Guest no-account Posted August 23, 2007 Posted August 23, 2007 I've got a neighbors Compaq Presario 6029 here that just plain refuses to let me repair it. Originally, it would get to a DOS window on boot up that give the choice of Safe Mode or Starting in Normal Mode and a couple of other choices, but no matter which one you picked it would sit there for about four or five minutes and then go to sleep (using his monitor). Help! I'm at a loss to explain it. I was thinking the power supply, but it is to predictable, not random enough for that to be the likely reason, right? I put the Compaq Operating System CD into the drive and go through the repair process just fine until it gets to the "Installing Devices" window at about 34 minutes left and it stalls there for about five minutes and then it re-boots and starts all over again. And again. And again. Using his monitor it would say that Compaq was going to sleep (LCD screen) and on my monitor (CRT) it just re-boots. Lowrent in TX
Guest no-account Posted August 24, 2007 Posted August 24, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:23:42 -0700, "Rich Barry" <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote: >> Try disconnecting all the devices that are not needed for reinstall. Then >>go back to using >> the Compaq Recovery Disk. >> No joy! It restarts the Install CD and looks like it is picking up where it left off, and then it just sits there for a couple of minutes until it reboots itself and starts the whole process all over again. I've tried booting without the CD in the drive, but that goes nowhere and tells me to put the disc back in. The CD I've been using says "Compaq Operating System CD" and there is another CD that says "Compaq Restore Plus!" Which I haven't tried yet. Does the Operating System CD contain the complete Windows installation files, or is it just a recovery CD? I also have four, count 'em, (4) software Enhancement CD's for Windows XP. What ever the heck those are? I have a full retail version of Windows XP Home. Can I install that on this computer and use the Windows key that is stuck on the case of the Compaq unit to install it?? Or will that mess it up big time? I have been to the Compaq support site and downloaded all the hardware drivers. -- Lowrent in TX
Guest sdlomi2 Posted August 24, 2007 Posted August 24, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP "no-account" <lowrent3@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message news:mrlsc3dndl85b1kqoenjt5cqt32mmemdup@4ax.com... > On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:23:42 -0700, "Rich Barry" > <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote: > >>> Try disconnecting all the devices that are not needed for reinstall. >>> Then >>>go back to using >>> the Compaq Recovery Disk. >>> > > No joy! It restarts the Install CD and looks like it is picking up > where it left off, and then it just sits there for a couple of > minutes until it reboots itself and starts the whole process all > over again. I've tried booting without the CD in the drive, but that > goes nowhere and tells me to put the disc back in. > > The CD I've been using says "Compaq Operating System CD" and there > is another CD that says "Compaq Restore Plus!" Which I haven't > tried yet. Does the Operating System CD contain the complete Windows > installation files, or is it just a recovery CD? > > I also have four, count 'em, (4) software Enhancement CD's for > Windows XP. What ever the heck those are? > > I have a full retail version of Windows XP Home. Can I install that > on this computer and use the Windows key that is stuck on the case > of the Compaq unit to install it?? Or will that mess it up big time? > I have been to the Compaq support site and downloaded all the > hardware drivers. > > > -- > > Lowrent in TX I just finished with the exact symptoms--a Dell model 1100. It too stopped at 34 minutes left every time. I finally put laptop into refrig. for ~5 minutes, then sat it on a blue-freeze-pak to run the repair-install. This time it buzzed right on by the 34-minute bottleneck & installed fine. HTH, s
Guest ct-gio Posted August 24, 2007 Posted August 24, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP It does sound somewhat like an HDD problem. If Mr. Barry's solution does not work, try replacing the HDD and reinstall the system. If you need data of the old drive you can get external HDD casing and plug it into that so that you can try some data recovery.
