Recently, both my computer got Windows crashed and unable to repair which left me no choice by to format and re-install Windows back again. It has been years I didn’t repair or install Windows and I thought it would be easy. So, I begin formatting the drive and try to install Windows back to the hard drive. The problem is, I have partitioned the hard disk to 4 partitions with each one works as storage of media and work files. When, I format the hard disk, I have mistakenly deleted all my family photos and some valuable work files. So, I bought external hard disk Hitachi 160GB for $50 and send it a shop to recover my deleted data. They charged me $30 for data recovery process.
Actually, I wanted to try to repair my computer on my own. But, the first step itself was disaster. Next, there were problem copying Windows library (.dll) files into hard disk while installing new Windows. So, I suspect, something is wrong with my DVD driver. So, I get a new Samsung 22x DVD burner for $20 then tried to install back again. It shows the same error. One of my friends works in computer shop advice me that could be hard disk failure. It is 3 years old and there are no warranties for this hard drive. It left me no choice to get a new hard disk to try. That cost me another $50 to get SATA Samsung 160GB hard disk with 3 years warranty.
I tried back again, the error same message “Windows unable to install, there could be something wrong with your hard disk or if you use SCSI connection make sure it connected well” appeared again for this new hard disk. So, I seriously thought, OH MY GOD, I just flushed away $70. I was thinking, either there could be something wrong the motherboard, RAM or the cables. So, I changed SATA cable costing $1 and the error is still the same. Next, I removed 2GB RAM (2 slots) and place only 1GB RAM and tries back. It works. No errors. No blue screen. Installation succeeded. I tried back again with another slot of 1GB RAM, and it shows back the blue screen.
Finally, I found out the real problem of blue screen, auto shutdown, computer hang is all because of this stupid RAM. I would have save $150 if I remove that RAM slot at earliest. Have you tried repairing your own computer? Do you have any experience like this?
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Wow, that’s very aching. It just about the RAM and you have lost $150 just because a mistaken action. I mean you have referred some ‘experts’ about the problem but no one give you the exact solution. Then, I think, your story taught me well. Never trust expert. Learn to it by yourself.
*Anybody else, please don’t copy this.
Yeah, one of my friend is still working for more than few years now in computer repair field. Unable to answer the problem exactly. But, at first he guessed about the RAM. Never thought it could be the problem.
That’s my routine work when I involve in IT Department. Just retired, and now I am using mac and also using windows as virtual os in my mac.
Good to hear you’re on Mac now. I wish to get a Mac soon. Why are you retired so early from IT department? I’m sure you can learn a lot of interesting stuff there.
i’ve heard about the blue screen of death, but have never experienced it myself. i can repair my own computer up until a point. comfortable with restoring and reformatting the harddrive and putting on a new OS. if the computer is very old, i might treat myself to a new one. right now i don’t see me doing that for years.
Repairing old computers is harder because hard to find some parts. Just like SDRAM, nowadays, we can’t find it easily. Even if someone is selling, the price would be very high. The same goes with the mainboard that doesn’t support SATA cable.
Maybe we got bit by the same virus. My computer crashed this weekend. Unlike you, I could never repair it on my own. We had the Geek Squad come out and it cost more than $150 and it took over two hours, but he did have to wipe the hard drive clean and reload Windows.
I’m guessing it could be some virus or worms that stays on our memory. I heard about this type of virus/worm back in 5-7 years ago. $150 is a lot for format and install windows. Shops around Penang, are offering less than $20 for this work.
Hey Atniz,
I’ve had same experiences like you, in fact several times, and each one just as annoying. Memory is usually the culprit when it comes to blue screens, too bad you have to learn it the hard way. Nevertheless, its an experience
I think everyone who uses Windows have this experience. I was over confident there. Lack of proper tools and knowledge cost me some money. But, the knowledge learned is priceless.
I have been lucky. I did get this nasty little thing that made my arrow on my laptop push everything down so I couldn’t search the web or anything. I went and researched somethings that were in my applications list, removed it and voila it works!
Wow, you able to find out the reason so easily. I wish I could find it easily too. Maybe, my luck was not so good on that day.
Atniz,
While I applaud your willingness to get “down & dirty” solving your problem, I think that you were in a no win situation…
Perhaps you have more technical ability than I, but for such a condition I would have considered an entirely different machine rather than trying to fix the existing one. The first step I would have taken was to rescue as much data as possible.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your photos. I hope that you had some sort of backup.
Kyle
Hi Kyle,
I use to repair computers but never done this work for years too. Maybe, I’m over confident there. A good price to pay for this lesson. Actually, I able to recover photos back again from data recovery. Now, I have an external hard drive and stores all important files there. No reason if my hard disk get formated automatically by some dirty virus or worms.
I have customers like you – and I just love them to death. you didn’t start from the inside to figure it out; you started from the outside.
first thing is to listen to the beeps and then look up the error code. did you do that dear ?
aaahhhhh,,, next time Talk to A BadGal and we can probably help you save a buck on your repairs.
btw, we are A+ Certified, and specialize in XP Errors.
See Entrecard does bring good things to your blog daily.
Actually, I removed casing speaker as it is annoying to hear the beep every time we start the computer. I know how the beeps sound when RAM is undetected. Next time, I will consult with you first before opening the casing. Yeah, it is still worth to be in Entrecard network.
Hello Atniz,
I had a similar nightmare. I changed from a dell desktop which is proprietary in nature, meaning its parts do not fit or play well with other manufacturers or custom builds, and went to a custom built Antec 900 case with lots of other goodies inside. All went well until I decided to try and install vista on a new hard drive. My error was not disconnecting the other hard drives before running install, and as you would guess, the install formatted and reinstalled vista over my main data drive! i was literally beside myself.
I had maybe 85% of my data backed up to an external drive so all wasn’t lost with exception of a few new clients work which was not to hard to replicate and save.
Lesson learned? Always disconnect all drives before installing a new OS. Always have multiple backups. Always keep your OS on one hard drive and your data on another hard drive. Id even suggest to go so far as having an external USB hard drive to store all your client work and special data on just to be safe.
So, as you could imagine when I recently installed the new windows seven beta OS first thing I did was remove all other hard drives and install on a clean hard drive. No problems what so ever and windows seven ROCKS! Very clean, quick and intuitive OS. I think Ill go far as to say its better than XP in many ways, and blows away the resource intensive vista. I highly recommend windows seven, and you can get the trial version free from MS web site.
I think we all need an external hard drive just to store our important files. It is very frustrating to lose some of family photos where you can’t find anywhere if got deleted and couldn’t recover. Luckily, I able to recover almost 100% of lost data. I heard about Windows 7 reviews too. Everyone says it is a lot better than XP and incomparable to Vista (sucks). Can’t wait to get the original copy soon.
you should consult others first.
sembangkomputer.com might help you
A good lesson learned. I guess, twitter also a useful tool. I get so many advices there too after this happened.