Desperate For Help!! [New Problem Page 2]

[E_D_G_E_1039]

About 4 hours ago, I got home, turned my computer on (as usual), plugged in my iPod, and browsed forums as my iPod was updating. I happen to hace a song playing as this was happening, and out of nowhere, the song started skipping. Maybe 3 seconds after the skipping began, firefox froze, task manager refused to open, my mouse and keyboard were frozen. The only thing I thought to do was unplug my computer, and take out the battery, as I usually do when my computer freezes. (I use a Toshiba Satellite with Windows XP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I turn on my computer, after replugging in, and replacing the battery pack, only to find 8 strange symbols on my screen. I hit enter, the same symbols copied themselves. I tried hitting the space bar, then ecentually every other key (more or less), all of which gave the same results. I, being somewhat computer-challenged, unplugged, once again, took out my battery, replugged, replaced battery, etc, again, restarted it up, and so on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This time, my computer displayed the "Toshiba" screen, that usually appears before windows loads with the green bar thing, but then the screen blacked, and a bunch of computer language (sorry, can't elaborate) showed up, and appeared to be 1 paragraph attempting to perform a task, and another one saying something along the lines of "check the cords", and these 2 paragraphs kept appearing, one under the other. Seeing no way out, I resorted to unplugging, once again. I plugged back in, etc, etc...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, the Toshiba screen appeared, followed by the Windows screen. I felt relieved... Unfortunately, I was acting too soon. After about 20 minutes of windows "loading", I was sent to a window stating that there was an error, and that I should hit "control+alt+delete" to restart. I was used to that command, and thought that this might be the end to my problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, that has been repeating the past 2 hours, or so... (I have not unplugged it, since I am afraid of what else will happen :oops: )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have also noticed a faint buzzing sound, that I am not familiar with, that seems to be coming from under my keyboard (although under my keyboard is my computer, itself...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just (10 or so mins ago) inserted the driver cd (1 of 3), and was given the option to restore my system. I ignored this, and ejected the cd. (I spent a lot of money getting my home network set up, after the last system restore, due to a virus).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does anybody have any idea what is wrong with my computer?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Id also like to point out that the usual window with options such as "start windows usually" did not appear throughout this entire... "thing", which surprises me, since that is the message I usually recieve when my system has a problem, or something like that)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks

[Sharper]

Since your getting far as the Windows loading screen I'm going to guess for now this isn't a hardware issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could you please test to see if you can start your computer up in Safe Mode? When you turn your computer on, tap the F8 key while it's loading up until you see options you can select to load up in Safe Mode, choose the default Safe Mode option and see if it works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If this fails then perhaps it is a hardware issue. But can you give any more information about when it stops loading and any error messages/text you see?

[E_D_G_E_1039]

Since your getting far as the Windows loading screen I'm going to guess for now this isn't a hardware issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could you please test to see if you can start your computer up in Safe Mode? When you turn your computer on, tap the F8 key while it's loading up until you see options you can select to load up in Safe Mode, choose the default Safe Mode option and see if it works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If this fails then perhaps it is a hardware issue. But can you give any more information about when it stops loading and any error messages/text you see?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Im unsure of what you mean by stops loading. After 20 or so minuted of that green bar rolling by the screen, under the words "windows xp", it freezes for a few seconds, then goes to the ctrl alt delete thing I talked about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will go and test out the F8 thing, if I can get it onto the right screen...

[Sharper]

Yeah, just tap F8 continuously from startup until the menu's appear, should be able to get it even after a couple of tries :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess from what your saying there is little indication of the problem. Sounds like some serious OS corruption if it's showing those symptoms. Starting up in Safe Mode will provide us with a little more information for finding out the issue and solution.

[E_D_G_E_1039]

Yeah, just tap F8 continuously from startup until the menu's appear, should be able to get it even after a couple of tries :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess from what your saying there is little indication of the problem. Sounds like some serious OS corruption if it's showing those symptoms. Starting up in Safe Mode will provide us with a little more information for finding out the issue and solution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I [think] got to the menu, listing the options of "safe mode", 2 other safe modes, with other words after, start normally, or start with last correct data, or something like that. I hit safe mode, and now my screen is filled with computer talk... Any way to translate what it might be saying? It looks like a bunch of file paths, but I really have no idea :oops:

[jargon]

When windows xp boots in safe mode, it wil list a bunch of computer paths, this is the way safemode starts up....but does eventually load windows with a minimal drivers. Did windows come up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From reading your first post I beleive you either have a) a virus b)lost or missing systme files or c) a registry issue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had an issue like this before, turned out my drive letters were changed in the registry....screwd up my computer good...

