Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 39

Thread: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

  1. #1
    Registered User Brighton Belle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Brighton (surprise surprise!)
    Posts
    206
    Rep Power
    8

    PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    I hoping a kind computer expert can help me please!!

    I got a message that I have a corrupt system file on my Dell PC and that I should run a repair from the original Windows set up disc. I've put in the disc and followed the instructions and got as far as this:

    After you start the Recovery Console, you receive the following message:

    "Microsoft Windows XP(TM) Recovery Console.

    The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality

    Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart this computer.

    1: C:\WINDOWS

    Which Windows installation would you like to log onto (To cancel, press ENTER)?

    Enter the number for the appropriate Windows XP installation, and then enter the administrator account password.


    At this point I can't get any further. After the word press ENTER)? where the cursor is flashing, it will only allow me to put in one digit. I would assume I put in '1' but if I key '1' then 'return', then it does nothing. If I put in anything else, 2, 3, a, b etc it says 'Invalid selection. Please select a valid installation number.' As its a personal PC I don't have an administrator account password (I've never set one up) but I can even get that far.

    What am I doing wrong??

    Thanks very much


    Computer Numpty.

  2. #2
    Commercial Operator
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Hastings
    Posts
    4,386
    Blog Entries
    2
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Brighton Belle View Post
    I hoping a kind computer expert can help me please!!

    I got a message that I have a corrupt system file on my Dell PC and that I should run a repair from the original Windows set up disc. I've put in the disc and followed the instructions and got as far as this:

    After you start the Recovery Console, you receive the following message:

    "Microsoft Windows XP(TM) Recovery Console.

    The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality

    Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart this computer.

    1: C:\WINDOWS

    Which Windows installation would you like to log onto (To cancel, press ENTER)?

    Enter the number for the appropriate Windows XP installation, and then enter the administrator account password.


    At this point I can't get any further. After the word press ENTER)? where the cursor is flashing, it will only allow me to put in one digit. I would assume I put in '1' but if I key '1' then 'return', then it does nothing. If I put in anything else, 2, 3, a, b etc it says 'Invalid selection. Please select a valid installation number.' As its a personal PC I don't have an administrator account password (I've never set one up) but I can even get that far.

    What am I doing wrong??

    Thanks very much


    Computer Numpty.
    I dislike Dell more than Apple. At least Apple products are well made and thought out. Dell just throw a couple of cheap parts together, give you a service center in India and make things difficault when stuff like this happens.

    I assume you can still log on your machine as per normal as you wrote this post.

    Personally I would say save all the documents you want and give your machine a clean install of XP (pref a non Dell one if you can get hold of one). If it is starting to give errors, you might find it gets worse or can not be saved at all even through recovery mode lossing all your pics etc.

    You can also try :-

    go to my computer, RIGHT click on your hard drive and go to tools. Somewhere in there you will find checkdisk. Run that

    Another way of doing it might be to go to START the RUN and type in CHKDSK.exe

    I am writing from memory so cant be sure it is the correct way of running check disk esp on XP which I have not used for ages (now on Windows 7) and be sure to BACK UP anything you dont want to loose if the wost happens.

    Someone might have a better solution but this is the best I can do off the top of my head without it involving an axe
    Last edited by Lee Bartholomew; 25th-June-2009 at 08:27 PM.

  3. #3
    Registered User Brighton Belle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Brighton (surprise surprise!)
    Posts
    206
    Rep Power
    8

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    No I can't log on. I can't get anything apart from the 'run repair' message. I'm writing this from my daughter's computer. Actually everytime I've rung Dell's helpdesk, they seem to be Irish but they are very long winded and very expensive.

    So no I can't save any files etc. If I can't get into it to do this repair, I've lost everything.

    Thanks for the advice about the axe though

  4. #4
    Commercial Operator
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Hastings
    Posts
    4,386
    Blog Entries
    2
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    get as far as you can. Does it say anything on the screen?

    after pressing 1 try typing fixboot

  5. #5
    The Dashing Moderator
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Midlands
    Posts
    3,556
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Brighton Belle View Post
    After the word press ENTER)? where the cursor is flashing, it will only allow me to put in one digit. I would assume I put in '1' but if I key '1' then 'return', then it does nothing. If I put in anything else, 2, 3, a, b etc it says 'Invalid selection.
    Possibly a silly question, but which key are you using to select the "1"?

    Assuming you have a full-sized keyboard, are you using the numeric keypad on the RHS of the keyboard, or the 1 on the top row of the keyboard (above "Q").

