Question about a computer crash.

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goldpony

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My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

old.

Thanks,

Lauria



--

Lauria
 
Your sister-in-law needs to think about what she wants. If she has no

problem with completely wiping out all information on the hard drive, then

formatting and reinstalling is a good thing to try. If there is data she

wants to recover, then she should obtain a bootable CD with the capability

of reading the hard drive and saving the data to a thumb drive or other

removable media. UBCDWin (http://ubcd4win.com/) is one of my favorite

bootable CDs for windows systems. Someone would have to build the CD for

her. If she wants to recover data, it would probably be best to not even

try to boot up the system until she has the bootable CD ready to boot from.



-Paul Randall



"goldpony" wrote in message

news:3E9BFEE7-23D2-446F-94EF-6FE8C27D1D4A@microsoft.com...

> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

> old.

> Thanks,

> Lauria

>

> --

> Lauria

>
 
"goldpony" wrote:



> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

> old.

> Thanks,

> Lauria

>

> --

> Lauria

>



Yes, this is what a "recovery disk" is for. This is a destructive reinstall

that will wipe out everything on the computer and return it to an "as

shipped" condition. It does not repair the install that you have, it just

replaces it. Anything you have saved on the computer will be lost. Make sure

you save anything you want to keep to external media before you do this.
 
goldpony wrote:

>

> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can

> format the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

> old.

> Thanks,

> Lauria

>



Computers that come with a recovery disc, may seek to *erase* the C:

drive, removing all the personal data files of the user. Don't be in

too much of a rush to do that.



If the computer no longer starts, your first task is to make sure any

important personal files are saved. That could be the email database,

pictures of the children, banking information and so on.



If the hard drive still works, you could remove it from the non-functional

computer and connect it to another computer, to make backup copies of

the important files. The drive could be connected to one of the

ribbon cables within the working computer, so that the drive

could be accessed.



If the original hard drive is now broken, you can also plug a brand

new hard drive into the 9 year old computer, and then use your

"recovery disc" to install the OS on the fresh empty hard drive.

Then, after the computer has rebooted at least once using the fresh

new hard drive, by itself in the computer, you could shut down and

switch off the computer and connect both the old and the new hard

drive, and try and get the data off the old one.



As a last resort, if you aren't able to get important files off the

existing hard drive, there are data recovery companies that can

rescue files from broken hard drives. This could cost $1000, so it

is important to decide whether you really need the files or not. If

the hard drive is still functional, and only a little messed up,

you may in fact be able to rescue the contents.



There are a few options to explore - at the very least *don't*

plug in the recovery CD until you've fully discussed with the owner,

what to do about any personal files or emails on there. If you

rush the job, your sister-in-law could be most unhappy with you.



This is why, on retail computers with the "recovery disc" concept,

it is important to do regular backups. So there will be nothing

at risk on the C: drive, when there is trouble.



Paul
 
As 'plain' paul says the reinstall is possible on sma eor different harddrive.

But I would also try to see what the error/crash was. Blue screen with error

code?

Cause it could just be that HD is the cause of the crash and after you

reinstall or restore on the same drive you could have the same problem very

soon again.



"goldpony" wrote:



> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

> old.

> Thanks,

> Lauria

>

> --

> Lauria

>
 
Thank you guy for the explanation. I'm not sure if she has save anything

since she isn't computer smart. She did however save her pictures into a

usb drive. She stated that she can turn on the computer but it won't do

anything except stay on for a brief moment and then turn off. I'm assuming

her computer just plum worn out. I suggested for her to get a new computer.

Her husband would like to replace the HD BUT he doesn't know much about

fixing it or even trying to save any old files. I told her that if she gets

a new computer is to backup the system information since some new computer

doesn't come with recovery disc like they used to.

I'll explain to her again about all the files and etc that she had lost. I

have already made a disc for her so she has a copy of my recovery disc from

my old computer which has a Window XP, I'm using Window Vista and another

computer with Widow 7. I don't use Window XP except for work.

Question, where do I find the product key for the recovery disk?

Thanks

Lauria





"Tridec" wrote in message

news:43D81510-10C1-48BB-A193-588DA4ACE738@microsoft.com...

> As 'plain' paul says the reinstall is possible on sma eor different

> harddrive.

> But I would also try to see what the error/crash was. Blue screen with

> error

> code?

> Cause it could just be that HD is the cause of the crash and after you

> reinstall or restore on the same drive you could have the same problem

> very

> soon again.

>

> "goldpony" wrote:

>

>> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

>> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

>> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

>> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

>> old.

