My computer needs help!

[R4L]

OK, here's what happened:

I got this program called Duplicate File Finder to find, well, duplicated files. Now, the program skips all important folders and files, like the Windows folder, i386 folder, so on...

I scanned my computer, and voila! I now had 19 GB returned to me... at a price I didn't know about.

I restarted my computer after, and after the BIOS loaded up, I got this error:

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

That's it. I couldn't even get into Windows! So, I had a friend come over and we used a re installation CD provided by Dell () to get it up and going again. Now, I can log in and out and do some stuff, but lots of programs have missing filepaths, and IE cannot go to more than two pages without giving me a runtime error. Firefox shows this:

Picture

Also, in Firefox, if I go to java.com and try to verify my installation, it freezes. Same if I go to Windows Update on Firefox.

I tried this tool that came with this PC called Dell Driver Reset, and it tells me that there is a "problem with the BIOS", so when I hit OK to fix it, it says "problem solved!" but if I try it again, it still tells me that there is a problem with the BIOS!

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking about installing my old floppy drive, and making a Boot Install disk to get back my drivers, if that's the problem. Please help if possible! I can't lose all the stuff on here, I need it for school!

R4L

[Radiant]

I'd suggest - (1) copy the bookmarks file from your profile, (2) uninstall Firefox, (3) wipe the Firefox folder from your hard drive, and (4) re-install it clean.

[R4L]

Of course, I should have done that first.

Also, can I use my old Gateway floppy drive with my Dell? And can I use the old RAM I had too?

[Radiant]

Floppy drives, yes.

RAM, depends on what kind of RAM it is. But in most cases, yes. Little harm in trying it.

[R4L]

Thanks for the help Radiant! It's much appreciated. But now I need to get my Java back, and I can't download it.

[Ghost]

But now I need to get my Java back, and I can't download it.

Can't you buy one of those coder magazines? Over here they're quite cheap, and I saw the Java SDK, Eclipse and the like on them frequently...

[R4L]

I've never heard of that magazine before... I'll have to check it out later.

About my RAM, I currently have 512 MB DDR RAM, and the RAM I want to install is:

Off the RAM card: 128 MB, SYNCH, 133MHz, CL3

Is it compatible?

[dasjoe]

no, it is not.

[GarageGothic]

Have you tried accessing the Java website with other browsers (Internet Explorer, Opera etc.)?

[R4L]

Well, it's fixed now. I had to find a mirror was all.

I hooked up the Floppy, but my computer still doesn't recognize it.

[tube]

Well, it's fixed now. I had to find a mirror was all.

I hooked up the Floppy, but my computer still doesn't recognize it.

Is the floppy drive disabled in your bios? You can usually access the bios settings by (repeatedly) pressing delete as you boot the computer.

Does the little led in the front panel of the floppy drive light up? If it's lit all the time, you've probably got the flat floppy cable attached upside down. Depends on the drive and the cable if that's even possible, though.

[R4L]

It's possible. I forgot the red line means Pin 1. Oh well, I'll fix it later.

I figured the RAM wouldn't work...

I also have my old hard drive, but it's internal.

[R4L]

I don't mean to double post, but I forgot something:

Thanks for all the help. I didn't want to be a jerk or anything and not say thanks like most people do. Everything is working fine now!

R4L