windows xp home edition will not open

  • Thread starter Thread starter retiredgm
  • Start date Start date
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retiredgm

I have my computer about 4 years. When I went to my computer today, there
was a black screen with writing telling me that a download or something else
failed to allow my computer to open. I tried their instructions to open in
safe mode, normally, and the last successful start up, etc. Each time i
tried I was brought back to the same instructions. I can hear a ticking
coming from the computer while it trys to follow my direction. My son thinks
my hard drive went. If it did, how do I save my files?
 
I cannot afford a new computer, is it possible to replace the hard drive
easily? Where would I buy a compatible hard drive?
 
Hi retiredgm,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=8&name=Hard-Disk-Drives

You can't simply buy a new Hard Drive, you need to know how to find out
what type of Hard Drive is presently installed? IDE, or SATA Hard Drive. If
SATA, SATA I or SATA II. You need to know how to open the computer and
access the current Hard Drive to remove it and put the new Hard Drive in its
place.

Once the Hard Drive is installed, you need to partition it and format
and install the operating system. And it takes time to do it correctly.

If you don't already have an operating system CD, then you will need to
buy a new operating system for the computer.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?page=1&Nav=|c:672|&Sort=0&Recs=10

Is the computer pre-assembled by a manufacturer or Custom-built?

And you might look at the Bare-bones Computer Kits, since you already
have the software?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=31&name=Barebone-Kits
 
retiredgm said the following on 10/31/2008 12:57 PM:
I cannot afford a new computer, is it possible to replace the hard drive
easily? Where would I buy a compatible hard drive?
Click to expand...

Well it can be an easy task if you know enough about your computer to do
it, and if you have the appropriate tools to restore the operating
system. Since you didn't tell us anything about your PC other than it's
age, it's hard to give you specific details of what's required.

The first thing you will need to figure out is what kind of interface
your PC uses to talk to the hard drive. You need to know if it's IDE,
EIDE, SATA and so on. You might find this info in the paperwork that
came with your PC. If that's not available then your best bet is to go
to the manufacturer's website and look up your PC's model number. Once
you know this, then you'll know what kind of hard drive to buy. You can
buy them in several places online, or locally at Best Buy, Circuit City,
or just about any place that sells computers.

Now hard drives are blank disks that have absolutely no data on them.
So you need some way to restore the operating system to the new drive.
Every computer manufacturer is required to provide the consumer some
means to do this. You'll either get a set of CD's or the restore
software will be on a hidden partition of the hard drive. If the latter
is the case for you, then you'll have to contact the manufacturer of
your PC and tell them about your situation. Then they'll send you a set
of CD's that will restore your PC, usually you'll have to pay about
$10.00 or so to cover shipping (though this varies).

Once you have all of this, then it's just a matter of hooking up the
drive and running the restore software. The exact procedure is going to
vary depending on the PC's manufacturer. It may be a simple matter of
booting with a CD and clicking restore, or it may be a little more
involved than that. Without know who made your PC it's hard to say. In
either event just carefully read what's presented to you on the screen.

--


Roy Smith


I use Firefox because I want to use software that complies
with Web standards. See <http://www.mozilla.org/>.
 
i just had the same thing happen after windows autoupdate. i almost gave up
and then i put my restore dick in the cd drive, it took about a half hour of
looping , and re-looping but finally the disc started. i did a non
destructive re-install of windows. --then the fun started reloading
programs, drivers, internet access, updates.....
good luck give it a try. can't brake what's already broken...
 
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