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#1 2009-08-13 1:19 pm
- macdudeosx
- Not Andy Hertzfield
- Registered: 2006-07-10
- Posts: 15
Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
I've been a life long mac user, so I have no idea how to fix this.
I have a computer I built for running some Win applications I needed. The computer has 2 hard drives, one with Ubuntu and one with Windows (XP SP2). The computer normally boots in to GRUB first (On the Ubuntu drive) so I can choose to boot in to Windows or Ubuntu. This set up has worked fine for a year, but now all of a sudden Windows will not boot, it will not even load the boot screen. I get some very quick messages on the screen http://img195.imageshack.us/i/image098l.jpg/ and http://img31.imageshack.us/i/image097t.jpg/. I can access the Windows drive just fine from Ubuntu, so I can do repairs from there. I had antivirus software and did a scan just yesterday, so I dont think its a virus. I also have Wine installed on Ubuntu, so if there is a windows diagnostic tool anyone knows of it might help.
I have spent some time trying to get Windows to run the way I want it, so I want to try to avoid a reinstall, but if I must I must, I've kinda expected it.
Any help appreciated.
My Macs,
Apple //e, Apple //GS, Mac Plus, Performa, iMac G4, iMac G5, iBook G4, MacBook, NeXT Station 3.3
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#2 2009-08-13 1:23 pm
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
- Moderator
- From: Carrollton, TX USA
- Registered: 2000-01-31
- Posts: 13800
Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
Do you really want to know why most IT departments never troubleshoot a Windows OS problem, but simply reimage the hard drive?
Because the registry and .DLL mess is nearly impossible to efficiently and reliably troubleshoot.
Have you managed to get where you can select safe boot? If not....
I suspect you will need to reinstall.
You can wait for others to confirm or recommend other procedures, but you may end up there in the end.
I'm not dead yet.
There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.
"There are few things graven in stone, excepting your date of death."
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#3 2009-08-13 1:36 pm
- macdudeosx
- Not Andy Hertzfield
- Registered: 2006-07-10
- Posts: 15
Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
Ha, yeah ever since I installed Windows, its been nothing but trouble, if its not one thing its another. I'v expected something catastrophic sooner or later, so I'm not too devastated. I only trust my mac with real stuff so I dont loose anything.
I can get to the safe boot screen but none of the boot up options work, not safe nor last good config or the others. They all just restart the machine.
Ill wait for a day or two for a reinstall. But would it be possible to take some programs from Windows and save them on my Ubuntu drive so I will not have to completely reinstall? Or do the programs install files all over the place?
Last edited by macdudeosx (2009-08-13 1:47 pm)
My Macs,
Apple //e, Apple //GS, Mac Plus, Performa, iMac G4, iMac G5, iBook G4, MacBook, NeXT Station 3.3
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#4 2009-08-13 2:01 pm
- mrreet2001
- Member
- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4334
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Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
macdudeosx wrote:
Ill wait for a day or two for a reinstall. But would it be possible to take some programs from Windows and save them on my Ubuntu drive so I will not have to completely reinstall?
doesn't work like that
macdudeosx wrote:
Or do the programs install files all over the place?
because of that reason.
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#5 2009-08-13 8:36 pm
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
sturner wrote:
I suspect you will need to reinstall.
You can wait for others to confirm or recommend other procedures, but you may end up there in the end.
I expect that also, as the user does not really seem to understand Windows, so would present even more difficulty than usual in troubleshooting; and it's seldom easy from a distance. Not easy in person, mostly.
I'd recommend a Repair Install first, before resorting to nuke & pave. If successful you won't need to reinstall your apps and data. I'd also recommend installing SP3 afterwards.
Macdudeosx, I'd consider picking up some kind of guide to Windows to avoid future problems. If you use typical Mac practices with a Win machine, it's usually a quick route to what you describe- trouble from the get-go.
I'm typing this on an XP machine that began with XP Pro SP1 installed over 5 years ago, and it's been thru multiple lightning strikes and other stressors without a UPS. The hardware is mostly even older. It's still on the original install.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#6 2009-08-13 10:18 pm
- macdudeosx
- Not Andy Hertzfield
- Registered: 2006-07-10
- Posts: 15
Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
Thats what I ended up doing, the repair and reinstall. I get a few error messages at start up now but at least the system runs. The only thing that does not work is the sound card. Its a Creative Sound Blaster Live card. Windows recognizes it and says its enabled and working but Windows is telling me there is no Audio Device. I can hear system sounds but nothing else. I had no driver for it before the crash. I installed one for it just a few moments ago but it still is not working.
Any ideas?
My Macs,
Apple //e, Apple //GS, Mac Plus, Performa, iMac G4, iMac G5, iBook G4, MacBook, NeXT Station 3.3
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#7 2009-08-14 3:07 am
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
Try installing SP3. It works best if you DL the standalone package than updating directly over the internet in my experience. The SBLive is an older card. Not unlikely there's a driver already in Windows for it, the more recent in SP3 rather than SP2 from years ago. There are various ways; Control Panel/Add Hardware is a good approach to start with.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#8 2009-08-14 8:37 am
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
- Moderator
- From: Carrollton, TX USA
- Registered: 2000-01-31
- Posts: 13800
Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
Yea, and change your option on automatic updates. You are going to have updates almost continually, but it's better to download and install, rather than run them live. If you've ever had trouble with a live update from Apple you will understand, but Windows will and can absolutely nuke and rend your system once it finds a bobble in the software.
I'm not dead yet.
There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.
"There are few things graven in stone, excepting your date of death."
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#9 2009-08-14 9:18 am
- dv
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: Windows Problems (surprise surprise)
sturner wrote:
Do you really want to know why most IT departments never troubleshoot a Windows OS problem, but simply reimage the hard drive?
Because the registry and .DLL mess is nearly impossible to efficiently and reliably troubleshoot.
Exactly. I've taken the time for my home computer a couple of times, but at work? No thanks.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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