-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Compaq Problem
- From: Gman <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 19:22:17 -0500
Hi Steve,
Check his upgrade disk to see if it includes Vista SP1. If it doesn't,
this may simply be part of SP1's install routine (assuming his system is
just now getting around to finally installing it). I've gone through SP1's
install before and it treats things as though it's installing Vista from
scratch.
Second, that dual-boot screen that only blinks at you can still be
prevented from moving forward. The trick is all in the timing and the key
you press. If you have a good idea of when it's going to come up, start
pressing the down arrow key just prior. You have approximately a 2 second
window in order to press the key and prevent the boot menu from choosing the
install routing, but most of that time goes by before the screen actually
shows you the menu. This is likely your best bet for getting into Vista
Proper and figuring out what's really going on there. Again, I suspect it's
an install of SP1.
Yes, you CAN physically install another drive, disconnect the original,
install Windows (any NT variety will do) and then shut down, re-add the
original drive, ensure that the BIOS is set to boot to the new OS drive and
then use that to see what's going on in the original drive. However, you
will not have easy access to the affected OS itself since it will be sound
asleep. Even access to that OS's registry becomes difficult at best.
Keep us appraised of how you're coming along and perhaps you'll spark
some additional ideas from me and the rest of the group as they're needed.
Happy Holidays,
Gman
"The only dumb questions are the ones we fail to ask"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Aiello" <deacondeamon@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "PCTT" <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 2:57 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Compaq Problem
> Just spent the last 4 hrs trying to get a Compaq desktop (sorry I don't
> remember the model info) up and running again. It belongs to one of the
> other guys who lives here at the Open Door Mission with me. He's an older
> gent.
> He had XP home on it and a few months ago did an upgrade to Vista Premium.
> The unit ran ok for several months until Monday. He claimed that stating
> Monday when he turned on the unit, The Vista splash page would come up,
> followed by the do you want to install Vista.
> I went down today and saw for myself that, that was what was happening.
> The
> first page asks what country, and language you want. Made sure everything
> was set right there before clicking next.
> The next page is the
> *Authentication*<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Authtication&spell=1>
> page. His code is 5 groups of 5 numbers and letters. After putting them
> in
> and making sure I had it right, I clicked next. It came back to the
> authentication page, and this time there was a yellow triangle on it
> saying
> that you need to authenticate.
> I next tried to boot from the upgrade cd he has. No go. It showed it was
> loading the files then would go the country page, authentication page and
> stop.
> I next tried to boot into safe mode. You could see the screen resolution
> change, but when it came up it was at the install page, country etc.
> Clicked to close that and the screen went black with the words safe mode
> in
> all 4 corners. No icons nothing else showed.
> I next tried the F11 system restore. you would get a flash of a screen
> that
> looked like a dual boot screen, I mean if you blinked you missed it. Then
> back to the install page.
> All these were tried more than once.
> Next we ran PC Doctor disk that came with it. It said everything was ok.
> He does not have an Internet Connection. Does not want one. He has not
> installed any new programs in a while, he claims. So a virus is not
> likely.
> I can't get into it toot to run one of my AV's.
> To me it sounds like the code has been used 1 or more to many times.
> My next move would be to take another hard drive ( the one he has is SATA,
> but i don't believe the extra one from my laptop would work), Install it
> leaving the one that's there without the IDE cable. To my way of
> thinking
> i should be able to boot to the new HD. then plug in the old hard drive. I
> think that by doing this I should be able to get into the My Computer area
> and maybe figure out what's going on. At worse case I should be able to
> drag and drop the files and programs he wants to save to my external, then
> do a format on it to wipe it clean, do a clean install and put the stuff
> back on it.
> Anybody have any ideas on weather this will work or not, or perhaps give
> me
> some ideas on what to try next.
> I do have 3 sets of rescue disks. 2 for Acer and 1 for HP. the Acers are
> Vista and the HP is XP MCE, But I really don't want to put them on there,
> just got this little voice telling me no no.
> Damn I can get long winded.
>
> Thanks for any help you all can offer
>
> Steve
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