Discussion » PC a goner?

This is a read-only copy. The forum ran on iamcal.com from 2000 until its database was lost in 2016, and this topic was rebuilt from copies saved by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. Some replies may be missing, and its dates are approximate.
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
I am so upset, I forgot to unplug my PC and this huge storm came along and a lightning bolt struck it. I heard a big bang and my computer went dead. I plugged it in again after the storm and it starts up but then gets to this :

DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER.

Does that mean my harddrive is gone? Is there anything that can be done? Sul? I'm sorry, I know you're probably on holiday and all, but can you tell me whether or not the thing is salvagable? (I borrowed my sister's laptop to post this.)

I'm really upset about it because I'm not able to chat with you guys. :(
Posted by Sul_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
First things first - make sure you dont have a floppy disk in the drive. Sounds stupid, I know, but it happens alot.
Posted by Senseless, around December 2005:
 
What operating system?
Posted by WarHead, around December 2005:
 
Yo Senseless. How did you find your way here?

Any luck with the PC boudicca?
Posted by ellipse, around December 2005:
 
possibly stalking brock?
Posted by Alfie_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
"I forgot to unplug my PC and this huge storm came along and a lightning bolt struck it"

See I always go running round unplugging things when there's a storm brewing and people told me off for being silly. Damned people.
Posted by Ass Master!!!!!, around December 2005:
 
oh and Happy New Year!!!!
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
Don't laugh, but it's Windows 95. I lamented my woes to my neighbour, who is an IT geek and he has very kindly offered to fix it for me. I a thinking of buying myself a laptop though. Trouble is, the TV is also on the blink so I am going to have to put off the laptop purchase until I've paid for the TV. Bah!
Posted by Saltation_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
i dare say the drive is more likely to be safe than the circuitry surrounding it, eg the disk controller or the logic board or whatever board structure your particular make of pc has inside it. if you're lucky and your pc is built that way, you may be able to rewrite teh BIOS with the defaults and all will be well. if not, you may be up for new boards.

get your IT mate to pop the drive out and into one of his and see if he can read/write it ok, then see if he can boot off it. if so: your drive is ok: see if you can find which boards are burned on your pc. if not: try popping one of his drives into your pc and see if it boots. if so: your drive is definitely toast (but may be able to be software fixed, by maybe reinstalling windows (which would preserve your files/programs) or else reformatting (lose all data etc))
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
Yay! Salty is back! Hey, Salty!

Thanks very much I will ask him to do that. Thanks a mil. :)
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 5th January 2006:
 
I hope this is not abuse of the iamcal website, but as you know, my PC has gone ZAP and I lost all my email addresses. If I was in email contact with you before (warhead, sal) please would you send me an email so that i will have your address. Thankyou. So much.
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 5th January 2006:
 
Or send me an email anyway. Ta! heh heh
Posted by WarHead, around 5th January 2006:
 
Done. And if you're getting a replacement PC, make sure you connect it through a surge protected power strip.
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 6th January 2006:
 
Yay, I am back! I mean, on the old PC. The boot up thingy thingy wasn't seeing the hard drive and the modem was toast. All fixed.
Posted by WarHead, around 6th January 2006:
 
Good - now invest in a surge strip.
Posted by jeffld_DUPE1, around 6th January 2006:
 
congrats..

I definitely recommend surge protectors.

If you can manage to get one with a battery backup even better.
Posted by Sul_DUPE1, around 6th January 2006:
 
ditto
Posted by Saltation_DUPE1, around 6th January 2006:
 
i definitely recommend crotch protectors

if you can manage to get one with a battery even better
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 6th January 2006:
 
I will do so, thanks chaps.

crotch protector? is that like "chastity belt" with a built in jiggle-machine? i zink you're on to zomezing der...hmmm...

/scratches head in an Albert Einstein manner
Posted by lipsie, around 7th January 2006:
 
don't all mutlip point plugs come with a surge protector?
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 7th January 2006:
 
i'm not sure, but my phone line was still plugged in, i think the zap went down that
Posted by Alfie_DUPE1, around 7th January 2006:
 
"i zink you're on to zomezing der...hmmm..."

IS that the South African accent finally coming out?
Posted by WarHead, around 7th January 2006:
 
You can also get them with a connector for your modem connection so you'd also be protected against a spike on your phone line.
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 7th January 2006:
 
Thanks War...I will ask about that.

Um, No Alfie, that was supposed to be Austrian (Albert Einstein);
South African would go a bit like this :
"Ah fienk you's onto sumfing dare"
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 7th January 2006:
 
But we don't all sound like that. We have different accents here, pretty much like you do over there.
Posted by Sul_DUPE1, around 7th January 2006:
 
Yeah but, no offence, every SA I've met had an accent that could grate diamonds.
Posted by Boudicca_DUPE1, around 7th January 2006:
 
It's okay, you don't have to say No Offence. (Hey, Sul : that's a great name for your band). I guess it's true, SA accents are shit. Why do you think Charlize Theron dropped it as soon as she could? I am lucky my Mom made me speak proper, loik. You can still hear I'm South African. To hear my voice call +27 11 84 647 7141. I dare you. But put away your diamonds.