[Sharper]

Yup, after all the mumbo jumbo it should start up in a relatively normaly state. Can you tell us what happened?

[E_D_G_E_1039]

When windows xp boots in safe mode, it wil list a bunch of computer paths, this is the way safemode starts up....but does eventually load windows with a minimal drivers. Did windows come up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not yet... Has shown the same file paths for some minutes, now (no new ones have come up). I think it may have frozen. Heres the best pic I could take.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sharper]

Restart your computer and try going into Safe Mode again incase it has frozen, it should be pretty fast. Let us know what happens.

[jargon]

that is a safe mode start-up, if you type something does it appear on the screeen?

[E_D_G_E_1039]

Restart your computer and try going into Safe Mode again incase it has frozen, it should be pretty fast. Let us know what happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sounds stupid, but how do I restart my laptop? Ive always just restarted it from the start menu... Didnt think there was another way...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Id love to do this, except before I found the correct menu, I had to unplug and replug in my computer probably 10 times, since I get 1 of 4 different results each time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And jargon, I will go fiddle with the keyboard, and see if anything changes (I have only tried hitting enter as of now, and that did nothing).

[jargon]

If you want to reastart the computer, simply hold the power button till power kills, then turn the computer back on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT

 

 

 

On some computers, you hold the power button for like 10 secs then let go...

[E_D_G_E_1039]

No typing appears, Im guessing its frozen... I need to make a quick run to the store, but Ill be back within an hour (if all goes well -.-)... Id appreciate it if you guys could wait for me to return? Youve been a great help so far, and I'd really like to get all this figured out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ill be back" :D

[jargon]

When the computer cant boot up in safe mode....it's good time to get out the old windows setup disks.....

[E_D_G_E_1039]

When the computer cant boot up in safe mode....it's good time to get out the old windows setup disks.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ack... At least it has given me the option to system restore... (By the way, safe mode was still at the same spot it was when I left, so it was definately frozen)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all your help guys!

[jargon]

I doubt system restore might be of any use. If you dont want to lose all your data, you could try and repair windows....though....if a virus is the cause....then, this probably is not the best option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT

 

 

 

Also, i forgot to say this earlier, NEVER i repeat, NEVER EVER turn your computer off by unplugging it or pulling out the battery, use the power button, thats what its there for.

[E_D_G_E_1039]

I doubt system restore might be of any use. If you dont want to lose all your data, you could try and repair windows....though....if a virus is the cause....then, this probably is not the best option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT

 

 

 

Also, i forgot to say this earlier, NEVER i repeat, NEVER EVER turn your computer off by unplugging it or pulling out the battery, use the power button, thats what its there for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My laptop is a POS (thats being modest), and as far as I know, the power button does not work. I have to stick a thumb tack into a little hole located under the screen area to turn it on. I know I need a new pc, but it really isnt in my budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Im fine losing my data, as most of it was music (all of it was bought, so I can live with recopying it... I hope :lol: , and some random screenshots, and pictures, which I think I have backed up.

[E_D_G_E_1039]

Well, Last night (right before going to bed), I started up my system restore... All is going well, and last I check, it's at 21%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wake up this morning, to find my computer off. I turn it on, the Toshiba loading screen comes on, followed by a full black screen, containing the words "No operating system"... :oops:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this the point that I take my computer in for service? :? :x

[LadySalleh]

I recently bought a computer and after a week and a half the same thing happend to my computer. I was playing rs..then it suddenly froze..So I turned it off and turned it on again..that didnt work..So I unplugged everything and plugged them back in...that didnt work either..I noticed that it usually came up to the same start up screen and then wouldnt load the windows...So I kept turning it on and off and decided to put in my recovery disk..After it was done recovering..It told me that some of my hardware wasnt working properly..So I went to FutureShop and they gave me a new computer and never told me what was wrong with it..Thank god I bought extra warranty from them..or else I would lost about $1500 after a week and a half of buying it :shock:

[LadySalleh]

Edge, I'll talk to ya on rs, k? 8)

[LadySalleh]

Lol Jargon, good advice :wink: I usually turn off the comp and then unplug it myself :D

[jargon]

Well, Last night (right before going to bed), I started up my system restore... All is going well, and last I check, it's at 21%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wake up this morning, to find my computer off. I turn it on, the Toshiba loading screen comes on, followed by a full black screen, containing the words "No operating system"... :oops:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this the point that I take my computer in for service? :? :x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes.....that would be good time to take it to service.....