>> Thanks,

>> Lauria

>>

>> --

>> Lauria

>>
 
New power supply ?





On Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:08:31 -0600, "goldpony"

wrote:



>Thank you guy for the explanation. I'm not sure if she has save anything

>since she isn't computer smart. She did however save her pictures into a

>usb drive. She stated that she can turn on the computer but it won't do

>anything except stay on for a brief moment and then turn off. I'm assuming

>her computer just plum worn out. I suggested for her to get a new computer.

>Her husband would like to replace the HD BUT he doesn't know much about

>fixing it or even trying to save any old files. I told her that if she gets

>a new computer is to backup the system information since some new computer

>doesn't come with recovery disc like they used to.

>I'll explain to her again about all the files and etc that she had lost. I

>have already made a disc for her so she has a copy of my recovery disc from

>my old computer which has a Window XP, I'm using Window Vista and another

>computer with Widow 7. I don't use Window XP except for work.

>Question, where do I find the product key for the recovery disk?

>Thanks

>Lauria

>

>

>"Tridec" wrote in message

>news:43D81510-10C1-48BB-A193-588DA4ACE738@microsoft.com...

>> As 'plain' paul says the reinstall is possible on sma eor different

>> harddrive.

>> But I would also try to see what the error/crash was. Blue screen with

>> error

>> code?

>> Cause it could just be that HD is the cause of the crash and after you

>> reinstall or restore on the same drive you could have the same problem

>> very

>> soon again.

>>

>> "goldpony" wrote:

>>

>>> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

>>> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

>>> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

>>> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

>>> old.

>>> Thanks,

>>> Lauria

>>>

>>> --

>>> Lauria

>>>
 
"goldpony" wrote:



> Thank you guy for the explanation. I'm not sure if she has save anything

> since she isn't computer smart. She did however save her pictures into a

> usb drive. She stated that she can turn on the computer but it won't do

> anything except stay on for a brief moment and then turn off.



As "Jim" suggested, this could be a failing power supply. A local computer

repair shop can easily test and put in a new one for not a lot of money.



I'm assuming

> her computer just plum worn out. I suggested for her to get a new computer.

> Her husband would like to replace the HD BUT he doesn't know much about

> fixing it or even trying to save any old files.



If the hard drive is suspect, you can test it yourself. Open the computer

case and find the brand name on the drive. Seagate, Maxtor, Western Digital,

Hitachi are common names. Go to the hard drive maker's website and download

the drive checking utilites, and burn to CD. Set the computer's BIOS to boot

from CD, put the utility disk in the drive and reboot the computer. When the

utility disk starts, let it check the hard drive. If the machine won't stay

running long enough to make the test, it's back to the power supply as the

problem. The machine may boot up fine if a faulty power supply is replaced.



I told her that if she gets

> a new computer is to backup the system information since some new computer

> doesn't come with recovery disc like they used to.

> I'll explain to her again about all the files and etc that she had lost. I

> have already made a disc for her so she has a copy of my recovery disc from

> my old computer which has a Window XP,



Recovery disks are hardware specific; if your old computer is a different

brand than hers, your disk won't work to restore her machine. Even if the

same brand, different model lines have different hardware, and this likely

won't work.



I'm using Window Vista and another

> computer with Widow 7.



This is good. Take her hard drive out and place it in an external USB

enclosure. If her hard drive is good, it will now act like any other external

USB drive. Simply turn it on, then plug the USB cord into either of your

computers, and you should be able to read and copy all of the data on the

disk to your computer.



I don't use Window XP except for work.

> Question, where do I find the product key for the recovery disk?



Recovery disks don't need a product key because they are an "image" of a

working install for that specific machine and the key is already installed.

This is why you need the specific disk that came with the machine in order to

"recover" that machine. Don't confuse a "recovery disk" with an "install

disk", they are different.





> Thanks

> Lauria

>

>

> "Tridec" wrote in message

> news:43D81510-10C1-48BB-A193-588DA4ACE738@microsoft.com...

> > As 'plain' paul says the reinstall is possible on sma eor different

> > harddrive.

> > But I would also try to see what the error/crash was. Blue screen with

> > error

> > code?

> > Cause it could just be that HD is the cause of the crash and after you

> > reinstall or restore on the same drive you could have the same problem

> > very

> > soon again.

> >

> > "goldpony" wrote:

> >

> >> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

> >> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

> >> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

> >> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

> >> old.

