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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: briand18 on July 16, 2011, 05:26:10 PM

Title: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 16, 2011, 05:26:10 PM
After the new avast update all my programs just shut down and google chrome said "aw snap". I could not shut the computer down and was forced to shut it down manually. After it restarted I can NOT get pass the loading screen, it just stays there; even safe mode it gets stuck. I have tried everything from "last known working roll back" or w/e it's called. I have tried re seating my ram, did hardware checks and everything passes. I tried wiping the whole computer but my cd drive is not working either now and I know it worked because I just burnt cd's for my moms wedding. So I am hoping you guys have another solution that I have not thought of, I have been at this for 10 hours.

I am using Windows XP Professional 4GB ram. Oh and one of the ram slots do not work anymore. I know it was avast because the second that update notice came up, it all closed out and I also noticed I am not the only one having the same problems.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 16, 2011, 07:00:10 PM
Anyone?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 16, 2011, 09:23:30 PM
Can you access the computer bios? DEL OR F1 or other function key and reset to default configuration?
Sounds like motherboard or other hardware device has failed!
Try setting cd rom as first boot device, HDD AS SECOND.
Then you should be able to boot of your xp cd
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 16, 2011, 10:07:49 PM
Can you access the computer bios? DEL OR F1 or other function key and reset to default configuration?
Sounds like motherboard or other hardware device has failed!
Try setting cd rom as first boot device, HDD AS SECOND.
Then you should be able to boot of your xp cd

Yes, I did set to default and I did set up the boot sequence like that. The hard drive test passed, so what else could it be? Also it is not the CD because I tried it on another computer and it worked.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: Gargamel360 on July 16, 2011, 10:13:44 PM
AV problem could be responsible for many strange problems.  CD/DVD-Rom failure is not one of them.  In the midst of re-seating the RAM, might you have bumped something?  If everything is failing, I would also think about checking the power supply.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 08:30:30 PM
AV problem could be responsible for many strange problems.  CD/DVD-Rom failure is not one of them.  In the midst of re-seating the RAM, might you have bumped something?  If everything is failing, I would also think about checking the power supply.

I have re seated all the ram and then I made sure everything was in order. What do you mean by checking the power supply?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: Gargamel360 on July 17, 2011, 08:39:43 PM
You would need to purchase a multimeter, if you do not have one.

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/techrepublic-tutorial-how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-power-supply/5032945 (http://www.techrepublic.com/article/techrepublic-tutorial-how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-power-supply/5032945)
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/learn-to-troubleshoot-power-supply-problems/1041735 (http://www.techrepublic.com/article/learn-to-troubleshoot-power-supply-problems/1041735)
http://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-and-Replace-a-Failed-PC-Power-Supply (http://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-and-Replace-a-Failed-PC-Power-Supply)
http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2005/03/02/learn-how-to-diagnose-power-supply-problems/ (http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2005/03/02/learn-how-to-diagnose-power-supply-problems/)

Start reading, and try not die  ;D ;)
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 08:42:47 PM
You would need to purchase a multimeter, if you do not have one.

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/techrepublic-tutorial-how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-power-supply/5032945 (http://www.techrepublic.com/article/techrepublic-tutorial-how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-power-supply/5032945)
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/learn-to-troubleshoot-power-supply-problems/1041735 (http://www.techrepublic.com/article/learn-to-troubleshoot-power-supply-problems/1041735)
http://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-and-Replace-a-Failed-PC-Power-Supply (http://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-and-Replace-a-Failed-PC-Power-Supply)
http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2005/03/02/learn-how-to-diagnose-power-supply-problems/ (http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2005/03/02/learn-how-to-diagnose-power-supply-problems/)

Start reading, and try not die  ;D ;)

It is not the power because all the fans and everything work.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 17, 2011, 08:52:51 PM
Can you use a windows xp cd and try and boot off it?. You should get a message on your screen PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT OF CD & RUN WINDOWS SETUP?
IF CD drive is first boot device you have to put the CD in it first and press power button after.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: Gargamel360 on July 17, 2011, 08:57:29 PM
It was a shot in the dark, based on the Disc drive failing along with the other problem.

Can you use a windows xp cd and try and boot off it?. You should get a message on your screen PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT OF CD & RUN WINDOWS SETUP?
IF CD drive is first boot device you have to put the CD in it first and press power button after.
Good idea to try also, and I think XP disc also has some kind of repair option in it also, if I remember correctly (I'm one of a very scant minority who has never owned XP, so I'm not 100% sure).

Also, whats your SP?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 09:09:26 PM
Can you use a windows xp cd and try and boot off it?. You should get a message on your screen PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT OF CD & RUN WINDOWS SETUP?
IF CD drive is first boot device you have to put the CD in it first and press power button after.

I tried, it wont work but I know the cd works because I tried it on my other computer.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 09:09:48 PM
It was a shot in the dark, based on the Disc drive failing along with the other problem.

Can you use a windows xp cd and try and boot off it?. You should get a message on your screen PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT OF CD & RUN WINDOWS SETUP?
IF CD drive is first boot device you have to put the CD in it first and press power button after.
Good idea to try also, and I think XP disc also has some kind of repair option in it also, if I remember correctly (I'm one of a very scant minority who has never owned XP, so I'm not 100% sure).

Also, whats your SP?


