Ntldr

when I turn on my computer I some times get a black screen that says something wrong with ntldr and to click ctrl,alt & delete. I do that and it keeps cpming back to same message ie: click ctrl,alt &delete. If I shut down computer and waite a few minutes befor turning back on, every thing is fine and I'm able to operate computer. This happened early this week and was told if I have a ul cord pluged in that is not connected to anything to unplug it. The computer worked fine for three days and did it again today. Anyideas befor I have to do yet another recovery? ? ? ?
THANK YOU

Brian

 

Hi Brian,

Don't know if this will help, but take a look here.

 

Thanks Jim, This is a bit more then I can handle. The computer was bought new from HP last February and has been in for repairs four times. HP was suppose to replace it with a new one after three times but said this modle was no longer availabe and wanted me to take a lesser model that didn't have a P4. They also replaced the hard drive three times. I'm not a happy camper.
the **** thing just did it again tonight and this time I had to shut it off and on several times befor I got it to load. I have a service contract and the techrep said I needed a hard drive. Oh well, here I go again. Thank YOu

 

Brian - replacing your hard drive sounds like a cop-out on the part of the company to me. And if this would be drive #4, there is a cause they are missing.

If you'd like to take some time to try and work thru the problem to get a functional machine (or to possibly find out what component/setting is really bad if one is) we'll be happy to work with you.

If the link Jim gave you is too much detail or just plain doesn't make sense to you, we can break each of the things described there into a set of 1, 2, 3, 4 steps.

 

Newt,
I think I found the problem. it seems to be the connection ribbon
(wire mass or whatever you call it) when the computor gives me a hard time and won't boot I wiggle that whodickky and the fligamajig stars working, ie: the computer boots up. Happened twice today. The last time this whent back to HP I told them about this and they said it was not the problem. Looks like I was right then, but I forgot all about the ribbon. The info Vail provited said that was one of the things to check. Thanks for your offer, I really appreciate it. I'll replace the ribbon and hope to hell that is the end of that.
Thanks a bunch for the huntch, think I'll eat lunch or is it time for brunch I think my meds have kicked in.

Brian

 

Glad you got it working.

Sounds like you may have a marginal piece of cable though so were it me, I'd try to get HP to replace it and if they won't, you can buy one pretty cheap I think. Hardware isn't something I'm very good with and HP may have something proprietary but I'm betting it's a standard ribbon cable for hooking up HDs.

It's unfortunate but so many of the 'support techs' for big PC companies don't have much foundation for doing what they do (and aren't paid enough to take additional courses) so their solution is to replace some obvious hardware piece. Quick, no-brainer for them, and even if it doesn't work, they don't have the follow up call to deal with.

 

Brian ...

I can't believe that HP uses anything but off-the-shelf hard drives, so that means they would use use generic cables, as well.

If HP won't replace your cable, you can get one at any store that sells computer supplies (Radio Shack, CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, OfficeMax, etc). Just be sure to get an 80 wire ribbon cable, rather than a 40 wire ... that way, you're assured that it will work with your system.

Before you do that, though, remove your present cable from its motherboard socket (noting the orientation of the red stripe on the cable) and check for bent or broken pins in the socket. If everything appears to be OK, plug the cable back in, making sure that it's firmly seated. Since the hard drive has been replaced several times the problem is less likely to be on that end ... unless, of course, you do happen to have a faulty cable.

 

Thank you guys. Since I wiggled the cable, the computer has worked 100%. Thanks to all for their info and support. You people are great. Thank You, Thank You