Hello, I have a problem.
Since my windows XP doesn't function perfectly anymore and IE is completely wasted, I tried to do format c today.
But, it doesn't boot. Damn, I press any key and it just doesn't work, like it doesn't recognize I have a keyboard. But it loads BIOS perfectly. BIOS settings should be ok, according to my knowledge.
All it does, it wants me to press some key, what I do, and then it just ignores it and loads up windows. In BIOS, 1-st boot is CDROM, and all the others are disabled , like ???
In the past, there have been cases when windows doesn't switch on my keyboard or mouse, in that case I just had to restart the PC until it did. I thought the problem was that my HUB wasn't working, but mouse isn't connected to the HUB, and today I removed the HUB completely, connecting the keyboard to PC directly.
I wonder why its acting like this??? Is it really some truly hardcore virus that has eaten itself into BIOS or just my stupidity or what?
I've said it a lot, but here goes:
Try Linux. It works better on your comp, and you can do most stuff that XP does. You can run games with Wine, Cedega, CrossOverOffice, and ScummVM.
A distro that I like to use, and is very user-friendly, is Ubuntu.
www.ubuntu.com
Or, if you want your interface to be more like Windows:
www.kubuntu.com
Did you actually manage to reformat and reinstall windows?
The only reason I can think of why the keyboard wouldn't work is if the connection is broken somewhere along the line. Try plugging in a different keyboard, check that the plugs are in properly, and see if there is a pin bent on your connector. Open up your PC and check that there is nothing obviously out of place on your motherboard. See if the capacitors are leaking. Do you have special drivers for keyboard/mouse you have to install?
Alliance - sure, Linux is a good alternative, but I didn't know it can do everything Windows does and better. What with compatability issues and the like, simply because most commercial programs are developed for the Windows market.
Let me clarify- Linux has good free alternative versions of a lot of Microsoft's products. OpenOffice works as a great alternative to Microsoft Office, Firefox works great, Skype has a version for Linux, you've got GAIM for instant messaging, Frostwire (like Limewire), and there's an increasing number of Native Linux games.
Also, Ubuntu makes it easy to install stuff, though their package manager.
I recommend you just try it out. You can download it, burn it to a CD, and boot from the CD, so that you can try it (although it's slower from the CD) and see for yourself.
Besides which, Beyrl (a desktop effects program) looks incredible.
Linux is not the end-all be-all solution to computer trouble.
Quote from: Tiki on Sun 20/05/2007 22:51:28
Linux is not the end-all be-all solution to computer trouble.
True. But it's becoming an excellent alternative to Windows, and it has a lot less errors, in my opinion.
Still, computers should be all about choice, so it's really up to you.
Yes, I have thought about Linux, but some special programs I have, don't support it (Fruity Loops, Acid, AGS, Paint, SCUMM, msn with my contact list etc). I don't know if its my Windows XP or not, but Mozilla keeps crashing from time to time like IE does. Except that IE doesn't start up anymore...
And connection of my keyboard should be ok, since I can use del to go to BIOS. I don't know anything about the drivers though, I didn't set up the computer and according to my information everything should be ok. Besides, I doubt that drivers like this have much effect before Windows.
Ofcourse, I can format my c drive through windows cmd or use some other methods too, but then again I am not shure if I can actually install anything.
Quote from: radiowaves on Sun 20/05/2007 23:04:38
Yes, I have thought about Linux, but some special programs I have, don't support it (Fruity Loops, Acid, AGS, Paint, SCUMM, msn with my contact list etc). I don't know if its my Windows XP or not, but Mozilla keeps crashing from time to time like IE does. Except that IE doesn't start up anymore...
And connection of my keyboard should be ok, since I can use del to go to BIOS. I don't know anything about the drivers though, I didn't set up the computer and according to my information everything should be ok. Besides, I doubt that drivers like this have much effect before Windows.
Ofcourse, I can format my c drive through windows cmd or use some other methods too, but then again I am not shure if I can actually install anything.
Well, there's a lot of good solutions if you want to use linux
Paint > GIMP (Or find a place to download Paint, and run it under WINE, Cedega, OR CXOffice)
Fruity Loops/Acid > The Dozens of Ubuntu Studio add-ons that you can get.
AGS > Editor works under WINE decently.
SCUMM > SCUMMVM lets you play all your SCuMM games, with almost no trouble.
