Somebody I know is having a question so no computer handy just contact on phone.

silas · Jul 5, 2010

The person said they were having blue screen and dumps and now can not start. I then ask them again some info on computer and they mention this

Dell pentium ii I think. I get the option for normal startup, safe mode, last successful, etc. None work. All tell me to run chkdsk/ F. I can't do anything with it. Says it recovered from a virus. I'd just run spyhunter 4 and when it was done clearing all the adware it told me to restart and it's now in error land.

Anybody have any suggestions I may give this person?

Also this person asked if there was a program or something they can use for this system after they get it back from Dell "fixed" ? They could retreive pictures, music from harddrive after being fix/reformat?

pwillener · Jul 5, 2010

What is the error message or error code on the "blue screen"?

Use the Windows install disk to start the Recovery Console and run CHKDSK.

Or use the Windows install disk to perform a Windows Repair install.

plodr · Jul 6, 2010

You can't retrieve anything from a hard drive that has been formatted.
If the person has files he/she does not want to lose, run a linux live CD and look for the files. Move them to a USB stick or external hard drive for safe keeping.
If Dell fixes the computer, it will be just like it left the factory. It is faster for "techs" to wipe and do a clean install; they do not worry about saving any files.

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Somebody I know is having a question so no computer handy just contact on phone.

silas MajorGeek

pwillener MajorGeek

plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member