poltr1 | Stumped!

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I hate being stumped by software and hardware problems. It's like the problem is mocking me, telling me I'm not good enough to solve it.

Here's what's on the docket.

Problem #1: I'm working on my chuch's web site. The webmaster found this neat script to collapse and expand menus. Problem is, he wants the menu to go to the page if JavaScript is disabled. I've not been successful at adding the necessary code to do this.

Problem #2: A friend is getting an "NTLDR is missing" error when he boots up his laptop. I tried my Windows XP recovery disk, and it didn't fix the problem.

Problem #3: I'm working on a website for an independent congressional candidate. I'm waiting on my client to approve the changes before I move the pages into production.

Any ideas?

Current Mood: grumpy

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

hms42

Problem #2...

What did you specifically do with the CD?

The data on the drive should be pullable if needed via connecting it externally to another machine.

Is SMART turned on in the bios? (Just being paranoid and eliminating a hardware issue).

As for the CD, what I would do (and warning - this may not work and potentially could caused lost data), is to boot from the CD and then goto a command prompt, run a check disk (chkdsk) and see if that fixes the issue. It does sometimes solve the issue.

Also, is he running XP? If not and you use an XP disc on it, that is not a good thing nor will it likely solve the problem. (I don't think you would do that sort of error, but it has to be asked.)

From:

poltr1

I don't know the keystroke(s) needed to get into the BIOS. It flashes on the screen for about 2/10 second. FWIW, it's an older HP (HP Pavilion ZT1190).

With the Recovery Console, I've tried FIXMBR, FIXBOOT, and CHKDSK. It doesn't let me do much more.

I've also tried a utility I found online called FIXNTLDR (at http://www.tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm.)

My friend told me he's running XP, but couldn't say if it was either Home or Professional, or even the service pack he was running.

Now I've discovered another problem. The G, H, and apostrophe keys no longer work.

Edited Date: 2010-09-01 10:38 am (UTC)

From:

hms42

Ok. You have checked about what I would think of at this point....

Bios access should be one of the standard bios access keys (F1,F2,F10 or Delete)

It might not have SMART option in the bios.

As for the OS, I would check the sticker on the bottom of the machine to see if it will confirm with what he told you.

And since you have already done what I would think of, if I was working on it, I would just pull the data and do a system rebuild. (HP does charge about $10-$20 for the original discs for a machine.)

Due to the keyboard failing, I would not 100% recommend spending $$$ on the machine. (You likely can get a replacement keyboard on ebay, but you should check the value of the machine too and if your friend can afford a replacement machine. (Starting around $300 for a refub machine (Microcenter)).