MSN > GAIM lets you access MSN, AIM, Yahoo, and ICQ, all at the same time.
Also, there's a nifty tool that lets you just download and install it with the click of the mouse, it's called "Add/Remove Programs"
But it's really all up to you.
Oh, and drivers. Lots of manufacturers (like nVidia) put their drivers on their site. They often put Mac and Linux versions. The only bad thing is not a lot of Wifi cards have Linux drivers yet.
does your XP disc automatically boot if the disc drive is in the boot devices?
i installed XP recently and it pretty much took care of everything itself and the only thing i really had to do was make it less annoying and get it running like win2k...
Quote from: Alliance on Sun 20/05/2007 22:54:52
Quote from: Tiki on Sun 20/05/2007 22:51:28
Linux is not the end-all be-all solution to computer trouble.
True. But it's becoming an excellent alternative to Windows, and it has a lot less errors, in my opinion.
Still, computers should be all about choice, so it's really up to you.
linux has a lot less errors because there's a lot less the typical user can run on it. i ran Ubuntu on my old pc for a month or two (Athlon 800) and all i did was look at the nice screensavers, play the mini golf game, try out a few ports of games i could already play perfectly fine through windows. the only difference i did notice was that movie playback through VLC (especially xvid) was a lot better than under windows 98.
That's not necesarily true. It works great for me, and I have lots of apps on it.
But, like I said, see for yourself, radiowaves. It's all up to you.
Hmm, I have very important saved data and plugins on Fruity Loops, I want to be 101% shure that these work on Linux.
Still, installing Linux doesn't actually solve the problem, its more like running away from it. And what if it doesn't work also?
Yes, the disk starts booting, I press any key when asked, and nothing happens. Keys just don't work at that time. After that, it just loads up usual Windows... And my 2-nd and 3-rd boots are disabled, still it loads me into Windows ???
NO.. You cant format throught windows. The drive is in use and will not let you do it. You need to boot from a CD or floppy. MiniPE is a good preinstall environment you can use for all sorts of diagnostics. You can pretty much run your PC from the CD alone, its kinda like a linux Live CD
Sounds like you get to the stage where it says "Boot from CD, Press any key" you press any key and it checks the CD and boots of the HDD insted.
Well then thing id make certian of is that that is definetly a bootable CD you are trying to boot off. Try it in another PC. Unfortunalty some bootable CDs work just fine in some drives and not in others. Also, the CD may be damaged or just dirty.
If it isnt a bootable CD. Head over to the MS website and grab the 6 boot floopys for XP installation and start your installation by booting off that.
If it IS a bootable CD, the same thing might work, or you can download a dodgy copy of XP from somewhere and use your serial number with it. MS may also send you a CD under certian circumstances, check their site for details.
For the guys suggesting Linux, ok.. Linux is a not bad alternitive to windows, but if you have never used it before it can be more trouble than its worth. If you want to install Linux, use "Live" CDs or find an online installation guide that shows you how to install Linux and XP together and start learning about Linux while you use windows. Linux can be a real pain in the ass with the smallest of things. I remember trying 6 different mouses with Ubuntu untill one finally worked :S
Theres a not bad distro for people who have never seen anything other than windows called LinuxXP. Tho i think they have the balls to attpempt to charge for it, but you can use if for 100 days without any nag screens. 100 days is plenty of time to learn ya way around linux.
Really i suggest a second PC for getting to know Linux, unless you have no alternative.
Even so, he cant install linux if he cant boot from the CD, so it wouldnt solve his current problem. Therefor.. make sure that thing is bootable and if it is, try another bootable CD in that PC see if it works. Then get back to us :P
Since it is derailed pretty much already (regiarding Linux)
Alliance: The idea is to have a computer that you an work comforatbly with and have the programs of your choice on. If I was to go on DP, or Logic, I would choose a Mac, Now that I'm on cubase I choose a PC (cause it does work better!) I would never ever change cubase, or the rest of the libraries I use (for which I have spent tons of money on), to go on Linux and dump everything! It always depends on the level of needs on the people you're talking to. And I'm mentioning this cause I did try Linux, and had ideas about Linux, but the hard fact is that I can't work atm with Linux. Period. If the time comes where VSTs and Cubase are supported by Linux, by ALL MEANS I'll be the first to switch... But until then...