[devtalk] BIG emergency - wife's machine limping ;-)

[joseph harris]

Hi Riva,

Thanks for enquiring. I got some advice on the social list from PatrickG, and below is my response to him earlier today:

Patrick,

When I finally got round to investigating the laptop it started correctly but windowed a 'serious' error and asked to phone home. M$ identifies a number of possible cause which i think centre on a dying HDD. As one reason can be scanning, and the machine was chuntering away not long before nose-diving, that seems to tie in.

The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 [not quite out of the ark, but bought refurbished about 5 years ago] running Windows XP Pro. It had been little used, but recently has had a lot of games played on it; that may explain a great deal.

I also did find clear instructions for taking the machine apart - I am relieved to not have to think about that; not for a bit, anyway.

I am not discounting your suggestions, as it seems quite likely that things might loosen and contacts lose efficiency.

Joseph 


From: "PatrickG" 
> joseph harris wrote:
>> I've gone to the limits of my technical expertise; thrown it from one side of the room to the other...
>>
>> The message is 'disable caching and shadowing' - I suspect that even if I could get to something to try that it would not be a good idea.
>>   
> 
> (replying from a subscribed address this time)
> 
> Could be several things. I'll give you my 2 cents worth and maybe 
> someone with a bit more expertise than me can add to it. :-)
> 
> If it were me, I would power the system down, Open the case and re-seat 
> all of the memory and any boards. Also double check all cables to be 
> sure they are fully set.
> Also make sure all fans are clear and functioning (could just be 
> overheating).
> 
> Other possibilities:
>   Failing Memory
>   Corrupt startup files (would need the Install CD to fix)
> 
> My leaning is towards some type of file corruption, as it generally 
> shouldn't ask for the install disk to enter safe mode.
> 
> HTH,
> 
> PatrickG

Joseph
Joseph Harris  -  Debt Control Man
author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms
blog: http://debtcontrolman.wordpress.com
http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk
debt dictionary: http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk/debtwiki/


From: "Portman" 

> Hi,
> 
> Sorry I don't have any answers, but was wondering how things turned out?
> 
> Riva
> 
> j-h at top wrote:
>> The social list is being unsocial at the moment, so forgive me for cross-posting; though I'm not cross yet, just hot and bothered.
>>
>> I've gone to the limits of my technical expertise; thrown it from one side of the room to the other...
>>
>> The message is 'disable caching and shadowing' - I suspect that even if I could get to something to try that it would not be a good idea.
>>
>> a) what is the most likely problem?
>> b) what is the most likely solution?
>> c) if I can manage it via command prompt - how? and instructions to simpleton... 
>> d) you already know I do not have a disc... This is XP Pro 2 on an ancient Toshiba laptop. Any chance of anyone sending the disc image so I can make a disc? And please explain what the choices are to burn it correctly for use!
>>
>> Yes, I've searched, but not getting useful responses. The message comes up after Bios, and Windows begins its startup procedure... But it won't even get into safe mode.
>>
>> If you get me out of this I will worship you for ever... or at least for the rest of the evening ;-).
>>
>> It has just asked for the system disc when trying for safe mode. And it is taking a very long time to complete each process...
>>
>> Joseph 
>>
>>
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>>   
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