Guest no-account Posted August 24, 2007 Posted August 24, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:26:33 -0400, "sdlomi2" <daniels_sam@bellsouth.net> wrote: >> >>"no-account" <lowrent3@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message >>news:mrlsc3dndl85b1kqoenjt5cqt32mmemdup@4ax.com... >>> On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:23:42 -0700, "Rich Barry" >>> <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote: >>> >>>>> Try disconnecting all the devices that are not needed for reinstall. >>>>> Then >>>>>go back to using >>>>> the Compaq Recovery Disk. >>>>> >>> >>> No joy! It restarts the Install CD and looks like it is picking up >>> where it left off, and then it just sits there for a couple of >>> minutes until it reboots itself and starts the whole process all >>> over again. I've tried booting without the CD in the drive, but that >>> goes nowhere and tells me to put the disc back in. >>> >>> The CD I've been using says "Compaq Operating System CD" and there >>> is another CD that says "Compaq Restore Plus!" Which I haven't >>> tried yet. Does the Operating System CD contain the complete Windows >>> installation files, or is it just a recovery CD? >>> >>> I also have four, count 'em, (4) software Enhancement CD's for >>> Windows XP. What ever the heck those are? >>> >>> I have a full retail version of Windows XP Home. Can I install that >>> on this computer and use the Windows key that is stuck on the case >>> of the Compaq unit to install it?? Or will that mess it up big time? >>> I have been to the Compaq support site and downloaded all the >>> hardware drivers. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Lowrent in TX >> >> I just finished with the exact symptoms--a Dell model 1100. It too >>stopped at 34 minutes left every time. I finally put laptop into refrig. >>for ~5 minutes, then sat it on a blue-freeze-pak to run the repair-install. >>This time it buzzed right on by the 34-minute bottleneck & installed fine. >>HTH, s >> ??????? You're saying it is getting too hot? I have the front and side panels off in an air conditioned room set at 74 degrees F. I don't think putting it in the fridge for a couple of minutes is going to help much. Is he going to have to do that every ten minutes or so, 'cause if it gets hot during install, what happens when it gets hot during normal operations?
Guest Rich Barry Posted August 24, 2007 Posted August 24, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP Try disconnecting all the devices that are not needed for reinstall. Then go back to using the Compaq Recovery Disk. "no-account" <lowrent3@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message news:7girc35qnbnj6up1tc2gh71fu73etqqttn@4ax.com... > I've got a neighbors Compaq Presario 6029 here that just plain > refuses to let me repair it. Originally, it would get to a DOS > window on boot up > that give the choice of Safe Mode or Starting in Normal Mode and a > couple of other choices, but no matter which one you picked it would > sit there for about four or five minutes and then go to sleep > (using his monitor). > > Help! I'm at a loss to explain it. I was > thinking the power supply, but it is to predictable, not random > enough for that to be the likely reason, right? > > I put the Compaq Operating System CD > into the drive and go through the repair process just fine until it > gets to the "Installing Devices" window at about 34 minutes left and > it stalls there for about five minutes and then it re-boots and > starts all over again. And again. And again. > > Using his monitor it would say that Compaq was going to sleep (LCD > screen) and on my monitor (CRT) it just re-boots. > > > Lowrent in TX
Guest sdlomi2 Posted August 24, 2007 Posted August 24, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP "no-account" <lowrent3@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message news:ro0uc3564h77oeb599kam89i7airv6va9h@4ax.com... > On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:26:33 -0400, "sdlomi2" > <daniels_sam@bellsouth.net> wrote: > >>> >>>"no-account" <lowrent3@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message >>>news:mrlsc3dndl85b1kqoenjt5cqt32mmemdup@4ax.com... >>>> On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:23:42 -0700, "Rich Barry" >>>> <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>>> Try disconnecting all the devices that are not needed for >>>>>> reinstall. >>>>>> Then >>>>>>go back to using >>>>>> the Compaq Recovery Disk. >>>>>> >>>> >>>> No joy! It restarts the Install CD and looks like it is picking up >>>> where it left off, and then it just sits there for a couple of >>>> minutes until it reboots itself and starts the whole process all >>>> over again. I've tried booting without the CD in the drive, but that >>>> goes nowhere and tells me to put the disc back in. >>>> >>>> The CD I've been using says "Compaq Operating System CD" and there >>>> is another CD