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Resolved No Icons followed by Black Screen!

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by ladymaude, 2011/03/06.

  1. 2011/03/06
    ladymaude

    ladymaude Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi

    I have 3 hard drives on slide out trays.

    (1) Web site creation

    (2) Photos

    (3) A general one for surfing and occaisional down loads.

    No (3) was working fine when I closed it down a couple of nights ago but when I tried it tonight something unusual took place.

    First it seemed to boot ok got to the XP pro splash screen with the Field and Clouds etc.

    But.. All the icons were missing! all the tool bars gone no start button nothing just the splash screen of the Field.

    So I had no choice but push the button and crash it down.

    Then I rebooted Normally but this time all I got was a 'Black Screen'

    I rebooted again and this time the Safe mode screen came up, so I tried to restart in last known best configuration but black screen again!

    Tried safe mode but still a Black screen.

    Everything works on the drive I am using for this but drive (3) is a mystery to me. So any ideas?

    Unfortunately its got some data on it and although its not that important there are names and addresses etc which I wouldn't want falling in the wrong hands, identity theft and all that.

    P.S. There is only ever one HD in my PC at any one time, I just swap them about as I need them.

    Years without any problems but this weekend the gremlins are really out!

    I have bought an external HD to back up all my data so there is nothing on my PC ( Im now realising just how important that is!)

    Should I leave that plugged in all the time or just transfer my data and then pull the plug? as I don't really know how you are supposed to use them.

    Can a Trojan extract data from an external HD? or is it pretty safe?

    Many Thanks if you can help.
     
    ladymaude,
    #1
  2. 2011/03/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Your method of working is rather strange .....
    This implies that you have XP loaded to each hard drive? If this is the case do you have 3 XP installation CD's? In the MS licence your installation CD is good for a single installation on one computer - although the same copy of XP can be installed on another computer it will not activate. Your situation is in a gray area in that you are installing it on the same computer, albeit on separate hard drives, but probably not strictly in accordance with the Licence Agreement which may be giving rise to .....
    from your other thread.
    If you have moved your data to the external hard drive then you still have only a single copy of it and no backup. The object of backing up is to maintain a current copy of your data on independent media - in your case an external drive with the original data remaining on the PC's hard drive. Then, in the event that the PC hard drive fails the data on it is replicated elsewhere and can be restored.
    For a backup drive there is no need to leave the drive plugged in and powered up - just plug it in when you need to copy data to it. Never just 'pull the plug' on a USB drive - always use the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Notification area by the clock. The icon will only be present when the drive is connected.
    If you have a trojan on your computer which has the ability to steal sensitive data the external drive is equally at risk, but, as I posted in your other thread referenced above a good AV, fully updated should protect you in combination with Malwarebytes.

    Turning to your current problem with drive #3 - black screen on boot.
    I don't see this as an issue - the important point is to either recover the drive or at least the data on it.

    First question is can you install 2 drives in the computer - if so you should be able to copy off the data which presumably has not (yet) been backed up.

    If the drive will not boot into Windows either it is faulty or the OS is faulty.

    First step is to check the drive ....

    Boot from your XP Pro CD and enter the Recovery Console - there is no need to install the Recovery Console, run it from the CD as indicated under How to use the Recovery Console in the link.

    At the command prompt type chkdsk /r followed by enter and follow anyon screen instructions. See also Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console for advanced users

    Once chkdsk has completed see if the computer will boot - if not I suggest a Repair which should not affect any data on the drive.

    We encourage all members to complete their System Specifications which help us to help you :)
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2011/03/07
    ladymaude

    ladymaude Inactive Thread Starter

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    Many Thanks Peter I will try your suggestion

    Admin: Please do not quote a message when there's no need to do so.

    Hi Peter

    I will give that a try right now, also I do have 2 X legit copies of XP Pro with different serial numbers as I originally wanted 4 X hard drives but found that 3 is now more than enough.

    Also got Avast working on this one, so just no3 to sort out.

    I will let you know how I get on.

    Many Thanks Peter
     
    ladymaude,
    #3
  5. 2011/03/07
    ladymaude

    ladymaude Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Peter

    Well done! and Thank you!

    Bit of a learning curve for me but I've got there in the end.

    Thank you again I would have been totally lost without your help.
     
    ladymaude,
    #4
  6. 2011/03/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I am glad to hear that you resolved the issue :) - which suggestion worked for you? Chkdsk or a Repair?
     
    PeteC,
    #5
  7. 2011/03/07
    ladymaude

    ladymaude Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Peter I tried both!

    Hi Peter

    I tried both and found some errors on the disc, then I did a repair and then a 'mirracle' happened and I got all my data back! Thanks to you.

    I have always been extremely lax at backing data up and sometime ago I lost the lot to a Trojan.

    Fortunately there wasn't anything on there of much use but now I have got the external HD, I am keeping my hard drive Totally empty!
     
    ladymaude,
    #6
  8. 2011/03/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I think you have still missed the plot :)

    If your data is only on the external hard drive you do not have a backup of it. An external hard drive is actually more likely to fail or have problems than an internal drive - IMHO.

    A backup is a copy of data which is also duplicated elsewhere - hard drive and, in your case, external hard drive.
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2011/03/07
    ladymaude

    ladymaude Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Peter

    What I am doing is copying the data from my Computer Hard Drive onto my External Hard Drive and then 'Deleting the data from my Computer Hard Drive' so a Trojan Virus cannot get it.

    If I need to work on a Photo or a Website, then I copy it out back out of my external drive onto my internal drive and when I finished working on it then do the same thing again.

    Probably not the way most people do it but I don't want anyone running off with my data. If it's not on my internal hard drive then they can't get it or even copy it, I hope?

    If it's really important Stuff like my Website is, then I will burn an extra copy on a DVD.
     
    ladymaude,
    #8

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