Computer Hope
Software => Computer software => Topic started by: WVgirl on August 02, 2009, 01:10:54 PM
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My mothers computer work. It says something like this, if you put the original disk in drive, you may be able to repair computer by hitting "r" at the setup screen. The item that somehow got deleted is \windows\system32\config\system
The problem is, my mom apparently threw away the original disks. It was a new computer because I bought it for her. It is a Dell 340 Dimension. I bought it in 2003 and she doesn't have the internet so I know it isn't a virsus.
I have a Dimension E310 and tried to use my disks to start her computer with but it didn't work.
What do I need to do and how do I do it?
Donna
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WVgirl,Welcome to the CH forums.Would you please tell us more info. Such as what is the computer? What is the operating system (version +service pack)? What "exactly" is the computer doing at the moment? What (if you know) was the last thing that was being done on the computer just before this "problem" was created? can you access the computer to get into safe mode? truenorth
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She provided enough there. You have to get another copy of the OS. Its rather cheap now that it will be easy to get. If you have a copy of win 2000 it may work just as a repair.
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Just wondering, why would I need WIN 2000 when it is XP?
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Disregard all the above advice...
Contact Dell and give them the service tag# off the machine and they will ship you a recovery CD for a minimal cost...
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Thank you Patio. ;D
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No problem...
Stop by anytime...
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Cause you said she had gotin rid of the OS disk. Cause it works the same way since one OS is built off the other, there a differences but it should work. Patio I thought that she would have that disk, didnt think of that sorry. The only other thing would have been to ask them for another disk an I dont know unless you really pay them that there going to give it to you.
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CTRL + F11 at Dell's logo should get you to recovery partition.
If you need to save some private data, that's another story, so let us know.
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Thanks Squall_01. I got into digging a little deeper, persistent I guess. Anyway it apparently wasn't reading the hard drive, at least that is what I am gathering. When I ran a diagnostic, it told me that the IDE Primary Drive 0 Failed. Am I understanding that is the hard drive?
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Thanks Broni. I appreciate your help.
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Does sound like the drive has failed....what diagnostics did you run ? ?
Double check the drives connections...
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The only thing that comes up on the computer is the Dell logo and you can either hit F2 for Setup or F12 for Boot Menu and the Setup was never any help so I went to F12 and numerous attempts trying to get the computer to go there and that was what I got. I tried it several times and I did check all the connections and everything seems to be in place.
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Replacement Dell CD's (https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form)
Meanwhile start shopping around for a good deal on a new HDD...
They are a bargain right now so i'd get one with more capacity than the one you have in there...
Let us know.
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Squall_01- So you need a matching service pack CD to repair XP, but you can also use a windows 2000 CD?
It doesn't work that way. you need a matching Version and Service pack for a successful repair. XP SP1 won't repair XP SP3 any better then a W2K RTM disc will repair W2K SP4; and a W2K CD of any description will not repair any other OS.
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Thank Patio. I just got her a new HDD and a sound card because I forgot to put one of those in for her when I ordered it. Dell is sending everything I need with the updated information. They will do that one time with the updated versions so that is great. I got her a Seagate Barracuda 7200 80GB. I've heard they are much better than the Maxtor, which is what she had. Thanks for all your help.
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Excellent !
Let us know if you need any further assistance and Welcome to CH !
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Maxtor is still fairly good personally. I would have gotten a bigger drive or see if it still not covered under warrenty to cover it.
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For most users 80GB is more than enough. They put a few photos and videos with saved email attachments, maybe some music for the mp3 player, but not much more.
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Maxtor is still fairly good personally. I would have gotten a bigger drive or see if it still not covered under warrenty to cover it.
Maxtor was bought out by Seagate some time ago....
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say, whatever happened to Quantum? I still have a Quantum 50MB HD.
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I have a Quantum BigFoot.....6.2G.... ;)
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mines smaller. Is that a good thing?
technically I have two and I've used them both. for some reason I never count the one that has "dud" written on it. It works, but I mean- I can't argue with sharpie writing.
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The BigFoot format was pretty large ...approx 6" X 8" from what i can see.
Still runs.
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I meant, storage wise. I had the two used at the same time in my old 40Mhz 386. the second one was Doublespaced, which actually worked fine, strangely enough.
For most users 80GB is more than enough. They put a few photos and videos with saved email attachments, maybe some music for the mp3 player, but not much more.
key words being of course "for most users" :)
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I see what you mean about size...sorry i misinterpreted.
I had to cannabilise a drive bay when i originally installed this one.
Dremel Forever i say !
All i know is the Quantums i had thru the years were workhorses.
This is the last survivor.
One was disassembled just for grins....
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Does anyone know what happened to Quantum though?
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Bought by IBM which in turn was bought by Hitachi if my memory serves me correctly...
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well, IBM's hard drive division was sold to hitachi.... not the whole company.
Although they seem to be selling of parts of themselves. soon there will be nothing left. laptop line to lenovo.... hard drive division to hitachi...
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That mean that the drives are still good then? I have one its about 4 gb or so though kind of thrashing, I think. Its rather hard to remember alot of these.
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A company being bought or sold has nothing to do with whether a HDD is good or bad...
If it's thrashing as you say it doesn't matter who made it...
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I was meaning after the change of companies from quantum to ibm. That is true.
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What is true ? ?
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about thrashing
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Your hard drive is thrashing after IBM bought Quantum?
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no :(, but its possibly is currently that or hums a little.
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If HP went bankrupt, it will not effect my HP computer.