    If you're using the former, try the latter... (because the numeric keyboard may not have NumLock switched on when you boot in recovery mode)
    Love dance, will travel

  6. #6
    Commercial Operator
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Hastings
    Posts
    4,386
    Blog Entries
    2
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    If you're using the former, try the latter... (because the numeric keyboard may not have NumLock switched on when you boot in recovery mode)
    Good thinking Batman

  7. #7
    Registered User Brighton Belle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Brighton (surprise surprise!)
    Posts
    206
    Rep Power
    8

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    Possibly a silly question, but which key are you using to select the "1"?

    Assuming you have a full-sized keyboard, are you using the numeric keypad on the RHS of the keyboard, or the 1 on the top row of the keyboard (above "Q").

    If you're using the former, try the latter... (because the numeric keyboard may not have NumLock switched on when you boot in recovery mode)
    I'm using the one above the Q. The figure does appear on the screen but I can only type the one digit. There's no more space. Then when I hit 'enter' nothing happens.

  8. #8
    Commercial Operator
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Hastings
    Posts
    4,386
    Blog Entries
    2
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Brighton Belle View Post
    I'm using the one above the Q. The figure does appear on the screen but I can only type the one digit. There's no more space. Then when I hit 'enter' nothing happens.
    have you truid typing after you hit enter?

  9. #9
    Registered User Brighton Belle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Brighton (surprise surprise!)
    Posts
    206
    Rep Power
    8

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Bartholomew View Post
    have you truid typing after you hit enter?
    Yes but there's no cursor. After I hit enter, I can't do anything at all. Complete silence. Nothing flashing. Nada.

  10. #10
    Registered User David Franklin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,426
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Brighton Belle View Post
    So no I can't save any files etc. If I can't get into it to do this repair, I've lost everything.
    This is a slight aside from the main thread, but even if you can't get the repair to work, you can almost certainly recover your files.

    There are various "Live CD" versions of Linux available. You can download one and burn it to CD. This then allows you to boot the machine from the CD without touching your hard drive. You can then copy any files you need to an external drive of some sort. For what it's worth, I used Knoppix when I needed to do this in the past.

    This isn't very difficult, although realistically you probably want to get someone who knows what they're doing to do it for you.

  11. #11
    Registered User David Franklin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,426
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Brighton Belle View Post
    I hoping a kind computer expert can help me please!!

    I got a message that I have a corrupt system file on my Dell PC and that I should run a repair from the original Windows set up disc. I've put in the disc and followed the instructions and got as far as this:

    After you start the Recovery Console, you receive the following message:
    It's a while since I've done this, but apparently you shouldn't use the Recovery Console.

    From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx

    Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.
    If you go to that Microsoft link, there are instructions on what you should do instead.

    It does feel a bit heart-in-mouth when you agree to "Setup Windows Now", but as far as I remember when I had to do this it did actually work without losing any of my files. Although I would still suggest it's worth doing the LiveCD backup if you can find someone who'll do it for you.
    Last edited by DavidY; 25th-June-2009 at 11:15 PM. Reason: Fixed link

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    St Neots, Cambs
    Posts
    699
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Hold on a minute. Brighton Belle signs herself as a computer numpty, so well-meaning remote advice is more likely to lead to data loss than any other action.

    My take, if you can't find a friend that can do this then let your fingers do the walking through the yellow pages and find someone that knows what they are doing. It might cost an hour's labour, but it's well worth it!

  13. #13
    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Hove Actually
    Posts
    7,924
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Agente Secreto View Post
    Hold on a minute. Brighton Belle signs herself as a computer numpty, so well-meaning remote advice is more likely to lead to data loss than any other action.

    My take, if you can't find a friend that can do this then let your fingers do the walking through the yellow pages and find someone that knows what they are doing. It might cost an hour's labour, but it's well worth it!

    Been there myself, very dangerous - good advice AS

    You could go to PC World in Old Shoreham Road or there is a good PC Repair shop in Boundary Road, Hove (left hand side if you are facing the sea, nearly at the bottom) - you could try the Friday Ad, but personally I would go somewhere that is established, just in case (if you know what I mean)

    Good luck !


    --ooOoo--
    Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

  14. #14
    Registered User David Franklin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,426
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Agente Secreto View Post
    Hold on a minute. Brighton Belle signs herself as a computer numpty, so well-meaning remote advice is more likely to lead to data loss than any other action.

    My take, if you can't find a friend that can do this then let your fingers do the walking through the yellow pages and find someone that knows what they are doing. It might cost an hour's labour, but it's well worth it!
    Which, you'll note, I've advised her to do in both my posts.