that says "Compaq Restore Plus!" Which I haven't >>>> tried yet. Does the Operating System CD contain the complete Windows >>>> installation files, or is it just a recovery CD? >>>> >>>> I also have four, count 'em, (4) software Enhancement CD's for >>>> Windows XP. What ever the heck those are? >>>> >>>> I have a full retail version of Windows XP Home. Can I install that >>>> on this computer and use the Windows key that is stuck on the case >>>> of the Compaq unit to install it?? Or will that mess it up big time? >>>> I have been to the Compaq support site and downloaded all the >>>> hardware drivers. >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Lowrent in TX >>> >>> I just finished with the exact symptoms--a Dell model 1100. It too >>>stopped at 34 minutes left every time. I finally put laptop into refrig. >>>for ~5 minutes, then sat it on a blue-freeze-pak to run the >>>repair-install. >>>This time it buzzed right on by the 34-minute bottleneck & installed >>>fine. >>>HTH, s >>> > > ??????? You're saying it is getting too hot? I have the front and > side panels off in an air conditioned room set at 74 degrees F. I > don't think putting it in the fridge for a couple of minutes is > going to help much. Is he going to have to do that every ten minutes > or so, 'cause if it gets hot during install, what happens when it > gets hot during normal operations? Not really, but it seems some laptops came with defective OS discs--this one seemed so. Did a Google for "ialmnt5.sys file" which popped up several times at the 34-minute segment of install. Dunno why, but I just tried refrig. it & it worked. Luck, s
Guest no-account Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:57:24 -0500, ct-gio <ct-gio.2vujvk@no.email.invalid> wrote: >> >>It does sound somewhat like an HDD problem. If Mr. Barry's solution does >>not work, try replacing the HDD and reinstall the system. If you need >>data of the old drive you can get external HDD casing and plug it into >>that so that you can try some data recovery. >> Yeah, I've already retrieved most of his data fro the HDD, and I put another known good HDD into the machine and still no joy! I couldn't even get the different HDD to post, and now I can't post on the original HDD. I also tried a brand new power supply and that didn't make any difference. I am at a complete loss to this problem.
Guest w_tom Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP On Aug 24, 12:14 pm, no-account <lowre...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote: > ??????? You're saying it is getting too hot? I have the front and > side panels off in an air conditioned room set at 74 degrees F. I > don't think putting it in the fridge for a couple of minutes is > going to help much. If it fails due to heat, then hardware is completely (hard) defective and was probably (intermittent) defective previously. Both are examples of 100% defective hardware. Yes a computer can boot just fine and still have 100% defective hardware. Heat is a tool for finding defects. Every computer must work just fine even in a 100 degree F room. Those who never learned electronics will want to cure symptoms with 'more fans'. If it is a Compaq, then it came with manufacturer comprehensive hardware diagnostics. Notice how to find problems. First break the problem down into parts. Then address separate parts. How do you test hardware with an OS? You don't. Those diagnostics test individual hardware without making the problem exponentially more complex with the OS. That exponential complication is why you are having so much trouble. Get the manufacturer comprehensive hardware diagnostics. Execute only them. Meanwhile, the problem may have also been stored in the system (event) logs. But by trying to fix a problem before identifying the problem, you would have destroyed more helpful information. That is the point. Don't try to fix anything yet. You don't know what is wrong. You have not collected all pertinent information yet. Trying to fix things without first identifying the suspect (ie swapping a power supply) is how to exponentially complicate the problem. Not only do you execute those diagnostics at room temperature. You also put that computer in a 100 degree F room and run diagnostics again. How did we routinely find failures before it because flight hardware? We also refrigerated it and ran diagnostics again. If you don't have those diagnostics, then download them from Compaq (HP). This is but another way to identify superior manufacturers. They provide comprehensive hardware diagnostics - and for free. BTW, even Windows provides a diagnostic. As it loads drivers, it can report the progress. Simply identify the driver that is crashed on by enabling that boot option. But unfortunately you tried to fix it by reloading Windows. By trying to fix it before identifying the problem, you have made the problem exponentially more complex - lost another option to help identify a hardware problem.
