Formatting Error

Zack

Zack

Active Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
353
Hey guys, guess what, I have another PC problem!
Here's the story:
I bring my PC to the shop and they keep it for 2 1/2 days to run some tests.
They figured out it was a RAM problem, so they replaced my RAM stick.
=
$60.00 for tests, $30.00 for labor :/

So after going into the shop the guy tells me it's all fixed up, tries to run the setup, gets the "Missing a file error" and restarts the PC and gives me the check. I know right? So I ask him about re-formatting my PC, he tells me just to pop in the disk and boot from it, following the setup.

I take my PC home, connect it, get a 5 minute power problem with my PC, then it decideds to turn on. I can access my desktop, so I pop in the CD, it does its thing, then asks me to restart so it can install windows. It restarts, then I boot from the disk, everything goes fine, loads all the files, starting up windows, then... BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!!!

I'll post this in the DOD:S forum too, and just to let you know, the BSOD tells me to check if my hardrive is corrupted and run CHKDSK /r or something, but the funny thing is I can't even get the CD to finish so I can run it!

Please help.
 
so yeah - lots of questions here. Frist, whatever you do, i better not find this posted somplace else in these forums or i'm gonna freak out and lecture you. :p

next, what was wrong with the pc that turned out to be "RAM sticks"... and how do you spend $90 to get back a broken computer? and WTF is 60 for tests and 30 for laber? um, can they do tests without labor? how is that different?

what is a '5 minute power problem'?

are you trying to do a windows repair or a format and reinstall?

are you getting the problem before or after the format?

before or after it loads the setup files and windows setup fiels and boots into the graphical non DOS looking installation window?
 
Ok. answers:

RAM: They didn't tell me anything exactly but said one of my 1GB RAM sticks was causing the problem. They were right about that,

Price: I know, wtf right? They charged me 60 bucks just to run TESTS to see the problem, tell me it, and since my RAM is still under warranty, they decide without my permission to randomly charge me a $30 fee when I could easily put the RAM in myself. Theres the $90 part.

Power Problem: I plugged in my computer, turned on the switches, and pressed the power button. Nothing happened, then a spark of blue light emitted from my PC (I have blue light sticks on the inside XD). So I thought it was a quick power failure, then I kept unplugging, re-plugging, and re-pressing the power button and then finally it turned on.

Format: I'm trying to wipe my PC clean and re-install windows (I might set aside a partion for Ubuntu [another OS] so I might need some recommendations on what to do for that] )

BSOD Problem: I have the Windows Install disk inserted, while on my desktop (where all of my icons are, not to confuse you) I run it. I select New Install (re-installs Windows completely) and after it prepares for set-up it tells me to restart my PC first. It restarts, then my PC automatically boots from the Windows Install CD. It has the nice blank blue screen titled "Windows Setup" and at the bottom it shows me everything it is loading from the CD. So good so far. It then tells me it is starting up Windows to go through the whole install process, then gives me the BSOD.

When BSOD Occurs: I have the set-up running, telling me it is about to start up Windows, then I get the BSOD.

Non-Graphical Window: That's where it boots the set-up files.

Hope that makes it clearer :D
 
If you're reformatting anyway, why don't you just use your Linux disc to reformat the drive, repartition it if needed, and then start installing. Although I must say, I've never heard of Windows giving the BSOD while running on the disc.
 
but i wanted to know what what was wrong with the computer that you brough tit to the shop.


the more correct way is never to start from your desktop. put the cd in, reboot, dark blue screen whiel it loads setup files,

then you will have to press f8 to accept the windows agreement, it should check for previouse versions of windows and when it asks you do not want to repair. you want to install a fresh coppy / a different folder. Then when it gets to the part where it asks for you to select the hard drive or partition delete the partition you currently have, then create a new partition or 2 two if you want and then tell windows to install on the NEW partition, it will then asks you for full or quick format - just choose full format and get rid of as much problems as we can.
 
Ok here's a detailed explination of what is going wrong:

I boot from the disk, it then gives me a light blue screen titled to the left, "Windows Setup"
At the bottom it says Loading files: i.e. A driver name
and then at the bottom, when it's loaded all the files, at the bottom it says, "Staring Windows"
Then after 5 seconds my screen goes black, then to the BSOD.

So to GreenMonkey, I can't even get to the options you talk about.
 
You still have bad RAM. Most blue screens during Windows setup are RAM based. If it's not RAM then it's some other hardware based issue. Probably motherboard or processor with a slight chance of it being the video card, power supply, or hard drive.
 
well if you have two ram sticks you can swap them with each other in the slots positions wise, and do the same with hard drive. Learn somehting new everyday, I didnt think it was possible to get a bsod durring that phase of windoew setup because its onyl running on an 8mb partition of the hard drive. I'm wondering if the hard drives are doing ok - do you hear any noiced when you get the bsod such as clicking?

you still havnt told me what was happening that made you bring it to the shop in the first place.
 
In the first place, my PC wouldn't boot. It gave me a blue screen when I tried to just boot Windows.

I don't hear any noises when the bsod occurs.
 
well there is only a few basic things that are being used at that point. RAM and Hard drive are the only two things i could htink to cause that error.

A processor miscalculation wouldnt blue screen, and if it couldnt read form the CD (which it isnt doing at that exact moment) but it would give an error message not a blue screen.

I mean, you can check temperature and see if your video car dor processor is over heating, which would be weird in a texted base os, and if you had enough crap inyour heatsink to make that happen and the "shop" didnt notice then they are flat out idiots.

Then again, you paid $90 and got your computer back in the exact same shape it was in originally and it was supposedly "fixed". They kinda sound liek idiots that happen to rip you off. If I were you I would be like (*&^%$#@@#$%^&^%$# if wrong with you/ fix my computer now!

Which reminds me, if you pai $60 for testing, $30 for 'labor' how much did you pay for parts? and what kind of "testing" did they do. And dont respond with "they didnt say" because its your job to ask, most states have laws about auto mechanics needing to show you bad parts etc, and there may be no law for copmuters but morality says they should be the same.



So anyways, if you dont get the so called shop to right the situation, and it turns out that nothing is overheating then I'de really have to say that its your hard drive. That is what I would swap out next to see if it solves anything if it were in my office for repair. heh and if it turns out to be the hdd then i bet your old RAM was fine.

I'm at a loss for words still how this 'shop' could leave a paying customer with a non functioning computer. Who did you take it too anyways? This sounds liek class act geek squad right here.
 
Haha, your post cheered me up :]
I payed $60 for them to run tests, WTH I know, then $30 for them to set it up, they never asked if I could do it on my own :/, and the RAM was free (under warranty still :D)

And don't worry, I'm going into the shop tomorrow and making them fix it for free, because with the $60 wasted on 'testing' they obvoiusly missed quite a few things, and I'm also getting them to format my PC to have it cleanly wiped, and in the store I'm making sure it works.

It was Computer Builders Warehouse, ever heard of them?

Just looked up their site: http://www.cbwboca.com/

No suprises there...
 
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