Computer crashes etc.

Any of you guys near Columbus, Ohio that would like to take a look at this thing? I'm so desperate right now. I have an appointment with a place called "All Computers Fixed" for tomorrow to come over to take a look at it. I am so worried because I do not want to lose a lot of my data. I have 4 hard drives on the machine and the drive that Windows is installed on doesn't contain most of my important stuff.

errors with memtest are not good.
Crucial does stand by their warranties. RMA it.

I don't remember how I ran it before but my question is how do I run memtest if I can't boot the computer? Right before windows would load, after the win xp flash screen and status bar, the computer gives me the blue screen of death.

Do I download memtest onto a different computer and put it maybe on a floppy or something?

if you can't boot the computer, then the only way to test ram is to put it in another system. You have a hardware failure. Memtest is really designed for systems with failing ram that still boot somewhat. If windows crashes immediately it can be caused by a variety of things.
What kind of BSOD are you getting?

Hey Daddystabz

You have : 4 hard drives
Drive 1 = Windows Installation = Not important to you
Drive 2,3,4 = All your data = Important

Why dont you reinstall Windows on drive 1 then?

That way you wont lose any data.

What do you think about that?

NB: When you install windows on a drive always make sure that you partion that drive, so that you can always reload windows if you have a problem without losing your data

That is basically what I did.....I installed windows to C drive but the vast majority of my important files are on the other 3 drives. I had some documents on C drive I'd love to have though. Maybe I should count my losses and just reinstall windows. As for what you mentioned Tedster, I don't have another machine that will accept the type of RAm I have in this system. My other computer uses RDRAM. What is BSOD?

I have an appointment for tomorrow to have some people come look at it. They are charging me $60 per hour to check it out. If you were me would you try to do a windows reinstall tonight to see if that works so I can save myself money? The only thing that worries me though is if it is a hardware issue then reinstalling windows probably will mean nothing.

Also....Wazza...is there a guide anywhere I can follow to do just that? I've always wanted to make a seperate partition just for the operating system on the C drive and have everything else on that drive in a different partition.

BSOD = Blue screen of Death

There is something definitely wrong with your comp. I rate its better to have someone else come have a look at it who knows exactly what they are doing.

I think you are in a lose-lose situation. You just have to weigh up the pro and cons.

You can reinstall and lose the data on that drive, but I think it might possibly fix your comp because right from the beginning it sounded like you had a software problem not a hardware problem. Reinstalling will fix that. This is what the PC Tech will probably do, but then again maybe he can fix it.

Tough Situation. **** Luck on your decision. Let me know what the outcome is !

How-to : Partitioning your hard drive and doing a windows installation

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313348

If you need any help, just buzzzzzzzz

Later

Thanks for everything Wazza. You have been a fantastic help and I truly appreciate all you have done. As for the link you just posted, I already know how to partition a drive to install windows. What I am wondering is how to give windows its own seperate partition on a drive and have everything else in the other partition so that if windows crashes the rest of the data on that drive will be safe?

Does that article somewhere explain how to do that or is there a guide to do that somewhere else?

Thanks!

Upon further inspection it seems the article does indeed discuss how to set up multiple partitions on the same hard drive. Does anyone here know how large to make the partition that will contain windows only? I want to simply put windows in its own little partition and everything else in the other large partition on that hard drive.

Also, should I do a format c: before doing this windows reinstall/seperate partition bit? I know it is usually advisable to format the C drive prior to a new windows installation but what do you all think?

How big is your hard drive?

The one that currently contains windows is a 40 GB. I also have another 40 GB, a 160 GB and a 200 GB.

Anyone know the answers to my questions just above?

I guess what I'm trying to figure out right now is how much space will windows xp home need for its own partition?

Divide 40 GB into 10 GB and 30 GB
10 GBs for operating system and other programs and apps
30 GBs for personal stuff eg: musci, movies, documents

otherwise use the entire drive for the OS and apllications
and the other drives for personal stuff.

Sounds like a good idea. I was pretty much using the C drive just for windows and some apps anyhow. I just hate to lose "My Documents" because it had some nice stuff in it I would like to have kept. Oh well. Should I reformat the C drive too?

Why? What have you decided to do? Did you get the PC Tech to come round?

Do you know that you can point your "My Documents" folder to save stuff on the other drives eg: D drive

Yeah...I just wished I would have done that before this...hehe. I was already going to make a new docs folder and keep it on a diff hard drive for my docs.

As for the pc tech, he is supposed to be here by 6pm est. and it is only 1:51pm est. presently. I was thinking if I do a full windows reinstall and get it fixed before he gets here then maybe I'd save some money.

Ok...new update. I reinstalled windows and now I can get back into the computer again! YAY!!!

However...only 2 of my hard drives are showing up now. It only shows the 2 40 GB ones. The 160 GB and the 200 GB one do not show up. I went into disk management and do not see them there either. I am now trying to troubleshoot to see how to get them to show up and be usable. I looked at them in the case and one appears to be missing its jumper. I have no idea where it is. Any ideas/suggestions?

Also, I forgot that my computer uses a RAID setup and had forgotten all about that. I may have to do another windows reinstall and try to set it up for RAID. I forget where it gives you that option in the setup.

I also need to figure out whether to cancel the tech coming out tonight or not since I might be on the verge of having it fixed.

Could it be that the reason the 160 GB and the 200 GB are not showing up is that I didn't set up the RAID controler? I remember having to set it up when installing win xp in the past during the setup. I forgot when it asks you if you have any RAID stuff you have to set up during the installation. Anyone got a clue on this? Is this why the other 2 hard drives are not showing up?

Also....I already installed windows and totally forgot about the RAID stuff. Should I simply go through it again and try to get the RAID set up in windows installation?

I also read somewhere that when setting up RAID to make sure you disconnect all the drives that have important data on them as to make sure you don't lose data. Is this something I would need to do?

Since this thread is no longer dealing with viruses/spyware etc. I have moved it to the Windows OS forum.

Regards Howard

Rgr

Any help to the couple above posts I made?

I can`t really help you with this as I`ve never personally used raid. Therefore this is outside my area of expertise.

However, there are plenty of members here who will be able to advise you.

Regards Howard

I seem to remember there being a step in the windows xp installation where it asks something about if you have any RAID stuff you need to set up and if you do it takes you to that step in the setup. Any idea anyone? Where are you Wazza? I need you! hehe

I seem to remember it being within the first steps of the setup process. It asks you to press F6 to load third party RAID drivers.

You may find this thread HERE useful.

Regards Howard