SP?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 09:13:05 PM
Never mind. My service pack is number 3.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 17, 2011, 09:18:01 PM
If you can boot from xp cd rom. Then you can repair windows xp on top of it.
By reading that one ram slot is dead still sounds like motherboard fault. (Did you use anti static precautions ie grounding wrist strap (cmos chips get damaged by static electricity) then it wil be fryed!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 09:20:27 PM
If you can boot from xp cd rom. Then you can repair windows xp on top of it.
By reading that one ram slot is dead still sounds like motherboard fault. (Did you use anti static precautions ie grounding wrist strap (cmos chips get damaged by static electricity) then it wil be fryed!!!!!!!!

The ram went bad after I had to force shut it down. And yes I did use the wrist strap and with power off and unplugged.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 17, 2011, 09:26:57 PM
Try taking out everything off the motherboard bare minimum sound cards /network cards etc and just leave cd rom and one bank of ram in the slot that is working and try booting from the cd again. Or enter bios and see that it is reporting ram correctly.
IDE CHANNELS SET ON MY COMPUTER AS FOLLOWS:
HDD PRIMARY IDE CHANNEL MASTER DEVICE. DMA MODE
CD ROM SECONDARY CHANNEL SLAVE DEVICE. DMA MODE
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 09:31:57 PM
Try taking out everything off the motherboard bare minimum sound cards /network cards etc and just leave cd rom and one bank of ram in the slot that is working and try booting from the cd again. Or enter bios and see that it is reporting ram correctly

It is reporting ram correctly, I take one out and go to bios and it says the correct amount.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 17, 2011, 09:37:51 PM
For dianogstics just use one ram chip that is working and as before last message try the bare minimum on the motherboard and try again booting from your cd rom if it fails try the cd rom on another IDE Channel. Also in the system bios is it showing the hard drive is visible?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 09:40:48 PM
For dianogstics just use one ram chip that is working and as before last message try the bare minimum on the motherboard and try again booting from your cd rom if it fails try the cd rom on another IDE Channel. Also in the system bios is it showing the hard drive is visible?

Ok, I will try that and yes the bios is showing the cd drive.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 17, 2011, 09:42:33 PM
Is it showing HARD DRIVE AS WELL?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 17, 2011, 09:46:47 PM
Is it showing HARD DRIVE AS WELL?

Yes it is showing the hard drive and I tried that idea, all it said was "memory has changed, press f1 to continue" and still did not boot from disc.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 18, 2011, 04:30:35 AM
Any other ideas?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: Gargamel360 on July 18, 2011, 05:18:44 AM
Well, you said when this started your disc drive was broke, so it stands to reason you can not boot from a disc.  You need to get a new drive if it is shot.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 18, 2011, 05:31:15 AM
Well, you said when this started your disc drive was broke, so it stands to reason you can not boot from a disc.  You need to get a new drive if it is shot.

It is not broke, I just used it the day before and when the computer starts I can see the cd drive running and spinning and also the bios finds the cd drive.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: Gargamel360 on July 18, 2011, 05:41:08 AM
The bios finding the drive does not mean the drive can read a disc.

To test it, try to boot a Linux Live CD, if it also fails, something is amiss with the disc drive.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 18, 2011, 05:44:38 AM
The bios finding the drive does not mean the drive can read a disc.

To test it, try to boot a Linux Live CD, if it also fails, something is amiss with the disc drive.

Where can I get this CD?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: Gargamel360 on July 18, 2011, 05:51:56 AM
There are many flavors, this is one of the most popular and Windows-like>>http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download (http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download)

Make sure you don't install it, you just want to run it from the disc, instructions 1 through 3 on the linked site should cover all you need to know.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 18, 2011, 12:26:27 PM
Cannot understand why it cannot boot from cd device with a windows xp cd if this is set in bios as first boot device must be defective. Are you sure that all the ata ribbon cables are seated correctly and on the right ide channels.
Has your computer got a floppy drive and what make is it and try a old windows boot disk to go to DOS and see if hard drive is accesible
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: briand18 on July 19, 2011, 05:39:10 AM
Cannot understand why it cannot boot from cd device with a windows xp cd if this is set in bios as first boot device must be defective. Are you sure that all the ata ribbon cables are seated correctly and on the right ide channels.
Has your computer got a floppy drive and what make is it and try a old windows boot disk to go to DOS and see if hard drive is accesible

Yes, all the cables are right and it does have a floppy drive but I do not have an old windows floppy. Anything else I can try?
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: bobo1 on July 19, 2011, 01:40:48 PM
If you have got another working computer? Take out your hard drive Ide or Sata? whichever it is and put it in a hard drive usb caddy and see if it verifys ie is visible in windows on the other computer.
If it does not show as a valid device then it is blown and will cause problems with your original computer? bios. If it shows as a hard disk then scan it on the other computer for a virus and save off your important files
Shame you have not got a windows 98 start up floppy disk great for checking/formatting a hard drive in DOS FAT 32
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: TheCakeIsaLie on July 20, 2011, 07:46:22 PM
Are you able to see any blinking lights on motherboard when powering on ? These are sometimes helpful as they blink out a code of what is wrong. You would need motherboard user guide. Seems like unusual coincidence but I have had things like power supply & ram go dead without warning and had to replace.
Title: Re: Computer wont start after update D:
Post by: MAG on July 20, 2011, 08:51:07 PM
Building on gargamel's suggestion, there are much smaller/simpler versions of linux than ubuntu that run from a live cd and that you could use as a test tool.

The most reliable I've found is Slitaz - and its only a 30MB download.