Need new CPU for desktop pc

bagby

Desktop pc (about eight years old) has stopped working - was thinking of buying a new box with the processing unit in, we also had a disc burner on the last one. What should we be looking for. Don't really do much on the desktop as we use ipad and laptop but we do use it for word processing, burning cds, and printing. Any ideas. Been on pc world site and they are about £300 with 4gb and 500 mb. Don't really know what to look out for.

Also another question, as computer not working can we retrieve some of the pictures from it? If it's easy enough. We have got most of it on disc. Thanking you in advance.

closed

any lights on it?

If you don't use it much, why not use (or buy another) the laptop instead - it can be plugged into the screen/keyboard if you wish

data can be retrieved in a usb caddy, but as any disk can die or get infected, you may wish to consider backing up with disk imaging software in future

bagby

Fans going and have a blue switch on light and a small green one. Message on screen is windows could not start because of an error in software. Please report problem Load needed for dolls and Hal. Contact support person to report problem. Would this be virgin media.

closed

dll's not dolls I hope

it's a software problem, machine will still work.

make, model, operating system, do you have windows discs?

nothing to do with virgin media

boot pressing F8 and try safe mode

bagby

Blxxxdy predictive text:))

Fujitsu Siemens. Windows vista. Yes we have recovery discs but didn't to reinstall as thought it would over write everything.

closed

it would..

but you can get your data off first with a usb disk caddy or linux boot disc, see end of this - paragon section https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849

or windows repair, and may be able to just fix the issue without any discs or overwriting - by using safe mode, chdksk c: /F, system restore etc

if it does it every time, first thing to try is safe mode

then safe mode, system restore to an earlier time

then chkdsk c: /F

-

If you really want a new desktop machine, ebuyer have some, with windows possibly being extra, but laptops are usually better value, and use less power.

NiftyDigits

You can use Vista's Startup Repair. If that doesn't work you can easily retrieve your data by using an operating system that operates by only using the RAM and not the hard drive. It will allow you to connect to the hard drive and to copy any data that you wish to keep, to optical disc or an external hard drive.

What is the full model number of the PC?

macman

You don't need a new base unit (CPU is something different) because there is no evidence of hardware failure. Reinstall the OS and all should be well.

bagby

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You can use Vista's Startup Repair. If that doesn't work you can easily retrieve your data by using an operating system that operates by only using the RAM and not the hard drive. It will allow you to connect to the hard drive and to copy any data that you wish to keep, to optical disc or an external hard drive.

What is the full model number of the PC?[/

10600258899

Windows Xp home edition

poppellerant

Something like UBCD for Windows will let you recover your files - download and burn it to CD, then boot from it.

If you have email programs like Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail, you'll need to rummage around to find your emails if you want to recover them. Most of what you'll need can be found on the C: drive, in the Users folder. Choose the user whose files you want to backup and you'll see folders named Documents, Pictures, etc. It might be worth checking the Desktop folder in case you saved anything there.

NiftyDigits

bagby wrote: »

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You can use Vista's Startup Repair. If that doesn't work you can easily retrieve your data by using an operating system that operates by only using the RAM and not the hard drive. It will allow you to connect to the hard drive and to copy any data that you wish to keep, to optical disc or an external hard drive.

What is the full model number of the PC?[/

10600258899

Windows Xp home edition

We are looking for something like Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo P5710 or some such, as opposed to a serial number.

You wrote Vista earlier. Was that a mistake?