    But if she can't find someone, the truth is, you don't need to be any kind of expert to follow the repair installation instructions in the link I gave. The problem is that it's a "all-or-nothing" solution: if those instructions don't work (which is certainly possible, depending on what's wrong with the system), preserving and recovering your data files really is going to require an expert.

  15. #15
    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Hove Actually
    Posts
    7,924
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by David Franklin View Post
    .......But if she can't find someone, the truth is, you don't need to be any kind of expert to follow the repair installation instructions in the link I gave. The problem is that it's a "all-or-nothing" solution: if those instructions don't work (which is certainly possible, depending on what's wrong with the system), preserving and recovering your data files really is going to require an expert.
    Trouble is David, when all is going well, no probs......... but if it takes you into an unfamiliar area and the next step is not as the screen states, you could get yourself into a worse problem (I am speaking from experience)


    --ooOoo--
    Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

  16. #16
    Registered User David Franklin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,426
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M View Post
    Trouble is David, when all is going well, no probs......... but if it takes you into an unfamiliar area and the next step is not as the screen states, you could get yourself into a worse problem (I am speaking from experience)
    As I said, it's all-or-nothing. But going into the recovery console is also fairly all-or-nothing, and she's already done that.

    There are times when the most rational thing to do is go for it and hope for the best (typically when you don't have much to lose, or there's no other option). Although (for the third time now), I'll say that she should try to consult an expert first in this case.

    I confess, I find myself somewhat exasperated that I'm the only person who's actually provided a link to the correct solution, and the only person who's explained how she can retrieve her data if needed, and yet I'm the only person getting given a hard time here.

  17. #17
    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Hove Actually
    Posts
    7,924
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by David Franklin View Post
    ..........I confess, I find myself somewhat exasperated that I'm the only person who's actually provided a link to the correct solution, and the only person who's explained how she can retrieve her data if needed, and yet I'm the only person getting given a hard time here.
    really sorry David, wasn't having a 'go' at you - I truly respect your knowledge

    Mind you, I didn't really digest your posts - and that is possibly why I am useless in doing anything technical

    This is Brighton Belle's thread and problem and I am sure she is very thankful for all the advice and is more sensible than me.


    --ooOoo--
    Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

  18. #18
    Registered User Brighton Belle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Brighton (surprise surprise!)
    Posts
    206
    Rep Power
    8

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Oh dear I'm sorry I didn't mean to start a controversy

    Thanks very much for all the advice guys and girls.

    I haven't had time to look at the link yet but I'll have a go at that and see how I get on. If it looks like I'm getting to a stage where I'm going to mess up the whole thing totally then yes I think it'll be time to get someone in.

    The main thing of value on there is my music, most of which I have on back up discs but there is some other stuff I don't really want to lose.

    I'll keep you posted!

  19. #19
    Registered User David Franklin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,426
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    Quote Originally Posted by Brighton Belle View Post
    Oh dear I'm sorry I didn't mean to start a controversy

    Thanks very much for all the advice guys and girls.

    I haven't had time to look at the link yet but I'll have a go at that and see how I get on. If it looks like I'm getting to a stage where I'm going to mess up the whole thing totally then yes I think it'll be time to get someone in.
    I do actually agree with the other comments. If you can, get someone in first. It would probably be fine for you to do it yourself, but if something goes wrong you could easily end up losing all your data (you could probably still retrieve most of it, but you'd need a specialist company to do it at the cost of many hundreds of pounds).

  20. #20
    Commercial Operator
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Hastings
    Posts
    4,386
    Blog Entries
    2
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: PC 'repair' message - what do I do now??

    What you have to consider is that doing this kind of thing will not physically damage your PC at all. The worst case is that you loose all your data. So what you have to ask yourself is "Is my data worth x Amount that PC repair guy is going to charge"

    Personally I would say give PC a wide berth. I know someone who went top work in my local one repairing PC's. His previous experiance of PC's was selling fridges in Currys and playing an xbox. Dispite having 0 pc knowledge he was given the job and a manual to work from !!!!!

    You also have to be warry that alot of people advertise PC repair in the Friday-ad who have very little experiance (again I know someone who went in to it after owning their first PC for 2 weeks because they heard how much money was in it. Headache for me as constant calls of how do I do this or that ! )

    I guess what im saying is even if you do get an 'expert' in, there is no garantee that they wont loose your data either.

    Lesson to be learnt? BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP !!!!!!

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. text messages to PC?
    By batnurse in forum Geeks' Corner
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 30th-March-2009, 08:41 AM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •