Help please.......

ghak99 · 02-15-2008, 11:46 PM

I've got an older HP pavilion pentium 4 here that evidently has so much stuff stored onto it that it won't go ahead and start up. It's a family members computer, but I understand it was getting very very slow prior to this. I was just messing around with it and came across a stat saying 256 of 256 is being used. I assume it has nothing left to actually start the computer??

They really only want to get a few documents off of it and will either replace or upgrade it later.

Is there anything quick and easy to get this thing to fire up? I only understand enough to make these things run and do a few basic things. I can see it has one HD, that is evidently full, and plugs and slot for another can another be added or is this even what it needs???

Thanks in advanced for any help.

2048Megabytes · 02-15-2008, 11:58 PM

When you startup the computer do you hear a beep?

ghak99 · 02-16-2008, 12:12 AM

When you turn the computer on a black screen comes up and has something about insert disk or disk failure comes across the top of the screen.

If you quickly hit F1 when this screen comes up you can then go in and see the basic settings and that 256 of 256 is used. I can't remember what the other option is, F10 maybe??, but it seems like it said something about a complete restore.

This is all off the top of my head as the computer is not here.

imsati · 02-16-2008, 12:33 AM

'Insert System Disk' or 'Disk Failure'. It means either there is an un-bootable floppy disk in the slot, or your hard Drive has failed.

2048Megabytes · 02-16-2008, 02:50 AM

If the hard drive has failed the data is lost I believe.

dougland · 02-16-2008, 03:56 AM

this happened to me when i forgot to plug the power connector into my hard drive so it meens the hard drive is not functioning, whether this is because its dead or the psu connector isn't powering the drive but sounds like a dead hard drive

oscaryu1 · 02-16-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2048Megabytes

If the hard drive has failed the data is lost I believe.

If the read/write magnet got stuck to the disks, you could put it in the freezer and maybe still get some date outta it.

256 used of 256 means that your memory is completely used. So it should be VERY slow.

ghak99 · 02-20-2008, 11:26 PM

OK, I finally got a chance to go take a quick look at the computer.

When you start it up it beeps once and it sounds like the fan takes off and then beeps again.

The black screen then has "Disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter" across the top.

What should I do to try to get a few things off of it, or is it toast?

oscaryu1 · 02-20-2008, 11:27 PM

HDD failed? Does it still spin at all?

02-15-2008, 11:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
ghak99 New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3	Help please....... I've got an older HP pavilion pentium 4 here that evidently has so much stuff stored onto it that it won't go ahead and start up. It's a family members computer, but I understand it was getting very very slow prior to this. I was just messing around with it and came across a stat saying 256 of 256 is being used. I assume it has nothing left to actually start the computer?? They really only want to get a few documents off of it and will either replace or upgrade it later. Is there anything quick and easy to get this thing to fire up? I only understand enough to make these things run and do a few basic things. I can see it has one HD, that is evidently full, and plugs and slot for another can another be added or is this even what it needs??? Thanks in advanced for any help.

02-15-2008, 11:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
2048Megabytes Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mainland United States Posts: 810	When you startup the computer do you hear a beep? __________________ "Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder." -- George Washington Operating Systems: 32-bit Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Processor: AMD Athlon 4600+ Dual-Core (2.4 gigahertz) Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Memory: 2 gigabytes of Super Talent PC2-6400 Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Power Supply: OKIA-450ATX, 450 Watt

02-16-2008, 12:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
imsati Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: EHT, NJ Posts: 2,481	'Insert System Disk' or 'Disk Failure'. It means either there is an un-bootable floppy disk in the slot, or your hard Drive has failed. __________________ --Jay Gigabyte EP31-DS3L \| E4500 \| Masscool HSF paired with AS-5 80 GB SATA2 x 2 \| e-GeForce 7100 GS \| CM Elite 330 (gorgeous!) Triple Boot: Ubuntu 7.10/XP Home/Kubuntu 7.10 Also, I can kill you with my brain. The Great Forum Challenge http://www.computerforum.com/114761-...tml#post922619 (And you follow his advice why, exactly...?) (Funny Thread though!)

02-16-2008, 02:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
2048Megabytes Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mainland United States Posts: 810	If the hard drive has failed the data is lost I believe. __________________ "Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder." -- George Washington Operating Systems: 32-bit Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Processor: AMD Athlon 4600+ Dual-Core (2.4 gigahertz) Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Memory: 2 gigabytes of Super Talent PC2-6400 Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Power Supply: OKIA-450ATX, 450 Watt

02-20-2008, 11:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
oscaryu1 VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 13 Posts: 9,859	HDD failed? Does it still spin at all? __________________ Core 2 Duo E2140 1.6GHz @ 3.04GHz GA-P31-DS3L pqi Turbo CL4 DDR2-800 2GB Sapphire HD3850 256MB Sony Writemaster DVD Burner EIDE Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200.9 8MB SATII

02-16-2008, 12:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
ghak99 New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3	When you turn the computer on a black screen comes up and has something about insert disk or disk failure comes across the top of the screen. If you quickly hit F1 when this screen comes up you can then go in and see the basic settings and that 256 of 256 is used. I can't remember what the other option is, F10 maybe??, but it seems like it said something about a complete restore. This is all off the top of my head as the computer is not here.

02-16-2008, 03:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
dougland Gold Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 382	this happened to me when i forgot to plug the power connector into my hard drive so it meens the hard drive is not functioning, whether this is because its dead or the psu connector isn't powering the drive but sounds like a dead hard drive

02-20-2008, 11:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
ghak99 New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3	OK, I finally got a chance to go take a quick look at the computer. When you start it up it beeps once and it sounds like the fan takes off and then beeps again. The black screen then has "Disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter" across the top. What should I do to try to get a few things off of it, or is it toast?

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