Great news! Congratulations on the success. It's a situation that a lot of other people haven't been fortunate enough to recover from!

If that old hard drive has Windows XP on it your problem will be because Windows XP does not allow you to 'move' a working installation from one system to another in this way. There is no 'official'...

That's probably part of the problem right there.

Please follow the instructions in this topic, and then report back to let us know if it works in 'barebones' configuration or indeed if you've been...

Not necessarily correct that a mobile chip will be recognised by the system BIOS on your motherboard. It may have similar architecture but it has different ID, and it'd be 'pot luck' if your board...

Whilst I'd agree that this doesn't sound too promising, I wouldn't go 'trashing' a laptop without first ensuring that it was, indeed, 'dead' and not simply experiencing some small problem.

I'm...

I hope those old 'Ghost' images help you retrieve the programs you've lost.

The movie playing problems sound like your system is simply missing the codec files needed to decode and play back the...

Then your problem isn't a 'dead machine' one. If Windows begins to load and then stops loading then your problem is a Windows installation one.

Try a 'refresh' install:...

Sorry to tell you this, but Mom's PC has reached the end of its useful life for some reason. Those are 'blown' capacitors which are quite important for the system to work, and although they CAN be...

Here's an extremely good and well illustrated guide to putting together a modern, Socket 939 system:

http://www.hardwarezone.com/guides/amd-socket939/index.php?pg=1

Hi, and sorry to take so long to get to this question.

Have you tried replacing the CMOS battery and then running the hard drive auto detection in BIOS setup?

Your problem sounds like a dead...

I'm sorry, but by deleting that 'hidden' partition and then continuing to use the drive you have most likely destroyed any chance that even expensive commercial data recovery services could get it...

That is not enough information from which to make any 'diagnosis'. Please make use of the "Read this first" pinned topic at top of page to troubleshoot your system in a 'bare bones' configuration...

It is worth running a memory test for sure, and if the RAM tests OK then the next thing to suspect is the hard drive. Download the diagnostic software available from Western Digital website, run...

Hi,

I've posted standard troubleshooting procedures in the pinned "Read this first" topic at top of page. Stripping a system back to basics and systematically trying it out by adding components...

Agreed. You only need reset CMOS as BuggZ has said, to allow the system to boot with default and autodetect settings. It's a simple procedure and a common task faced by overclockers who've pushed...

Before you do, though, if you have Windows XP on that hard drive you need to format it and install again. XP doesn't allow you to put the hard drive in a different system and boot up ;)


As...

Which version of windows, please? Did you get a Windows CD with the machine.

When the power cord has come out of the back it has probably corrupted data on the hard drive, causing the system to...

Hi Lukex, and welcome. I've split your question into a topic of its own because we ask that people refrain from piggy-backing their questions onto another topic. It's highly unlikely that your...

If the power supply unit had an isolation switch and that was turned off you are pretty safe from electrical damage. The isolation switch disconnects power from the motherboard.

Power down again,...

The point of the sticky is that to get the system working you stop trying to get it to boot until after you get it to work! No drives should be connected at all.

Strip it to 'barebones', reset...

Try following the advice in the "Read this first" pinned topic at top of page.

It certainly concerns me to hear of a heatsink/fan unit being replaced in this way.

Definitely, power cords should be disconnected.
Preferably the motherboard should be removed from the case and...

AmiloProblem, resetting CMOS does NOT correct the problems caused by an incorrectly flashed BIOS. It will correct problemmatic setting changes, but not a partially loaded BIOS data file.

If you get a power interruption whilst flashing the BIOS (that's the predominant reason for it going kaput) all you can do is send the machine in for repairs. You can't fix it yourself. When the...

Wrong, trucker dude. Can't boot from a floppy when the 'pooter won't POST

That's a yes.

For starters you don't go and buy $50 fans unless you KNOW that they are needed!

Having trouble determining exactly where the noise is coming from? Make yourself a makeshift 'stethoscope'. Get...

First thing you do is slow down and decide to write properly, using sentences, full stops and the best spelling you can manage, so that we can read your comments more easily. Get rid of all those...

Sure you've reset CMOS at each stage to ensure that it's not simply BIOS settings causing the failure to POST?

Sure your processor isn't dead?

Checked that the wall outlet is turned on and...

Oh dear!

It sounds like you've had a power interruption whilst the system was updating. When that happens the motherboard is rendered unable to function. You'd best get it checked at a repair...

No, I don't sorry. Some more recent Presarios have a thumb operated lever or wheel which needs to be rotated to allow the side panel to come loose. Others I've not seen may have different...

errmmmmmm.........

Do not turn that computer on!

Open the system case and clean it free of dust inside. Then turn the power on briefly to see which fan(s) aren't working. Turn off...

When you say the computer "wasn't on" do you mean that Windows had been shut down? When that happens, there is still power to the motherboard. The machine has to be turned off either at the...

Here's the deal - Unless there's something else you're not telling us you don't, actually, know what needs to be done. Viruses don't trash hard drives. They only trash thw Windows installation and...

I'd be suspecting that the drives got hot because they blew up! A faulty power supply unit can do that to your components, and when things blow up they tend to get somewhat hot. Hard drives don't...

I would be replacing the power supply unit in your circumstance. I'd be too suspicious of it. I'd be inclined to replace the drive data cable as well.

Then it is either motherboard, processor, power supply unit or a faulty RAM module. You can get a technician to test it or you can borrow suitable spare componnents from elsewhere for testing...

This sort of post puzzles me. If it's a recently purchased new Gateway system why isn't it going to Gateway for warranty attention?

If you're intent on doing it yourself, the troubleshooting...

If you've 'tried all that' and with only processor, display card and one RAM module fitted the system still does not power up you need to take it to a technician most likely.

Either you have a...

Sounds like a hardware problem. The pinned topic at top of page will explain how to strip it back to basics and identify where the problem lies. If it sounds too tachnical or 'hands on' for you,...