Computer help?

[rane_ab]

My computer is out of order (only for the third time in a week; who's counting), and google is confusing me more than anything, so I was wondering if maybe one of you lovely people would know a solution.

Comments

[their_darkness]

Hiya, I checked with dad and he says you don't need to install software or anything to replace the CD-rom drive, it's just hardware, it shouldnt need any software. If you replace it and then turn on your pc it should automatically power the cdrom drive as well and you can open it right then. I'm guessing you're going to have to format your pc to re-install windows though :(

How did you find out which file is damaged? Will windows not boot at all, or can you still log on?

[rane_ab]

Oh, that's fab news! \o/ I'm guessing this is only for the internal version, though? There's also external versions you can plug in by USB, which would be a lot easier, but I'm guessing those do need software?

I'm guessing you're going to have to format your pc to re-install windows though :(

Really? Whoops... I didn't have to do anything last time, but it might not have been a full re-install then (it literally just gave me the option to reinstall while keeping my files, and AFAIK, it did - I just had to update all the programs after installation). Fingers crossed I can just repair it. :/

No, when it tries to boot Windows, it gets me to a DOS screen saying something like "Can't start Windows because file X is damaged. Insert the Windows Setup CD to try and repair it". And that's it - I remember that last time I tried to replace the file manually using DOS instructions I'd googled, but it was a different file and it ended up not working, anyway. *g*

Thank you for the help! <3

[their_darkness]

Pretty sure the external one will work as well! There's no harm trying :)

Hmm, yeah, since it's not a virus or anything then I guess you could just try to fix the damaged file!

[rane_ab]

Well, I don't have any lying around, so it'd be a bit inconvenient if I bought one and it turned out not to work. *g* (Though I guess I could always keep it around for another computer - those things probably do have a tendency to break.) Think I might go with the internal one, though I'll need to track down a screwdriver, then. :D #woesoflivinginstudentdigs

[unavee]

I'm not sure if your CD-ROM isn't working or won't open--if it won't open, there's a small hole that you can poke a paperclip or other object into to force it open. Although, if you're doing that, your drive might be on its way to dying, anyway.

Also! (I am super-paranoid ever since I had my computer die on me twice in one year) Once you get it fixed, it might be good to backup your files in case you do have to reinstall Windows.

[rane_ab]

-if it won't open, there's a small hole that you can poke a paperclip or other object into to force it open

You are my hero. :D This is my worst problem fixed right there. (And, yes, no doubt it's dying, but at this point I just want my computer to work. I barely ever use my CD-ROM drive, which is why I haven't bothered fixing it till now. Stupid, in hindsight.)

Luckily, I do have about 95% of my files backed up on an external HD, and nothing vital in the remaining 5% (although I'd much rather recover them, given the choice), but yeah, a full backup is pretty much the first thing I'll be doing if I get it to work again. :s

Thank you very much for the tip about the CD-ROM!Off to see if I can figure the next bit out.