> >> Thanks,

> >> Lauria

> >>

> >> --

> >> Lauria

> >>

>
 
From your description, I'd strongly urge you to suggest to her to get a new

pc, as that one is (by tech reference) way past it's prime, new pc's are

faster and supposedly better, LOL sometimes not however.









"goldpony" wrote:



> Thank you guy for the explanation. I'm not sure if she has save anything

> since she isn't computer smart. She did however save her pictures into a

> usb drive. She stated that she can turn on the computer but it won't do

> anything except stay on for a brief moment and then turn off. I'm assuming

> her computer just plum worn out. I suggested for her to get a new computer.

> Her husband would like to replace the HD BUT he doesn't know much about

> fixing it or even trying to save any old files. I told her that if she gets

> a new computer is to backup the system information since some new computer

> doesn't come with recovery disc like they used to.

> I'll explain to her again about all the files and etc that she had lost. I

> have already made a disc for her so she has a copy of my recovery disc from

> my old computer which has a Window XP, I'm using Window Vista and another

> computer with Widow 7. I don't use Window XP except for work.

> Question, where do I find the product key for the recovery disk?

> Thanks

> Lauria

>

>

> "Tridec" wrote in message

> news:43D81510-10C1-48BB-A193-588DA4ACE738@microsoft.com...

> > As 'plain' paul says the reinstall is possible on sma eor different

> > harddrive.

> > But I would also try to see what the error/crash was. Blue screen with

> > error

> > code?

> > Cause it could just be that HD is the cause of the crash and after you

> > reinstall or restore on the same drive you could have the same problem

> > very

> > soon again.

> >

> > "goldpony" wrote:

> >

> >> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

> >> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can format

> >> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

> >> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9 years

> >> old.

> >> Thanks,

> >> Lauria

> >>

> >> --

> >> Lauria

> >>

>
 
Sorry, maybe I wasn't making myself clear this morning. I was sort of in a

hurry. I mean getting the product key from my recovery disk to her

computer. Come to think of it, it might be her power supply gone bad. She

stated that she started having trouble with it ever since her husband update

the window xp from Microsoft. I still think he downloaded the wrong

software. Anyway, she said this "generic host process win 32 service" pop

up and then her computer shut down. She took it to some guy that her

friends were telling her about that work on computer from his home. All he

did was uninstall some program, compress her hard drive and download some

anti-virus software which wasn't free. And when they brought it home, it

was worst then before. Her husband tried to uninstall what ever the guy put

in their computer then this "generic host process win 32 service" came up.

They didn't call me and ask me about it before they took it to this person.

I would have never taking it to someone that I don't know.

I still think it'll be better if they just get a new one but they still

insisting to try my recovery disk first. I made them a copy so in case

their computer ruin the copy. So, again, where can I find the product key

for my recovery disk before I take it to them tomorrow? Do I need the

product key from the disk or their hard drive?

thank you guy for being patience.

Lauria







"sgopus" wrote in message

news:7460C7F7-A529-4E2E-9AC2-A4008F96405F@microsoft.com...

> From your description, I'd strongly urge you to suggest to her to get a

> new

> pc, as that one is (by tech reference) way past it's prime, new pc's are

> faster and supposedly better, LOL sometimes not however.

>

>

>

>

> "goldpony" wrote:

>

>> Thank you guy for the explanation. I'm not sure if she has save anything

>> since she isn't computer smart. She did however save her pictures into a

>> usb drive. She stated that she can turn on the computer but it won't do

>> anything except stay on for a brief moment and then turn off. I'm

>> assuming

>> her computer just plum worn out. I suggested for her to get a new

>> computer.

>> Her husband would like to replace the HD BUT he doesn't know much about

>> fixing it or even trying to save any old files. I told her that if she

>> gets

>> a new computer is to backup the system information since some new

>> computer

>> doesn't come with recovery disc like they used to.

>> I'll explain to her again about all the files and etc that she had lost.

>> I

>> have already made a disc for her so she has a copy of my recovery disc

>> from

>> my old computer which has a Window XP, I'm using Window Vista and another

>> computer with Widow 7. I don't use Window XP except for work.

>> Question, where do I find the product key for the recovery disk?

>> Thanks

>> Lauria

>>

>>

>> "Tridec" wrote in message

>> news:43D81510-10C1-48BB-A193-588DA4ACE738@microsoft.com...

>> > As 'plain' paul says the reinstall is possible on sma eor different

>> > harddrive.

>> > But I would also try to see what the error/crash was. Blue screen with

>> > error

>> > code?

>> > Cause it could just be that HD is the cause of the crash and after you

>> > reinstall or restore on the same drive you could have the same problem

>> > very

>> > soon again.

>> >

>> > "goldpony" wrote:

>> >

>> >> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

>> >> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can

>> >> format

>> >> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

>> >> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9

>> >> years

>> >> old.

>> >> Thanks,

>> >> Lauria

>> >>

>> >> --

>> >> Lauria

>> >>

>>
 
"goldpony" wrote:



> Sorry, maybe I wasn't making myself clear this morning. I was sort of in a

> hurry. I mean getting the product key from my recovery disk to her

> computer.



Apparently you cannot see my previous post. Recovery disks don't need a

product key to recover, because they already have one. You can't use your

recovery disk to recover her computer because they are different machines.





Come to think of it, it might be her power supply gone bad. She

> stated that she started having trouble with it ever since her husband update

> the window xp from Microsoft. I still think he downloaded the wrong

> software. Anyway, she said this "generic host process win 32 service" pop

> up and then her computer shut down. She took it to some guy that her

> friends were telling her about that work on computer from his home. All he

> did was uninstall some program, compress her hard drive and download some

> anti-virus software which wasn't free. And when they brought it home, it

> was worst then before. Her husband tried to uninstall what ever the guy put

> in their computer then this "generic host process win 32 service" came up.

> They didn't call me and ask me about it before they took it to this person.

> I would have never taking it to someone that I don't know.

> I still think it'll be better if they just get a new one but they still

> insisting to try my recovery disk first. I made them a copy so in case

> their computer ruin the copy. So, again, where can I find the product key

> for my recovery disk before I take it to them tomorrow? Do I need the

> product key from the disk or their hard drive?



Like I said before, you need her recovery disk, not yours. What I suggest is

to follow my previous post and put her hard drive in a USB enclousure and

copy the data off to one of your computers. Use her recovery disk to restore

her computer. If she doesn't have one; she needs to buy one from the maker of

her computer.



This is the reward I get for using the web interface instead of using a real

newsreader for posting to these newsgroups; I can't seem to get through to

some people.



> thank you guy for being patience.

> Lauria

>

>

>

> "sgopus" wrote in message

> news:7460C7F7-A529-4E2E-9AC2-A4008F96405F@microsoft.com...

> > From your description, I'd strongly urge you to suggest to her to get a

> > new

> > pc, as that one is (by tech reference) way past it's prime, new pc's are

> > faster and supposedly better, LOL sometimes not however.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > "goldpony" wrote:

> >

> >> Thank you guy for the explanation. I'm not sure if she has save anything

> >> since she isn't computer smart. She did however save her pictures into a

> >> usb drive. She stated that she can turn on the computer but it won't do

> >> anything except stay on for a brief moment and then turn off. I'm

> >> assuming

> >> her computer just plum worn out. I suggested for her to get a new

> >> computer.

> >> Her husband would like to replace the HD BUT he doesn't know much about

> >> fixing it or even trying to save any old files. I told her that if she

> >> gets

> >> a new computer is to backup the system information since some new

> >> computer

> >> doesn't come with recovery disc like they used to.

> >> I'll explain to her again about all the files and etc that she had lost.

> >> I

> >> have already made a disc for her so she has a copy of my recovery disc

> >> from

> >> my old computer which has a Window XP, I'm using Window Vista and another

> >> computer with Widow 7. I don't use Window XP except for work.

> >> Question, where do I find the product key for the recovery disk?

> >> Thanks

> >> Lauria

> >>

> >>

> >> "Tridec" wrote in message

> >> news:43D81510-10C1-48BB-A193-588DA4ACE738@microsoft.com...

> >> > As 'plain' paul says the reinstall is possible on sma eor different

> >> > harddrive.

> >> > But I would also try to see what the error/crash was. Blue screen with

> >> > error

> >> > code?

> >> > Cause it could just be that HD is the cause of the crash and after you

> >> > reinstall or restore on the same drive you could have the same problem

> >> > very

> >> > soon again.

> >> >

> >> > "goldpony" wrote:

> >> >

> >> >> My sister-in-law told me that her computer crashed yesterday. We were

> >> >> wondering, can we put in the recovery disk in it and see if we can

> >> >> format

> >> >> the hard drive and reinstall it?? This is just a question..

> >> >> She has a Window XP home edition. I think her computer is about 9

> >> >> years

> >> >> old.

> >> >> Thanks,

> >> >> Lauria

> >> >>

> >> >> --

> >> >> Lauria

> >> >>

> >>

>
 
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