Computer will not start up

[Georgebruv772]

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone can help.

Every time I turn my computer on it comes up with:


Inter(R) Boot Agent FE v4.1.18
Copyright (C) 1997-2005, Intel Corporation

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable.
PXE-MOF: Exiting Intel Boot Agent.
Operating system not found


I assume there is something wrong with the hard drive. What I would like to do, as well as fixing the computer, is get all the information off of the hard drive and onto my new computer.

Thanks

George

 

[Mark56]

Your guess could well be right, your master boot record is corrupt which could be your hard drive failling or you have a Malware infection that has corrupted the MBR.

To get the files off the drive you could either hook it up to another desktop using the internal connections or get a USB adapter.

First and foremost, when you do this download this anti Malware scanner and scan it before you move any files to avoid the spread of any infections.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

If you have infections on the drive it may just be that the Malware has corrupted the MBR. In which case you may be able to repair it but I need to know your version of Windows to give the correct instructions. Please also state if you have the Windows disc.

 

[Georgebruv772]

My operating system is Windows XP Professional and I don't have the disk.

I don't know that much about computers, so what do you mean by 'hooking it up to another desktop using the internal connections'.

I thought removing the hard drive would wipe everything on it, is that true?

 

[Tmagic650]

"hooking it up to another desktop using the internal connections"... This means adding your 'broken" drive to another working computer as a second drive in order to salvage any important data. Since you don't have an OS (XP operating system disc) and "you don't know that much about computers", take the sick computer to a computer savvy friend or a computer repair shop, and have them fix it. Your hard drive is probably bad and you will need a new drive and an XP program disc anyway

 

[Mark56]

You could just try following this guide first which will confirm the condition of your drive. Then we can guide you on fitting a new drive and save you some money. And you will have learned something.

Identify the make of your hard drive and then use one of the links below to get the manufacturers diagnostic for ISO CD. Burn the image file to a CD, boot the PC with the disc in the drive and run the diagnostics. You first need to set the CD drive to 1st in the boot order in the Bios setup.

If you do not have an image burner use this free software to make the CD.

http://www.isoimageburner.com/


ExcelStor: http://www.excelstor.com/eng/support.php?sub_id=3

Hitachi/IBM: http://www.hitachigst.com/support/downloads/

Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/downloads/support_in_es.html

Toshiba Fujitsu: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic

Seagate, Maxtor & Quantum:http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads

Western Digital:http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=en

 

[Georgebruv772]

I have a Toshiba computer and none of the diagnostic tools I downloaded from the link you gave me had ISO files to be burnt onto a disk.

What shall I do now?

 

[Mark56]

You must have downloaded the wrong file, all the sites have options. You can download a file that will run the diagnostics in windows or you can select an ISO file for CD.

You must select the link that corresponds to the make of your hard drive. If you tell me the make of your hard drive I will give more precise instructions to get the correct file to make a bootable CD.

 

[Georgebruv772]

Here's the information on the hard drive:

Toshia Disk Drive MK6034GSX
HDD2D35 B ZK01 S

 

[Georgebruv772]

And it's a Tecra A6

 

[Mark56]

You need to download the DOS diagnostic tool. Unzip the download and burn the ISO to disc. I suspect you originally downloaded the first one which is not an ISO it is designed to run under Windows.

 

[Georgebruv772]

I downloaded the DOS diagnostic tool and unzipped it all, but I still cannot find an ISO file.

I have Windows 7 on this computer, so I don't know if that makes any difference.

I ran the ISO image burner, but it can't find anything in the fjdt_700 folder (the DOS tool).

 

[Mark56]

OK, I just downloaded the file myself and you are quite correct, it is a .exe file that runs in DOS from windows. That must be the only company out of the list that don't do an ISO to burn to a bootable CD, sorry, my mistake.

So, as your PC will not boot you can only use this on another PC with your old drive hooked up to it. When you open the download, after extraction, double left click on the application file and it will run, and should find your drive to test.

 

[Bobbye]

Helpers might want to take a look at this: https://www.techspot.com/vb/topic163961.html from 4/25.

Severe RAM problem.

 

[Mark56]

Bobbye, as there has been no reply from the OP for over three months I would suspect the problem was solved . Unless the OP comes back there is nothing we can do.

Interesting to see the previous problem but I suspect this one was due to a failed hard drive, bad connection or infection.

 

[Georgebruv772]

Sorry for not replying, it was a faulty hard drive. I had to get it repaired.

 

[Bobbye]

I hope you had some pennies saved up to add more Ram!

Good call Mark