PC half dead! - Help please!

sudzs

This is on behalf of a friend who is having trouble with his computer. When he turns it on all he gets is a black screen with Windows on it.

Sorry that's all the info he has given me, will try for more but in the meantime, any ideas?

Many thanks!

eightyfish

Try to boot into safe mode by holding down F8 when the PC starts.

Otherwise not enough information.

Boom_Bap

or if it beeps, count the beeps and the sequence.

sounds stupid, but some machines give indicators via beeps to help you narrow in on a problem.

Buit lots momre info needed, make, model, version of windows, any changes made etc.

Tallon

God, I hate when people like you ring the helpdesk.....

My first though is the flux capacitor is not powering at startup

Get your friend to post here or else get his PC, and please give a LOT more detail.

Dublin_Gunner

sudzs wrote: »

This is on behalf of a friend who is having trouble with his computer. When he turns it on all he gets is a black screen with Windows on it.

Sorry that's all the info he has given me, will try for more but in the meantime, any ideas?

Many thanks!

Could be anything really.

If its half dead, inform him to install Half Life

But really, more information is required.

Full PC specs (CPU, Motherboard, RAM, HDD's, GPU, PSU etc etc).

What OS is installed? Has anything been changed / upgraded recently? Any new software installed? Is this a new build and has never worked? Or has this just started to happen.

If it boots to the Win Logo, but no further - a simple repair install by booting from the Windows disk may fix it.

reallyo'reilly

have ya tried hitting it?

Cuddlesworth

I have two pet gerbils.

sudzs

LOL!

Thanks for all the replies. Just rang him and got him to start it in safe mode and then restarted it and it seems to be back to normal - which is staggeringly slow!

Not sure how long it will last though, it's about 7 or 8 years old and takes 20+ minutes from start up to being able to get online! :rolleyes:

Thanks again.

Tallon

sudzs wrote: »

takes 20+ minutes from start up to being able to get online!

Sounds a lot like myself

eightyfish

OP - you need to remaster the system to fix the speed. Copy files off, then use supplied CD to reinstall the operating system.

sudzs

eightyfish wrote: »

OP - you need to remaster the system to fix the speed. Copy files off, then use supplied CD to reinstall the operating system.

Thanks! I'll tell him that. Though not sure if his tech-ability would be up to it.

Anyone know anyone who'd do it as a nixer or where he might go to find someone. It's only a small job, isn't it??

eightyfish

sudzs wrote: »

Anyone know anyone who'd do it as a nixer or where he might go to find someone. It's only a small job, isn't it??

I fix computers, PM if you want.

Also as a less drastic option you could try defragmenting the hard drive and running a program called CCleaner, google them.

sudzs

eightyfish wrote: »

I fix computers, PM if you want.

Also as a less drastic option you could try defragmenting the hard drive and running a program called CCleaner, google them.

Thanks a mill! I'll pass that on to him and let you know if he needs bailing out!

Dublin_Gunner

sudzs wrote: »

Thanks a mill! I'll pass that on to him and let you know if he needs bailoing out!

Where's he based? I would do it no problem, but he'd have to be close enough to me!

If its 7 or 8 years old, you should really get him to consider upgrading it anyway. You can get a full machine on Komplett.ie for €399