mookaloid
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 04:44 PM |
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Swapping hard drives
Hi computer experts
My daughters PC has stopped working (it froze then after it had been unplugged and plugged back in again it won't turn on)
1. any ideas?
2. If I take out the hard drive and put it in another machine, will it boot up so I can run that as a temporary measure? (windows XP)
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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britishtrident
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 04:56 PM |
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No
What is happening is it powering up at all ?
If it isn't it is likely to be a power pack problem -- easy & cheap to fix
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mookaloid
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 05:00 PM |
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I haven't actually seen it myself - will do in about an hour.
She tells me that there is no life at all so I guess that the power pack will be a likely suspect.
How can it be checked?
I remember a windows 98 hard drive going into another machine and working some time ago but I guess XP is different.
thanks
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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clockwork
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 05:01 PM |
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If you just need the data out of it this should work:
Take out hard-drive (remember to earth yourself)
Move bridge at back to "slave" position
Plug into another PC.
The other PC should boot as normal and see the other HD as (probably) d:\
Goodluck. Computer maladies can take ages to fix. I suggest buy another one (joke)
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JamJah
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 05:05 PM |
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Depends, if you have power (light on front) and post represented by a beep when your turn it on before the BIOS text (might be turned off thought).
if neither of those then your hard disk should be ok as it is a power or motherboard issue.
with xp you can migrate a booting hard drive but it will reconfigure when it recongnises the new motherboard/hardware.
better bet is to remove it, move the jumper to slave (boot has to be master) then add it to another computer and it will be reconized as a second hd.
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graememk
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 05:10 PM |
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psu.... if its an e-machine no doubt motherboard as well,
swap jumper to slave and place in another pc a temp measure, if you want a psu i can drop you a new one in the post for £10 inc p&p
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mookaloid
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 06:17 PM |
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Ok big problem, This is the pc
 
Rescued attachment sml2.jpg
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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mookaloid
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 06:18 PM |
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this is the inside
 
Rescued attachment sml1.jpg
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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graememk
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 06:23 PM |
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arghghg sata
my vote is psu
[Edited on 10/11/06 by graememk]
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mookaloid
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 06:23 PM |
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When I push the power button there is no screen activity, but the fan on the graphics card runs and I can hear a small amount of hard drive activity
but then it stops.
There are no bleeps but there is a single green LED showing on the motherboard.
I have unplugged the hard drive to see if I can get a no operating system found message but as said there is no screen activity at all.
I haven't seen this type of hard drive connection before and cannot connect it to my spare computer to download the files off the hard drive.
Please help 
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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mookaloid
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 06:24 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by graememk
arghghg sata
This is bad?
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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Ketchup
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 07:01 PM |
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when you power it up.. look at the keyboard and see if you get the num lock/caps etc lights blink, if not, and the hdd seems to spin up briefly, it
could point to a faulty system board, also make sure a monitor is plugged in, some will not start unless one is present.
power supply is a def possibilty also tho
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RichardK
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 07:48 PM |
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Mark, my main board supports sata if you need to get the data off and onto dvd.
Think the main problem is that most dell components are specific to dell so replacements must come from dell and with a fault like this could be psu
or mainboard, toss a coin and take a chance, psu will be the cheaper of the two even from dell.
You know where I am, you brought that cam over in Knaresborough, let me know if you need help.
Cheers
Rich
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Catpuss
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 08:31 PM |
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Ah Dell. They are a f**kr
I've had to have 3 GX270s recently fixed + I think we did about 10% at work, perhaps more.
All with the same two faults, either the PSU or mostlikey the capacitors around the CPU.
Open up the case and look for the capacitors on the motherboard. If they are swolen they have most likey failed.
New mobo I'm afraid.
If its out of warranty get a third party mobo and either a new PSU or a Dell to standard PSU mobo convertor plug (only a few quid IIRC at somwhere
like Scan).
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Catpuss
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 08:33 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
quote:
Originally posted by graememk
arghghg sata
This is bad?
Nope good, nice and simple. Problem is transplanting into a non SATA mobo.
If it comes to it you can get an absolute basic PC for little more than a decent mobo price these days and salvage memory, drives, graphics card (if
its not onboard).
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graememk
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 08:47 PM |
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i think you will find its got a standard psu
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mookaloid
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| posted on 10/11/06 at 09:32 PM |
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Thanks for the tips guys and the offer of help Richard.
Ok I have had a good look at the capacitors and can see no sign of swelling - they all look normal to me.
I'll price up a psu next.
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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Jasper
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| posted on 11/11/06 at 12:11 PM |
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Call Dell - I called them about a 3 year old laptop that was 2 years out of warranty, they were still happy to help and got it up and running
again.....
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mookaloid
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| posted on 17/11/06 at 10:04 PM |
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Got a PSU off ebay - popped it in and hey presto it works
Thanks for all the suggestions guys
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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