I'm a computer noob, and my new computer (it's a core2duo, so pretty new) is stuffed, when booting up windows it'd just show the windows loading screen and all of a sudden boots up right from the beginning again. Loop continues indefinitely. also cant seem to format it neither.

I don't have the comp knowledge to fixit myself, is there a computer repair shop that you guys would recommend? South side of brisbane preferred. Do Umart/CA do repairs?

Ta in advance.

id make friends with Crizane Tribal and get him to fix it for you, cause hes a stupid sucker like that.

step 1 stick in windows disk
step 2 hit any key to boot off cd
step 3 format with ntfs quick, proceed to load windows
step 4 profit

pull the ram out and clean the gold contacts with a pencil eraser

Install Lin... oh forget it

Mr Hardware, i've done the format. but when it rebooted to install windows after the format, it said that there's already an OS on the selected partition. that confused me cos i just formatted that partition. also, out of the 3 partitions i had on the 320GB hdd, only a single partition is shown in the format screen. sounds like a hdd failure of some sort?
thx.

ghh

3 partitions. uggh.

download GPartEd. delete all partitions. create a new One. format it with ntfs.

install windows

Partitions make baby jesus cry unless you're using multiple OS's.

agreed

with hard drives so s*** cheap these days, don't use partitions.

But then you have to format a 320gig drive just to re-install windows?

I'm still up for partitions for the reason Fizzer mentioned. Movies, Music, Pictures, etc all go onto a seperate partition so if I feel like nuking XP I don't need to fart around with backing up my data.

save yourself the heartache and run two drives.

get a 80gig for $50 and don't f*** around

Why is having partitions a heartache?

Do Umart/CA do repairs?

CA do, I never take my rigs anywhere else.

coolios, i mite just take the thing to CA rite now then.
thx heaps.

you must have money to burn

Movies, Music, Pictures, etc all go onto a seperate partition

Exactly.

Why backup+format+restore data that doesn't need to be formatted at all?

gah
thats what a second hard drive is for
unless you're skilled (obviously this guy is not) then don't have partitions.

thats what a second hard drive is for
unless you're skilled (obviously this guy is not) then don't have partitions.

So how does an unskilled person install a new drive?

Easier [and quicker and cheaper] just to do the GParted thing:

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

Just make sure you say your from QGL when you come into CA
In case you didn't know, rubber chicken, koopz and myself all work at CA

I thought you were a psycho knife wielding maniac?

Kinda like this guy:

http://www.vidmax.com/index.php/videos/view/1068

last edited by mission at 13:44:51 12/Apr/07

Hey Hermitech .. did you ever work at Queensland Computer Group?

I ask because of this:

http://www.overclockers.com.au/news.php?id=30216

:)

I saw hermi yesterday but I didn't tell him it was me. HA HA HA ? :(

coolies, i just managed to get it formatted, but the 320GB WD hdd is still only showing up as a 120GB drive.

i'll see how it all goes, if it doesnt work out i'll definitely be looking at taking it in to CA.
Thx Hermi, i'll remember to mention qgl if i end up going in.

but the 320GB WD hdd is still only showing up as a 120GB drive

You installed a non-service-pack version of XP after wiping the other partitions?

Install SP2 and then read this to resize your partition:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590

This won't work if you only formatted a pre-existing 120GB partition without deleting the other partitions.

last edited by parabol at 14:33:35 12/Apr/07