computer help please

stevebullman

stevebullman

ive got some major computer problems and i need to perfom a hard disc format. i cant work out how to get into dos, used to be dead easy but its all changed since i did this last time.
help please!
 
If you do have XP:

Click on your Start tab.

Go to, All programs.

Go to accessories and from there you will see the 'Command Prompt' this is the clostest to DOS you will get in XP I believe. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT TYPE IN FORMAT ON THE C:\ DRIVE. You will never be able to use that computer again.

You need to open the command prompt and go to the root of the c:\ drive. If you don't know how, type in cd ..

When you get to the c:\ drive you need to run a disk check on it. Run it with a fix and it will report back to you what it found. The command to type in is chkdsk /f

This may not be the only thing you need to do depending on what problems you are having. Can you describe what is happening?
 
ok, didnt get this reply in time jeremy but thanks!
i formatted the hard disc, theres an option for doing it on the xp installation disc itself i discovered.
all loaded up but i have 2 problems that are pissing me off. 1 is that ive lost one of my mass storage devices, the memory stick slot basically, cant work out how to install it again.....and my wireless wont work, and i dont know how to install it or prompt windows to find it. im hooked up via ethernet cable to the router at the moment
 
I say the following with care and concern. Think about the similarities in the arbo industry.

When a user has determined they need to format their drive but lack the skills to do so all sorts of blinky warnings go off in my head.

I don't know the state of the art on the Windows side, but there are some wonderful Disk Tools applications that can repair things without completely reformatting. A reformat is like having warehouse problems so you have to wipe the entire contents of the warehouse.

But, if you are having problems with The Registry, you won't have to reformat, but you should fire the warehouse manager. Re-formatting just destroys the evidence. Keep track of your time, and pay yourself a decent wage (how about an IT support salary?) when you purchase your next computer-- one that doesn't use a Registry.
 
If you go to your device manager: start> control panel> System> Hardware> Device manager> Network adapters

You can then see what has installed and is working and what driver version you have. It might me as simple as enabling the device.
 
its a desktop, the wireless care came with the computer.
jim, ive done formats loads of times but not with xp, last time i did it it was just a case of restarting in dos mode, typing the commands and that was that.
formatting a pc is like having a brand new one, everything runs great and it really isnt too big a deal, having a few probs now but its nothing that wont get sorted
 
Yup, I think we've had this conversation before. Or I've had it so many times before. Its okay.

Don't doubt you can do it, either. Its just those flags go up. What you paying yourself? Or is it a hobby machine?

Do you have a good backup system or process? (aimed for our readers) When is the best time to schedule a back up? About 20 minutes before the drive crashes.

Putting on my John Lennon hat now. Imagine-- not having to do that level of wrenching on your computer.
 
my accounts are backed up every couple of days as a rule. didnt back up my pics. not work pics anyway, family pics are all backed up.
this wouldnt have happened had i been here anyways, this was totally unavoidable and someone isnt my favourite person today or which she will be reminded at bedtime
 
I don't know how old the computer is, but it is possible that you have newer hardware than XP recognizes out of the box. If you look in the Device Manager as mentioned in a previous post, the network adapter would should up with a question mark if it is not recognized, the same would hold true for the memory stick reader.

If the device is recognized, but doesn't work, you might need to download the software for the adapter and let if manage it instead of windows. I have an Intel wireless card, and need to use their software to run it. Windows XP can manage the connection, but I never got it to work exactly right without using the manufacture's software, which also was much easier to use.

If you can provide the company name and model of the computer, it might be easier to nail down any issues.

Were you able to save off any data that wasn't backed up previously? I am assuming if you could get a command prompt you could have off data before the format.
 
ive got the wireless working but not the card reader, just simply isnt there and i cant understand why windows wouldnt recognize it!
the computer is about 2 years old.
there was no data to save, it had been wiped somehow
 
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my wife

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