Re: Unsure of what to do?
The computer isn't finding the boot device - if you are using ide drives, have you connected them correctly, set the right one to master etc. If using SATA have you set up the right one as the boot device in the BIOS?
If all that is set up correctly, then at some point you may have corrupted the boot sector (although you would expect to get a different error message in that case...)
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Sounds like you have lost the boot sector.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
I'm not sure if it would work as I haven't tried it but you could try making an MS-DOS startup floppy (if, of course you have one - if not you can make a MS-DOS flash drive - link) and try running chkdsk /f from that if it's included. Also try booting from a Linux live CD and backing up what files you can, just to be on the safe side. The drive might be completely fine but check the SMART data before using it again. Another thing to try is boot from your Windows CD/DVD and select recovery mode: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
Note that even if an OS doesn't appear in the dialogue box when it asks you to pick, just click next anyway.
Hope this helps :)
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
watercooled
I'm not sure if it would work as I haven't tried it but you could try making an MS-DOS startup floppy (if, of course you have one - if not you can make a MS-DOS flash drive -
link) and try running chkdsk /f from that if it's included. Also try booting from a Linux live CD and backing up what files you can, just to be on the safe side. The drive might be completely fine but check the SMART data before using it again. Another thing to try is boot from your Windows CD/DVD and select recovery mode:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
Note that even if an OS doesn't appear in the dialogue box when it asks you to pick, just click next anyway.
Hope this helps :)
why do things backwards watercooled.
start with the windows cd
would you really go to the trouble of faffing with a linux cd or making a floppy when the original media has all he needs ????
chance is it just needs a chkdsk /r or a fixmbr command to get him up and running from the recovery console
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Does the menu appear with the "Last Known Good" option?
If so, does it boot successfully if you select that?
Did you just add or remove any CD, DVD, AV or disk-related software?
STOP 0x7B means that the boot sector is okay, and it pointed to a boot loader which started the startup process - at some point after this, the kernel was unable to access a device tagged as "necessary to boot".
It could be:
- a disk problem (hardware)
- a disk controller problem (hardware)
- corruption of drivers on disk necessary to boot the system (disk corruption, fix with chkdsk)
- absence of a driver tagged as "boot start" (installation or removal of software that refer to non-existent .sys files)
MSDN: Bug Check 0x7B: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
(See "Resolving the Problem" section)
Re: Unsure of what to do?
I haven't got the windows cd. Where can I get one from? Am I able to download one for free and burn it onto a cd-r?
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Paul Adams
Does the menu appear with the "Last Known Good" option?
If so, does it boot successfully if you select that?
Did you just add or remove any CD, DVD, AV or disk-related software?
STOP 0x7B means that the boot sector is okay, and it pointed to a boot loader which started the startup process - at some point after this, the kernel was unable to access a device tagged as "necessary to boot".
It could be:
- a disk problem (hardware)
- a disk controller problem (hardware)
- corruption of drivers on disk necessary to boot the system (disk corruption, fix with chkdsk)
- absence of a driver tagged as "boot start" (installation or removal of software that refer to non-existent .sys files)
MSDN: Bug Check 0x7B: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
(See "Resolving the Problem" section)
Thanks Paul :bowdown:
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
letshavesome
I haven't got the windows cd. Where can I get one from? Am I able to download one for free and burn it onto a cd-r?
I guess your machine is OEM then - there should be a recovery disk or a partition they created.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GoNz0
why do things backwards watercooled.
start with the windows cd
would you really go to the trouble of faffing with a linux cd or making a floppy when the original media has all he needs ????
chance is it just needs a chkdsk /r or a fixmbr command to get him up and running from the recovery console
Lol yeah sorry about that. I wrote the first bit out then remembered about the recovery tool on the Windows media - but yeah that is the first thing you should try ;)
Some computers (I know PB/HP do anyway) have a program on the PC for burning the discs yourself. Ideally that should be the first thing you do when you switch the PC on because it's anything but easy making them if the PC won't boot.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
thanks for the advice but i don't understand any of it?
