PC Re format

[MIKA]

Guys

I have had trouble with my PC crashing for a couple of months now and finally put it into a local shop for repair. They tested everything including putting in their own hard drive and concluded that some where there is a problem in some software that is running and the only way to clear the problem is to reformat the drive and reinstall everything.

I bought the PC through the Home Computer Initiative about 4 years ago. It is a Fujitsu-Siemens SCALEO P and it came with Windows XP home edition pre-installed. I have just found out that the only disc I have for this says it is a 'Product Recovery CD-ROM' and I have a label attached to the PC with a key to verify that it is a genuine product.

Does anyone have any idea if the CD ROM will have the XP Operating system on it or will I have to go and buy new software, if that is the case is it worthwhile changing from XP? Used mainly for internet and gaming.

Thanks

MIKA

 

[GSmonkey]

If its a decent enough spec, I'd shove Windows 7 on it, very nice OS.

Can't help you re. the recovery disc, I've always formatted and re-installed from a full version of XP.

Personally, I'd shove the recovery disc in and follow the instructions, you've got nowt to loose.

 

[Banjaxed]

Should work, but...

Be careful. We have a couple of Fujitsus and they are good, well-built machines.

The recovery CD you mentioned DOES contain a copy of XP, so provided you're happy with it (and why not, it's better than Vista, not as good as Windows 7), the CD will reinstall it.

Here's the BUT...

It will completely WIPE YOUR HARD DRIVE AND YOU WILL LOSE ALL DATA!!!

My recommendation is to open the case, disconnect and remove the hard drive and buy a new one. To be honest, at four years, it may be ending it's useful life. So, find out if it's a PATA or SATA drive (I'd guess PATA) and if it's PATA (or IDE as it's also called) head over to eBuyer for a replacement - such as this, or if you don't need much space, try this.

Now, install the new drive and boot from the CD (you'll need the number printed on the Windows sticker on your machine). It will bring your PC back to how it came from the factory. You'll have to re-install applications (suh as Word, or iTunes) and you'll need to get updates from Microsoft, etc. But you'll have a new PC - without your data. You can, however get your data from the old hard drive in several different ways.

Any problems, PM me.

 

[MIKA]

Chaps

Thanks for the prompt replies.

Banjaxed, the hard drive was tested and found to be okay, do you really think it is worthwhile chucking it beacause of its age? The main thing is that at least the disc i have will load XP again which I am happy enough with and could do without the expense of buying 7 if not required.

Full story- got Call of Duty MW2 before xmas and had to change my graphics card because old one would not run it. NVIDEA GeForce GT240 installed on recomendation from local shop who have always been sound in the past Was advised at the time to upgrade RAM (now 3GB up from standard1GB), and power supply to 650w from 350w. Problems happened as soon as the new card was installed, games would freeze and the monitor would go off by itself, couldn't even get Task Manager to stop the games as the whole pc had frozen, it would also come up with a blue screen telling me that it had a serious error. The only way to stop the damn thing was to switch it off at the power supply.
Normal internet and pc usage hasn't caused any probs, only seems to be when the graphics card is powered up to take the extra load. Computer shop have went through the set up, changed the graphics card, checked the main board , even fitted a hard drive of thier own which they loaded with XP and Call of Duty and ran it through my system without any probs. Guy said it was more than likely a software problem somewhere within my own system and to reformat and reinstall everything.
Happy enough to go with this advice to try and get the damn thing working properly again, and capable of playing games. Local shop had the PC for a week and were good enough not to charge as they had supplied and fitted the power supply, as well as selling me the graphics card in the first place.

Sorry for the long story but I am by no means technically minded when it comes to PC's, installing new RAm or replacing a card is about my limit.

I take it the Recovery CD ROM will guide an idiot like myself through the reformat process?

Thanks again for the replies

 

[Fanum]

Was the RAM upgrade done at the same time as the PSU/Grphx card etc?

Those symptoms could easily be related to a dodgy RAM chip.

HD's are so cheap these days that it probably is the easiest way around the problem and you'll be amazed how much faster it runs...... then as said above, you can take all the data you want off the old one and use it for backups, pron or just as a place for all your photos etc.

 

[MIKA]

Was the RAM upgrade done at the same time as the PSU/Grphx card etc?

Those symptoms could easily be related to a dodgy RAM chip.

Fanum,

The RAM was upgraded prior to the graphics card and then the PSU in that order. RAM came from Crucial Memory who were recommended for quality and price by a guy at work.

Don't think I played any games though from the extra RAM going in until the graphics card was put in, then advised to put in new PSU. Only after that had failed then the computer shop ran tests on the card, hard drive and mainboard.

Is there a way to test the RAM or is it just a case of taking it back out and trying with the standard 1GB (2 x 512MB)?

Thanks

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

It could be faulty graphics card or driver as well. Make sure you have the latest driver installed. If that doesnt work remove the new card and put the old one back in and test. if that hasn't cured it then remove one stick of ram at a time and test until you have tested all the ram individually on their own. That lot should get you a result. Pretty sure this is hardware related so reinstalling probably wont help here and its certainly the last thing I would go for.

 

[MIKA]

Thanks for the replies

However still no further forward. Tried installing the old card and it wouldn't run at all, put the new one back in and at least it has installed and latest drivers also running on it. RAM removed and hasn't made a bit of difference, still crashing when trying to run games.

When the PC was in the shop they changed the graphics card and it still wouldn't run. Only time my machine ran okay was when they piggy backed their own hard drive with Windows XP on it and loaded my drivers and games.

Pointing towards a reboot I'm afraid, although to be honest for the sake of £60 I think I will put in a new hard drive, at least I will still be able to access all the crap that is on the current drive, although I have burned all Photos and docs to disc just in case the whole hard drive gave up.

Any last thoughts from anyone before I head out and buy a new hard drive tomorrow afternoon?