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Author Topic: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in  (Read 9607 times)

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tgp1994

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Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
« Reply #15 on: February 17, 2009, 06:46:13 AM »
*sigh*

So how about my files... if I use norton ghost to backup to my second hard drive, then wipe everything, reinstall, will norton ghost put my user profiles back, as well as all of my programs?
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patio

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Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
« Reply #16 on: February 17, 2009, 06:49:38 AM »
Yes.
Ghost should be able to handle this task...although i haven't used it in some time...
Make sure when re-creating your partitions to set the first one as active...
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tgp1994

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Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
« Reply #17 on: February 17, 2009, 06:57:30 AM »
Right. I am a bit suspicious, because after some reading, I think I may have removed the MBR in an attempt to combine everything in my HD into one single partition. I think I may try setting aside some space and then trying fixmbr again.
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patio

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Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
« Reply #18 on: February 17, 2009, 07:17:35 AM »
Unfortunately it won't fix it if it has been removed...
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BC_Programmer


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Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
« Reply #19 on: February 17, 2009, 12:03:10 PM »
Actually, the Master Boot record is the same regardless of the disk configuration- fixmbr simply rewrites that same segment of code to the Boot sector.

Don't know why it isn't working here, though. Perhaps the Windows 7 install set it's partition as active?
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xcharge50



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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #20 on: February 17, 2009, 01:23:40 PM »
    Maybe some one will have a better solution  :-[ But try installing grub. Don't ask me how to install it since I never try it from a death system. I usually install linux, delete it but keep the boot loader on my friend computer since I keep linux  :)...
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    tgp1994

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #21 on: February 18, 2009, 07:32:39 AM »
    Hmm... GRUB is linux, isn't it? Are you sure it will work ok with XP? If that is true, I just want to put it on then take it off once it has done what it has to do. I'm hesitant to decrease the partition size on my main hard drive cause it takes like half a day to move it :P
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    patio

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #22 on: February 18, 2009, 07:48:03 AM »
    I would skip the GRUB step for now...although it can be useful in certain situations it's not going to help yours.
    It can be a pain to remove as well.
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    patio

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #23 on: February 18, 2009, 07:48:40 AM »
    Quote from: patio on February 17, 2009, 06:40:52 AM
    Sounds like it's time to wipe partitions, format and do a clean install...
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    tgp1994

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #24 on: February 18, 2009, 02:52:56 PM »
    Ya, I still want to avoid that as much as possible. I'm going to set aside some allocated space and see if that doesn't fix anything. Then I will give in.
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    patio

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #25 on: February 18, 2009, 05:15:41 PM »
    If your Ghost image is valid i see no reason to prolong the agony...
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    tgp1994

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #26 on: February 18, 2009, 05:17:10 PM »
    So just to be sure, it backs up registry AND programs AND windows users?
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    tgp1994

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #27 on: February 20, 2009, 02:55:03 PM »
    Well, I installed BootIt, just to see if I could figure out what's going on, and it looks like the problem may be lying within the BCD, whatever that is. (I know, I've been procrastinating in doing a wipe :))

    So I'm going to download a BCD editor and mess around with it.

    Meanwhile, could you guys explain what the BCD is?
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    patio

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #28 on: February 20, 2009, 02:58:56 PM »
    It's in my link...
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    tgp1994

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    Re: Computer sits at blinking cursor after post unless USB is plugged in
    « Reply #29 on: February 20, 2009, 03:01:03 PM »
    Ohhhh. *Connection made*

    The thing was, that was for vista. I found a hopefully XP compatible program that should work.
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