another Hard Drive, nuke the PC to bits, and reinstall windows. :( Until then, don't mess with that USB stick and keep it in so you can get on and backup everything!!!

That last part might be difficult if you didn't get an Install CD with your PC. D:

If you got a CD Key, there are... ways... but it would be easier to have your own install disk.

If you can jump onto MSN, I would be happy to help.

Sounds like the boot priority is messed up, or the hard drive it normally boots off has crapped out.

If you can get to the BIOS you should be able to see the boot priority, and what hard drives are detected, normally pressing delete during POST (lots of seemingly meanless text and numbers just when the computer turns on, or a splash screen with the motherboard manufacturer name), but it may be F12 or something else entirely

HP's usually have F9-F10 set to enter setup. Check the boot device priority, tell us what it says. Also wtf is a 'system boost app'?

I may sound acerbic as I have to deal on a daily basis with users who either, cannot dial the helpdesk properly, or think they can diagnose problems on their own.

Sorry, "Readyboost" was what it was called. Basically all it does is act like additional RAM

As for the Boot device priority, this thing is odd. It's got things locked into certain priorities, so I can't really shuffle them around. For example, I can set the CD Drive to boot first, followed by the HDD, but it won't work because trying to start up from my HDD causes the "BOOTMGR" message. But for what it's worth, I've got CD Drive set to #1 Boot, HDD doesn't seem to change whether set to #2 or #3 Boot, and my #4 is Network. In all honesty, I think the cold start that I had to do after it froze up deleted something.

EDIT: Did some googling at work. Seems like just dropping in an OS disc and running a windows repair routine off the DVD will fix it. Will try this.

Nuke it from orbit. It't the only way to be sure.

That's plan C

metallifan wrote:Sorry, "Readyboost" was what it was called. Basically all it does is act like additional RAM

As for the Boot device priority, this thing is odd. It's got things locked into certain priorities, so I can't really shuffle them around. For example, I can set the CD Drive to boot first, followed by the HDD, but it won't work because trying to start up from my HDD causes the "BOOTMGR" message. But for what it's worth, I've got CD Drive set to #1 Boot, HDD doesn't seem to change whether set to #2 or #3 Boot, and my #4 is Network. In all honesty, I think the cold start that I had to do after it froze up deleted something.

EDIT: Did some googling at work. Seems like just dropping in an OS disc and running a windows repair routine off the DVD will fix it. Will try this.

Before you do that, it may be worth trying to backup anything important.

IIRC the windows repair removes stuff or something (never had to use it myself though)

One way to get any important stuff of it if you cant get it to boot at all is a Linux Live CD, those things are awesome for recovery.

that sucks dude. I would go to Bleeping Computer they have a huge amount anti-virus software. If that is the problem. Either that or you need to fix the fans. As my computer a few months ago overheated.

Ah, the 'cut the power' route. Not a good one, although I do it everyday (solid state memory can handle it better)

I guess you can try booting up a Linux Live CD..You can ask for one to be sent here: http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/cds

There are a lot of options on the disk, and you can use the internet if you want. There's a couple tools that can sort out technical problems too. I've saved a couple computers using linux (ubuntu) as a springboard.

Good luck, dude

If that doesn't work, PM me.....I've got something you might like...

Sokay folks. Looks like the old HDD was crapped beyond fixing. Even after wiping it I got an error message trying to install Windows 7

On the plus side, I did get my 1000Gb HDD to take it's place with resounding success,and I have W7. Goodbye Vista.

Of course, I have to reinstall every game I had before -and- beat em' again (I just finished my 3rd run in ME2! Waaaaaah! ) but hey, 700 more Gigs and a shiney new OS isn't a bad trade off for it.

Get just cause 2

I did get it. And it was a bigger pile of butt-fudge than GTA IV.

sounds like what happened to my old pc nothing would work
so a kick down a big hill and £400 later an awesome gaming pc worth bout £700
and about 4 different anti virus softwares

I love it when PCs do stupid things like that.

I had an update appear on my PC one day that no matter what I did it wouldnt download anything, then I found out it needed my windows disc which was odd. So I asked on here and got my answer that my windows is in a folder on the PC. So a little tinkering and presto it loaded up the update and everything was fine. Only to have my PC take a massive steamy turd on my face the following day


BUT I have to say after having to restart from new, my PC has been running much better

If its still misbehaving, call the local Adeptus Mechanicus. OR buy a new one

I went for the latter. After sinking $260 and about 6 hours fixing the old one, which only worked again for 3 weeks.

What, your PC broke again, Metalli?

The old one did. It's now stripped, salvaged, and the shell is sitting by the door, patiently waiting for garbage day