I'm useless when it comes to computers. Basically the computer was second hand from a charity shop, old dell computer, which has an old windows (98 i think and didn't come with any discs).
Is there a step to step guide on what to do. The computer has been used for a while and this screen just came up out of the blue. No new hardware or software has been added for a long time.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
letshavesome
thanks for the advice but i don't understand any of it?
I'm useless when it comes to computers. Basically the computer was second hand from a charity shop, old dell computer, which has an old windows (98 i think and didn't come with any discs).
Is there a step to step guide on what to do. The computer has been used for a while and this screen just came up out of the blue. No new hardware or software has been added for a long time.
Letshavesome - I'm confused. You say that you know nothing about computers but have been a member of a Tech site since 2006 ?
In this case you need the CD with windows on it to repair the machine. If you don't have one, is there a Microsoft sticker on the base witha serial number ? If so, you can use this to obtain a new CD from Microsoft. You may have to pay a small fee for this.
If neither, you're up the creek. You are going to have to buy a new OS and hope it runs on this old hardware. For free, Ubuntu would be the obvious choice.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
I've find out that the hard drive is fine but the software seems corrupt (which you all said, thanks :).....) Now i need to get a copy of windows and not sure which version or where to get it for a good price?
any advice?
I've been told, once I get a windows cd, then all i need to do is place it into the computer, format the HD and re install windows?
that sound about right?
thanks
James
Re: Unsure of what to do?
You should already have a Windows CD which you received with your computer unless you have one of those 'recovery partitions'. Firstly, I'd recommend trying the following:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
watercooled
Another thing to try is boot from your Windows CD/DVD and select recovery mode:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
Note that even if an OS doesn't appear in the dialogue box when it asks you to pick, just click next anyway.
Which will repair the boot sector and leave your data intact. If you don't have a Windows DVD you should definitely contact the PC manufacturer for one as the PC not functioning as it should requires them to do something, provided it's still under warranty.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
If it really is Windows 98 it is unlikely to have a recovery partition and if it came from a charity shop, no disk... You might be able to find one on fleabay (I can't find mine, else I'd give you a copy) - otherwise try it with a Linux live CD and see if you get reasoanble performance that way. Might be suitable as a general we browsing/ e mail client.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Ahh sorry didn't notice it was 98. Windows 98 is no longer supported and updates are no longer released to it. This leaves it vulnerable to some threats so I'd recommend trying a more up-to-date OS unless it is a purely offline machine. As suggested above, Linux is worth a try, specifically one of the light distros. Any newer versions of Windows are unlikely to run smoothly on an old PC.
Edit: Here's a list of some popular light distros, as I posted on another thread: Xubuntu, Puppy, TinyMe, Deli, Tiny Core (very quick but a bit more complicated), Damn Small Linux, Feather Linux, Slitaz and NimbleX are just some.
They should all run OK but Xubuntu is a bit weightier than the rest.
Re: Unsure of what to do?
I've heard of a couple of good reports of Mint Linux - but not tried it myself - (currently sorting out a problem with Fedora Core 10 1/2 (don't ask! :) )
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Strange, but I'm pretty sure WinDOS (i.e. Windows 98) doesn't do STOP BSODs. of course it can / will BSOD but the STOP 0 x XXYYXXYY is very much a Windows NT thing. So the PC is rather unlikely to be quiet that old... Win98 would make it most like an original Pentium or maybe a PII.
Without any bootable Windows CD/DVD I agree that Letshavesome's best bet is a bootable Ubuntu or Knoppix.
Ubuntu because it would make a useable system if installed while Knoppix would be handy for fixing the problem but like Linuxes it would require a lot of know-how.
One thing any Linux LiveCD will diagnose is whether the hardware is faulty - if the machine boots Ubuntu and the hard disk is accessible the hardware is (most likely) fine
KS
Re: Unsure of what to do?
Sorry for the confusion but the OP is windows 2000. I'm trying to help a friend fix his computer you see.
Will this make any difference?
thanks
