How can I get my 10-year-old Dan PC to start up properly again?
Q I have a Dan PC that I bought in 2001. This originally had Windows 98 installed but I later upgraded to XP. Recently, I uninstalled a scanner program that I no longer needed – and this seemed to cause a problem.
Now, when I try to start it up, the computer gets part way through before resetting. In an attempt to beat the system I managed to get some control, but then tried unsuccessfully to start using the original Windows 98 floppy disk.
I also have a recovery CD supplied by Dan. I no longer have the Windows XP disc.
The computer is obviously still alive, as text appears on the screen. Is this a dead duck or is anything recoverable? Perhaps I need to build a new PC . Alan Brooker
A We took a deep breath while considering our response to your plea. On the one hand, expending any effort trying to revive such an old computer seems silly. On the other, it is not our place to judge why you might want to recover this aged PC.
So, we are compelled to begin by saying that, if nothing else, you certainly shouldn’t spend much money trying to breathe life into this computer. However, we do have a couple of ideas.
First off, from the photo you sent we could see that the PC is reporting an 'Invalid system disk' error message. This points to problems with the hard disk – it has likely become corrupted in some way.
It is possible that this is in some way related to the removal of the scanner software but, as likely, the drive has simply broken down after 10 years of busy spinning.
You asked if anything is recoverable, which makes us think you might be more interested in rescuing personal files and folders stored on the hard disk than resurrecting a decade-old PC.
If this is the case, then one suggestion is to open up the computer, remove the hard disk and then buy a suitable caddy or housing to allow you to connect it to another computer to use as an external drive.
In this way – and assuming the disk itself isn’t dead – you will be able use Windows Explorer to view the drive’s contents and copy the personal files to another drive.
Alternatively, if the data isn’t important then you could attempt to revive the PC by using the manufacturer-supplied recovery CD. It is important to understand, though, that – even if it works – using this CD will almost certainly result in everything on the hard disk being wiped. If the data is important, then, try our first suggestion.
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A reader contacted me the other day to ask how she could revive her PC, which she had configured to dual-boot Windows XP and Vista. It seems she ran a popular system-maintenance utility, and the next time she started Vista the machine just cycled
Feng provided links to instructions on how to use the Recovery Console for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Once the MBR has been scrubbed, users can run antivirus software to scan the PC for additional malware for removal, Feng added.
I had, and remained with, Windows ME on my home computer on up until XP was SP2 some few months because ME was so much more stable and functional than XP. The ONLY problems I ever experienced with ME was HP printer drivers and that problem continues
But Windows Vista and 7 (don't recall if XP did) have a tool in the recovery environment (RE) to rewrite the MBR - the "bootrec.exe" command (from a MS web site) although perhaps most PC users will not feel comfortable doing it themselves?
Q I have a Dan PC that I bought in 2001. This originally had Windows 98 installed but I later upgraded to XP. Recently, I uninstalled a scanner program that I no longer needed – and this seemed to cause a problem. Now, when I try to start it up,
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