Thing1's computer won't boot.  Won't boot to BIOS config, won't boot to Windows Safe Mode, just powers on . . .

Anyone had their PC repaired and felt good about the work/place and would like to refer them?

Chuck i work for Legacy use to be a PC tech, if i cant figure out what the problem is i have about 15 other PC techs here to rely on for the answer.  If this person wants to post what the problem is i can give them the answer of what they need to do.

Thing1 is the child correct? 

Quote from: Tailgunner on December 15, 2008, 09:18:11 PM
Thing1 is the child correct? 

You are correct sir.  My oldest child. 

I think the hard drive on my PC is failing... it keeps doing that fun blue hard drive check every time I boot.... pain in the ass... then it locks up often for no reason. Poo.

Mine died... nothing but lights and fans, no POST, no memory count, no nothing.  After testing the power supply, swapping the memory out, and trying a different processor, I concluded the mobo was dead.

Ordered a bunch of new crap from NewEgg a month ago...

My computer still isn't running. 

Performs the POST just fine for the firsy couple times... then hangs when doing the memory check.  Lovely.

I'm still talking to ASUS (motherboard) & Patriot Memory (RAM) to try to get the issue resolved.  Some other wanker on NewEgg is saying he used the same memory on a P5Q Pro mobo like the one I ordered and his works fine.

Gawddammit monstah... I don't have time for crap to not work the first time I plug it in.  When I drop $500 bucks on parts, I need them to work the FIRST time.  I don't have a month to blow trying to fix this garbage.  I have a job, and I have a life, the two of which combined take up all my time.

I swear, the only thing I've bought in recent memory that functioned reliably, as advertised, are my SIG handguns.  Put bullets in, rack slide, squeeze trigger... they go "bang", bullet comes out, bullet goes where I point it.  What a concept.  This idea of stuff, you know, working, seems so simple, yet apparently it's beyond the capability of 90% of the companies out there today. 

For the MacHeads:
Yes, I know... I need a Mac.  I don't have $1800 for a properly equipped MacBook, otherwise I'd already have one, and I wouldn't be on here ranting about computers.

Quote from: BibleBoy on December 16, 2008, 09:12:43 PM
Mine died... nothing but lights and fans, no POST, no memory count, no nothing.  After testing the power supply, swapping the memory out, and trying a different processor, I concluded the mobo was dead.

Ordered a bunch of new crap from NewEgg a month ago...

My computer still isn't running. 

Performs the POST just fine for the firsy couple times... then hangs when doing the memory check.  Lovely.

I'm still talking to ASUS (motherboard) & Patriot Memory (RAM) to try to get the issue resolved.  Some other wanker on NewEgg is saying he used the same memory on a P5Q Pro mobo like the one I ordered and his works fine.

Gawddammit monstah... I don't have time for crap to not work the first time I plug it in.  When I drop $500 bucks on parts, I need them to work the FIRST time.  I don't have a month to blow trying to fix this garbage.  I have a job, and I have a life, the two of which combined take up all my time.

I swear, the only thing I've bought in recent memory that functioned reliably, as advertised, are my SIG handguns.  Put bullets in, rack slide, squeeze trigger... they go "bang", bullet comes out, bullet goes where I point it.  What a concept.  This idea of stuff, you know, working, seems so simple, yet apparently it's beyond the capability of 90% of the companies out there today. 

For the MacHeads:
Yes, I know... I need a Mac.  I don't have $1800 for a properly equipped MacBook, otherwise I'd already have one, and I wouldn't be on here ranting about computers.

You did re-image your HD right?

Dan, if you can access your boot order in BIOS, set it to CD first (if it isn't already), and plug in a CD burnt with the bootable ISO from http://www.memtest86.com. It'll check the integrity of your RAM, so you can isolate your issue to RAM or your board. Ideally, unplug all unnecessary drives and cards while doing the check, so you have a clean slate, so to speak. Narrow it down and eliminate other possibilities and whatnot.

Check jumpers, BIOS settings for screwy/incompatible/unnecessary ones, power supply breaker, power supply rating, blah blah.

  Macintosh

check if HD ... can you boot up off a CD?

Okay guys this is a really embarassing and knida stupid question. I'v never used a mac before, except to search the net at school real quick when no PCs were available. Eventuqally I think I may want to switch over to a Mac. I hear a lot of good things about them. I'm not lost or anything on my PC, but I'm not a computer geius either. SO, how difficult do you guys think it will be to switch over? I mean learning to use the mac system and whatnot. I really am not interested in being made fun of here. Please only respond w/ real answers, and no I don't have any kind of money to spend right now so I am not seriosly looking to get one right now. Thanks Guys (umm, and any of y'all females who might respond, thanks to you too).

The Doc

Went to memtest and downloaded the ZIP, created a bootable floppy from work.  On one RAM stick, got into BIOS and made sure the floppy was 1st in line (it was), also made sure all the voltage and timing setting were per recommendations for that RAM (they were... 1066MHz, 2.1V, 5-5-5-15 timing).  Booted to memtes86+, had it run a couple passes on that single channel.  Fine.

Power down, turn off power to board, remove the memory stick and insert its twin, power on and reboot to memtest.

Or tried to.

It wouldn't finish the POST.  Only counted 533MB (it's a 2GB stick).  We're talking, I couldn't even get it to the BIOS screen, let alone booting to the floppy or the OS.

So, now Patriot gets to replace the memory set, because I didn't buy a 4GB dual-channel kit to only have a single 2GB stick that works. 

Quote from: Doctor Woodrow on December 19, 2008, 12:11:50 PM
Okay guys this is a really embarassing and knida stupid question. I'v never used a mac before, except to search the net at school real quick when no PCs were available. Eventuqally I think I may want to switch over to a Mac. I hear a lot of good things about them. I'm not lost or anything on my PC, but I'm not a computer geius either. SO, how difficult do you guys think it will be to switch over? I mean learning to use the mac system and whatnot. I really am not interested in being made fun of here. Please only respond w/ real answers, and no I don't have any kind of money to spend right now so I am not seriosly looking to get one right now. Thanks Guys (umm, and any of y'all females who might respond, thanks to you too).

The Doc

I call it a personal preference thing. I think Macs are amazingly cool. The old argument used to be that you could not get as much software options. That is slowly changing... but it all depends on what you want to use your mac for. In all reality, a Mac and a PC are fairly equal in ease of usage. You would not have any issues getting to know how to play around on a Mac... they are a bit more user friendly.. sometimes too friendly if you are a geek like me and want to mess with things... all in all... they can do all the same things in almost the identical way. Nothing difficult at all. Easiest thing for you to do is to go to the apple store at any mall and just play around with them. Plus, if you buy from them, they do give you free tutoring... gotta make an appointment... and this time of year they are slammed... but the malls are in general... so... go play with one... if you like it... go for it... I like my PCs... but I love my IPOD... and could see myself going to the dark side... to see what other cool things they have to offer.....

Right on, Dan. Hope it was just that stick. Solution should be on the horizon.

macintosh runs all day long, never turn it off, since i have owned it, incredible speed while running Photoshop CS, and all other peripherals,  they have open sessions you just walk in to the mac store and sit at the back and there is bound to be a mentoring session about something mac related