Guest no-account Posted August 27, 2007 Posted August 27, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP On Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:48:52 -0700, w_tom <w_tom1@usa.net> wrote: >>On Aug 24, 12:14 pm, no-account <lowre...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote: >>> ??????? You're saying it is getting too hot? I have the front and >>> side panels off in an air conditioned room set at 74 degrees F. I >>> don't think putting it in the fridge for a couple of minutes is >>> going to help much. >> >> If it fails due to heat, then hardware is completely (hard) >>defective and was probably (intermittent) defective previously. Both >>are examples of 100% defective hardware. Yes a computer can boot just >>fine and still have 100% defective hardware. >> >> Heat is a tool for finding defects. Every computer must work just >>fine even in a 100 degree F room. Those who never learned electronics >>will want to cure symptoms with 'more fans'. >> >> If it is a Compaq, then it came with manufacturer comprehensive >>hardware diagnostics. Notice how to find problems. First break the >>problem down into parts. Then address separate parts. How do you >>test hardware with an OS? You don't. Those diagnostics test >>individual hardware without making the problem exponentially more >>complex with the OS. That exponential complication is why you are >>having so much trouble. >> >> Get the manufacturer comprehensive hardware diagnostics. Execute >>only them. >> >> Meanwhile, the problem may have also been stored in the system >>(event) logs. But by trying to fix a problem before identifying the >>problem, you would have destroyed more helpful information. That is >>the point. Don't try to fix anything yet. You don't know what is >>wrong. You have not collected all pertinent information yet. Trying >>to fix things without first identifying the suspect (ie swapping a >>power supply) is how to exponentially complicate the problem. >> >> Not only do you execute those diagnostics at room temperature. You >>also put that computer in a 100 degree F room and run diagnostics >>again. How did we routinely find failures before it because flight >>hardware? We also refrigerated it and ran diagnostics again. If you >>don't have those diagnostics, then download them from Compaq (HP). >>This is but another way to identify superior manufacturers. They >>provide comprehensive hardware diagnostics - and for free. >> >> BTW, even Windows provides a diagnostic. As it loads drivers, it >>can report the progress. Simply identify the driver that is crashed on >>by enabling that boot option. But unfortunately you tried to fix it >>by reloading Windows. By trying to fix it before identifying the >>problem, you have made the problem exponentially more complex - lost >>another option to help identify a hardware problem. All good points. But if you can't boot into Windows, to a floppy or a CD, how are you going to be able to run this diagnostic software??
Guest w_tom Posted August 27, 2007 Posted August 27, 2007 Re: Not able to repair Windows XP On Aug 27, 12:26 am, no-account <lowre...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote: > All good points. But if you can't boot into Windows, to a floppy or > a CD, how are you going to be able to run this diagnostic software?? Earlier the system was booting - starting a load of Windows from a CD-Rom. Then is when diagnostic software should have been executed. Since system no longer even executes BIOS (POST is part of the BIOS), then that option expired. When it was only booting to a DOS Window, then diagnostics could be executed without any complication from Windows. Again, obtain facts before trying to fix anything. Why do we fix things? To learn. Appreciate why better computer manufactures provide that comprehensive hardware diagnostic - and for free. Just another fact next time someone asks for a computer recommendation. Appreciate how much better informed your replies would be if that information was provided. What can you do at this point? Some have suggested a power supply problem. With better technical knowledge and a meter, you could have discovered or exonerated the power supply system. Unfortunately, I don't believe you have that option because you would not know (from experience) where to touch the probe AND because we are not looking at the system to help identify that touch point. Can you make the computer bootable by refrigerating (not freezing) it? If not, then your options are few - such as take it to a repair facility. Meanwhile, appreciate what was learned from this. The value of heat as a diagnostic tool - not something to be solved with excessive fans. The need for facts long before fixing anything. A procedure that 'follows the evidence' rather that wildly speculate that it 'could be this or could be that'. How to break a problem down into parts; then analyze those parts separately to first establish what is definitively good. Superior value from newsgroups when useful information is provided - especially the numbers.
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