PC repair

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Allibert
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PC repair

Post by Allibert » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 9:36 am

Does anyone know of a reliable and reasonably-priced PC repair man? MY PC is stuck at the boot screen and doesn't recognise the attached keyboard.

I am grateful for any pointers.

Alan

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sierra2469alpha
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Post by sierra2469alpha » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 9:54 am

Alan - have you tried booting into your BIOS and checking that all your peripherals are being recognised? Most BIOS's have this information on the first couple of pages. If all look OK, can you advise what operating system you're using? If you're using a flavour of Windoze, have you tried booting into safe mode and checking aforementioned keyboard?

HTH, Mr. P

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Hi

Post by Allibert » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:31 am

Mr P. That's the problem. It stops before I can't boot it in any mode and since it doesn't recognize the keyboard it just sits there

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Post by sierra2469alpha » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:59 pm

Alan - is it a notebook or desktop? If it's a desktop, what type of keyboard connection: PS/2 or USB? Are any lights (eg. CAPS lock or NumLock showing on boot? Have you tried a different keyboard? If it's a PS/2 keyboard, have you tried disconnecting it and trying a USB keyboard (I have one if you need to borrow it).

Also try booting from your install CD, some offer you an option to boot to a DOS prompt. From there, see if the keyboard is working.

Am about to start the clutching at straws options!

P

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Hi Mr P

Post by Allibert » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 1:39 pm

Alan - is it a notebook or desktop? If it's a desktop, what type of keyboard connection: PS/2 or USB? Are any lights (eg. CAPS lock or NumLock showing on boot? Have you tried a different keyboard? If it's a PS/2 keyboard, have you tried disconnecting it and trying a USB keyboard (I have one if you need to borrow it).

Also try booting from your install CD, some offer you an option to boot to a DOS prompt. From there, see if the keyboard is working.

Am about to start the clutching at straws options!

P



had a wireless one but that stopped working - via USB. since that didn't work attached a ps/2 one - doesn't work either and can't boot from PC :?

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Post by sierra2469alpha » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 1:48 pm

OK did you try booting from your install CD/ Windoze CD?

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Re: Hi Mr P

Post by ksl » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 1:58 pm

Allibert wrote:Alan - is it a notebook or desktop? If it's a desktop, what type of keyboard connection: PS/2 or USB? Are any lights (eg. CAPS lock or NumLock showing on boot? Have you tried a different keyboard? If it's a PS/2 keyboard, have you tried disconnecting it and trying a USB keyboard (I have one if you need to borrow it).

Also try booting from your install CD, some offer you an option to boot to a DOS prompt. From there, see if the keyboard is working.

Am about to start the clutching at straws options!

P



had a wireless one but that stopped working - via USB. since that didn't work attached a ps/2 one - doesn't work either and can't boot from PC :?
Keyboard on the otherhand may fault and freeze. So check the connections. USB ports break quite often especially on all in one motherboards! If that's the case it may mean a new motherboard.

So you have another problem what's your location, you can PM me, I used to build computers by the hundreds, although it's going back 12 years and much has changed. How many beeps, does the computer make after pressing the start button, it should only beep once if it's a desk top.

When first turn on, it will go through it's checks, it tells you to press delete or F2 sometimes F8 to enter Bios. But if you haven't a clue it's best left to someone that knows what they are doing.

It could be a simple connection problem, memory problem, or hard disk problem, or even the motherboard, most likely to be the hard disk operating system is corrupted, although the number of beeps is an indicator of the fault. 1 beep is OK, 2 beeps i think is memory and 3 beeps hard disk, 4 keyboard. if it beeps once for OK and is freezing, then the files of the OS are corrupt! Maybe virus, may be a change in the registry, also closing down the OS the wrong way can corrupt the files.

I do have my Computer bible with me, although its a wee old now. The quickest way would be to fdisk and reinstall the operating system, if you have it on disk, it's located on a partition drive D, then you may have a problem, unless you can bump start it from the BIOS or get to the dos promt.
Last edited by ksl on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 2:35 pm, edited 6 times in total.

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Post by bigfilsing » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 2:13 pm

I agree ..best left to someone with experience.

It sounds like you keyboard has died and that the "halt on faults" option in the bios is set.
So you find yourself in a vicious circle It's halting on the keyboard fault but you need a keyboard to alter the bios.

A quick trip to one of the many SLS repair shops will at least diagnose the problem for you.

Good luck

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Post by sierra2469alpha » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 2:48 pm

Alan - worst comes to worst and you don't have a backup, I have a combined IDE/SATA hard drive connector so we can use that to pull your data off.

HTH, P

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Thanks guys

Post by Allibert » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 2:52 pm

Am central (near River Valley). Not getting any beeps unless it's not recognising that either.

Can't format the hard drive as i can't get into command mode and anyway the real reason I want it up and running is to get to some files stored on it

Looks like i'll have to got SLS after all. Anyone know someone reliable there?

Thanks,
Alan

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Post by sierra2469alpha » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 3:03 pm

Alan - as I said in my post I have a combined IDE/SATA adaptor which we can use to connect to one of my notebooks and pull the data off for you if worst comes to worst.

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hmmm

Post by Allibert » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 3:24 pm

Thanks P.

will check with SLS first to see if they can get it started and may have to resort to that as a last possibility.

See ya tomorrow:) could u bring the USB keyboard sop i can try it anyway?

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Post by DimWit Kid » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 3:58 pm

Al, no beep is bad news. It's usually motherboard problem, if it's peripheral/keyboard, memory, or even BIOS issue, you will still get some kind of beeps (like two or three instead of usual one).
But the good news is that your HDD may still be alive....

Just a little suggestion: I found that for checking going to one of the smaller shops in Funan (fifth floor) gets you faster service... SLS shops, when they are busy (read: have to attend buying customers) they tend to ignore the service request or push you behind... There are some places in Funan 4th or 5th floor (not sure) right next to escalator - Hwa Guan, Hwa Dar.. one of those shops with component price lists in front... They have no customers so they'll attend right away :P

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Post by sierra2469alpha » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 4:02 pm

Alan - consider it not only my pleasure but my honour. Oh, and also to whack Magoo's hand with said keyboard for making off to some Central American economy with our hard earned winning certificate (see positing in the other!)

Just checked with one of my old techies - have a look around the ports on the back - look for broken connections, blackness, bugs (of the fried variety), etc. He also suggested that if you have some Alco-Wipes (those things they wipe you with before they give you an injection/take blood) then try rubbing one of those around the "male" end of the lead - might be a bit of corrosion etc.

Challenger in Goldhill also have a similar service - and as a member I think I get 15 minutes of free diagnosis time. Happy to check that out for you also.

[Edit: Added Challenger]

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