Notebook dead

Okay..frustrating to say the least..and children should never be given computer stuff till the have left home:cry

My old notebook a advent 4489 with xp has always done the light work I needed it too but recently I've been doing more and more work so the daughter asked for the notebook so I obliged.

This evening ..dad, dad the pc has died

I asked in the best..I have had a crap day but am trying to sound sympathetic way.." what happened and why do you think it's broke?"

apparently according to said daughter..the last few days she has been getting the blue screen of death and it kept shutting down. rather than say anything she just finger pushed the power off button then played on it again...till today

So despite trying to restart it for a rewipe and load I keep getting this black screen with white writing that says the following

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. to fix the problem:

1. insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer (which I can't do..it's a notebook)
2. choose your language settings and then click next (which I can't do as it won't go past this black screen)
3. click the "repair your computer"..(see number two as why I can't)

it then says

if you do not have this disc contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD
Status: 0xc0000034
Info: An error occurred while attempting to red the boot configuration data.


Now beyond that I have an exspensive paper weight..any advice? and please remember I am old and the tech speak may go way over my head

please help as a nagging kid is one of the worse tortures known to man

thak you :wave

 

Although it's hard to give an exact diagnosis without actually seeing the PC, both the Blue Screens of Death and the "Windows Failed To Start" issues point towards a bad hard drive.

I am assuming the PC has been turned off correctly by clicking START>SHUT DOWN from the Windows desktop screen. If you have been turning it off by pressing the power button on the unit, this may be what corrupted the data (if so, the drive may be OK and you'll just have to restore Windows using the CD/DVD that came with the PC).

If you have been turning it off correctly I would try a new hard drive. If there is data on the current drive you have not backed up and are attempting to save, doing a repair or restore on the current drive will wipe it out. By pulling the old drive in its current state, there is a chance (but not a guarantee) you may be able to salvage the data using an external drive adapter.

Given the age and specs on the Advent 4489 (http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/laptop/4489.htm) I am almost certain it takes a SATA connection drive. If you are not familiar with replacing a hard drive in a notebook/netbook PC, bribing a friend or the IT guy at work is usually a lot cheaper than paying a PC shop to do it. They can verify the size and type of drive. If it is a 2.5" SATA, you should be able to find one at NewEgg or Fry's for about $40. If you do not have a restore CD that came with the PC, see if a friend has an "OEM" (not "Retail") version of the Microsoft XP Home restore CD - if not you'll have to order one from Advent.

Hope this info. helps.

 

Thanks gman

Being the notebook it has no drive for a cd. I may struggle :cry

As to advent, will give them a call in the morning when customer services start a new day.

as to correct power turn off..I hope she did but like most kids if something doesn't happen in a millisecond they get impatient...she assures me she did turn it off properly but her eyes did look down to the floor quite a bit when she said it

Thank you for replying

 

One more note: Since your PC doesn't appear to have a CD/DVD drive, you'll need an external USB CD/DVD drive if you decide to do the restore or reloading yourself. If this is the case and you don't own one, see if a friend has one you can borrow for a few hours.

 

I suggest showing her how to turn it off using the START>SHUT DOWN method in Windows, explaining that the power button is only for "ON" - not "OFF" - and why this is important.

I'm not picking and I mean this in a good way. You'd be surprised how many people don't realize how important this is until something like this happens.

 

I've lost count how many times she has been told G

still she will be paying for any repairs seeing as this isn't this first time she has caused me to come onto geeks after her "dad I know what I am doing" episodes rolleyes

but thanks once again

 

No problem. If you have any more questions feel free to post them.

 

Not picking, but the OP stated the netbook has XP on it. As such, Microsoft Knowledge Base fixes for Vista are unlikely to fix the issue with XP. My replies encouraging a reinstall are based on the horrible luck I've had using the "repair" option in XP.

I agree Vista (and esp. Win 7) are much easier to recover boot errors from without doing a reinstall. Now that newer netbooks are mainly shipping with Win 7 Starter, this should become less of an issue over time.

 

Just as a throw it out there, I've never used Linux and wonder given the problem with the notebook wether I could download a Linux system down to a stick then try and load it onto the notebook ?

 

plodr/s links will help get you up and running Linux off a USB stick.

There is something odd about your original error because that folder and file are Vista/Win7 boot files. Not XP.

If you try running with Linux, you might take a look at the C: drive to see if a Boot folder even exists.

 

I assume you have tried f8 at startup, and system restore points ?
If you want to get recovery discs, and an external cd rom (always useful)
You are looking at around £65.
If you wanted to buy the discs, then create an iso, then transfer to a bootable usb stick, then if you have a suitable usb stick, it will cost £35 from techguy only.
Or, you could see if they would create a recovery usb stick, as this would suit your situation better.-
Choices-- Linux, or, full XP recovery. (With the linux used live from cd, you can copy any important data to a usb stick- you could remove hard drive and copy important data with a usb caddy to another pc, if you wished - more money, unless a friend has one)
Or, dwelling on the usb side- look at creating a bootable usb stick with XP on it,
WITH EITHER THE USB, OR, EXTERNAL CD/DVD ROM YOU CAN THEN
running the first recovery option,
AT THE PROMPT
c: >
TYPE
fixboot
press enter
then THEN TYPE
fixmbr
then press enter
Then type
EXIT
to see if it will solve the boot problem, and give you all that is still on the hard drive-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MY-Link-External-DVD-ROM-Laptops-Desktops/dp/B000YIVOIK
http://recoverymedia.thetechguys.com/ProductCatView.aspx?catId=3010
Scroll down to

ADVENT 4489 UK recovery DVD These recovery disks will re-install Microsoft Windows and any software originally supplied with your computer. This recovery media set should only be used on the above computer.
£35.00 inc. VAT