Need help with PB imedia A3575

C

ComputerProblem

New Member
I am not a very technical person, and i know absolutely nothing about how to fix a computer, so i would very much appreciate any and all help i can get on this issue.

Our Packard Bell imedia A3575.NCD(?) has crashed. I think. When we try to start it normally it shows the "Windows starting" screen, but then the screen is blank except for the cursor. Having turned it off with the power button it worked for two days as long as one chose the "Fail safe" method, but not today.

After it has finished searching for errors, no matter what option you choose (finish or cancel) the computer turns itself off. And the blank screen with the cursor is still present when you choose the normal option.

Seeing as everything is written in Finnish due to my mother pressing the keyboard when the screen was blank, back when the computer was new, didn't make anthing better as none of us speek Finnish.

We have tried pretty much all the options during the search, but nothing changes. My mother wants to run one of her homemade recovery disks, but nobody wants to risk loosing the memory on the computer.

I am sorry if something is hard to understand, and i will try to better explain it if anyone hase any problems. But we would love to get the computer fixed, and hopefully as fast as possible.
 
Hi mate

Ok, I need some more information.

I need to know what version of Windows you have installed (e.g. XP, Win 7 etc).

If you have the Windows install DVD, insert it into the computer and boot from it (if it doesn't automatically boot form the DVD then you'll have to enter the bios to do that by pressing either F2 or DEL repeatedly on startup).

Once in Windows install DVD, choose repair.

This should fix this issue. If not, it is likely to be a failing or failed hard drive or motherboard.

Try this and report back.
 
Hi.

1. We have Windows 7 installed on that one.

2. I have no idea, but i will take a look.

3. Thanks for the instructions, i'll tell you how it goes.
 
Having done a quick search i have been unable to find a disk at home, and my mom thinks it's because Windows could've been installed already when we got the computer from the store. I have however found a few stores that sell Windows 7 for... Well, not a very cheap price, but anyway. They sell it.
 
If this works, you're probably good, but you should immediately back up all your files and save the Windows key and other motherboard drivers (specifically the chipset and network drivers) somewhere safe. This way no matter what you can always reinstall. You can determine your Windows key by using JellyBean. You can determine your other hardware requirements using PC Wizard from my sig.

If it doesn't work, you're left with a few options.

1. Test hardware for failure point. Likely to be either HDD or RAM or motherboard. But possible other components. The fact that it ran in safe mode indicates a hardware issue, im guessing a HDD. If thats the case you should buy a new HDD and reinstall windows, install the old HDD as a slave drive and if possible extract all your data from it that way within Windows.

2. Before doing that though, test your memory. RAM can cause all kinds of errors. Download MEMTEST and burn it to a CD or DVD and boot from it... let it run overnight. If no errors then you're probably fine. Move on.

3. If not RAM, id get a new HDD and reinstall windows on that.

Lets see how you go with the Repair. Here is how you do the repair in case you need instructions.

If it works, ill take you through an update and service of your machine to get it back to working well!
 
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The ironic thing is that i was going to backup my files during the weekend just to be on the safe side. I did however not consider the the Windows key or motherboard drivers.

As for the other options:

1. I might have to recruit a friend for that, but ok.

2. Not sure about the "run overnight" part, but if it helps fix what's wrong, sure.

3. Alright.

I will let you know how it works out as soon as i've tried it.
 
Okedokey said:
Hi mate

Ok, I need some more information.

I need to know what version of Windows you have installed (e.g. XP, Win 7 etc).

If you have the Windows install DVD, insert it into the computer and boot from it (if it doesn't automatically boot form the DVD then you'll have to enter the bios to do that by pressing either F2 or DEL repeatedly on startup).

Once in Windows install DVD, choose repair.

This should fix this issue. If not, it is likely to be a failing or failed hard drive or motherboard.

Try this and report back.
Click to expand...

Well, i tried this but it didn't work. I'm not sure what went wrong or how, but that blank screen is still there. Although, as i said, everything is in Finnish so i can't really say what it said, despite using Google Translate.

As for the other options,

1. The only friend that i might be able to recruit doesn't know how to fix it either.

2. One of my moms co-workers might be able to transfer the memory to an external memory using another computer at work as a bridge. Should i still use Memtest?

3. If that's the case, is there any way to save the memory?
 
This issue is usually signs of failing hardware, usually the hard drive. Or possibly a rootkit infection that is stopping it from booting. Did you try reinstalling windows? Being able to boot in safe mode would lead more toward infection then anything else but anything is possible.
 
Well, when i tried to do as he had written, i only had one option after choosing the Windows 7 option on the screen (which was the only option at that time), and that was to either start the computer in normal mode or run a diagnostic. But like i said, everything is in Finnish so i have to translate to see what i am doing, and at some times there's not enough time. I don't know if i deleted any partitions or not, nor do i know if i managed to install Windows again or not.
 
No, i did not see any of those screens. I can't even choose BIOS settings when i start the computer, with or without the CD. That option doesn't show up. Also, i don't have the product key as i downloaded Windows 7 using the link the Okedokey posted.

Edit: Btw, how does reinstalling Windows affect the memory?
 
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So you didn't reinstall windows. I would recommend taking it to someone who knows computers and can see whats going on. Reinstalling windows would wipe the hard drive totally so if there was any data on the drive that you need, you would have to transfer that to a different drive or usb flash drive. Like I said before, this type of issue is either a failing hard drive or an rootkit infection. Do you know what brand of hard drive is in it?
 
For me personally there isn't much data that i need, for me it's mostly data that i don't want to loose. For the rest of the family though, there are some important things on the computer. But can you really transfer things to a USB flash drive if you can't access your account?

Taking it to a friend is a long shot. I only have one friend who is used to working with computers, and i have told him what's going on. He has no idea what it is or how to fix it. All he had to say is that it could be any number of things. In the end though i think we will hand it in for repair after we have been able to extract as much data as possible.

I have no idea what brand it is, i have never looked it up. All i know is that everything in the computer is original.
 
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