i need some computer help please

Just had this happen to a notebook I just bought. The boot sector got screwed up. Can't get the backup of XP, or even reformat or fdisk the drive, it is toast.

Just to make sure it was in fact the drive, booted to KNOPPIX (linux run entirely from CD), and everything works fine on the puter.

Am in the process of going back to linux and abandoning the commercial OSes. Runs faster,not bloatware, NO virus threat (yes, the script kiddies have found Apple), and infinitely adaptable to any hardware.

Oh,and the operating system is free, and updated regularly.

I plan to get a SSD to replace the new HD I just installed, supposedly the slickest storage available now.

I am posting from my "dead" notebook, after a 15 minute install to the new drive of Knoppix (including partitioning and formatting the drive). Will migrate to Ubuntu as soon as I get a few minutes.

Seriously, get a copy of "live" linux (any distro you like) and play around with it on your old computer, once you get comfortable with it, you will put it on your main machine.
 
Did you try running fixmbr from repair console?

Yes, tried that as well as several undocumented repair routines used with ms stuff.

Chkdisk /r /p was needed twice over the 2 weeks before the magic smoke left the machine, so it wasn't a total surprise, but not having the physical install disks (common with today's products) is what was most inconvenient.

Been over 15 years since I used linux exclusively, now I remember why I went to it in the first place.
 
Just had this happen to a notebook I just bought. The boot sector got screwed up. Can't get the backup of XP, or even reformat or fdisk the drive, it is toast.

Just to make sure it was in fact the drive, booted to KNOPPIX (linux run entirely from CD), and everything works fine on the puter.

Am in the process of going back to linux and abandoning the commercial OSes. Runs faster,not bloatware, NO virus threat (yes, the script kiddies have found Apple), and infinitely adaptable to any hardware.

Oh,and the operating system is free, and updated regularly.

I plan to get a SSD to replace the new HD I just installed, supposedly the slickest storage available now.

I am posting from my "dead" notebook, after a 15 minute install to the new drive of Knoppix (including partitioning and formatting the drive). Will migrate to Ubuntu as soon as I get a few minutes.

Seriously, get a copy of "live" linux (any distro you like) and play around with it on your old computer, once you get comfortable with it, you will put it on your main machine.
I like what you are saying but have to tell you that the script kiddies have found Linux too.
 
I can buy a couple of PC's for the price of a Mac. Some folks swear by them, but I had no desire to learn another platform. The proprietary nature of the Mac makes the software more expensive also.

That being said, if you develop graphic arts, the Mac is the best platform for that.

Learning the Mac is a breeze. Took me about a week to feel comfortable. There's plenty of software available, unlike several yrs. ago. Yes the Mac costs more than a high end PC but you definitely get your money's worth. I've have an IMAC for several yrs and would never go back to a PC.
 
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