I found an article on the Internet about what to do if when you start your computer it writes an error message.
So, after turning on the computer, the POST computer device self-test program starts. After its successful completion, the BIOS searches for the device from which the computer will boot. This device can be any storage medium - hard drive, flash drive, CD/DVD drive, etc.
How is this search carried out?
The fact is that the BIOS already has a list of devices from which it is possible to boot the computer and the search for a boot device is carried out in accordance with the order of devices in this list. The BIOS section that contains the list of boot devices is usually called Boot, and the order of devices in this list can be changed if desired.
When the computer boots, the BIOS scans all devices from the list in order until it finds a device with boot files. At this point, the search for boot devices stops and computer boot control is transferred to the program whose boot files were found (in most cases, this program is the Windows operating system).
The order of devices in the BIOS boot list can be changed. This is usually done like this: immediately after turning on the computer (at the stage of passing the POST check), you need to press the Delete key.
In this note I am publishing photographs of the screen of the ASUS EEE PC 1000H netbook; the BIOS view in your case may be slightly different
Sometimes the access key in the BIOS may be different and this needs to be clarified in the motherboard manual, but in most cases it will be Delete or, in my case, F2.
Once in the BIOS, you need to find the section responsible for the boot order from devices. Typically this section is called Boot.
To navigate through the BIOS menu, you usually use the cursor keys - up, down, right and left arrows. To enter the menu section, use the Enter key, and to exit, use the Esc key.
In the Boot menu you will see this list:
So, after passing the POST check, the BIOS queries all the devices in the list in order until it finds an available boot device. The presence of a device in the download list does not mean its physical presence on the computer. So, in the boot list, a CD/DVD drive may be in first place, but at the time of boot, the drive will not have a disk installed and therefore the BIOS will move to the next device on the list.
Once a boot device is found, the computer boot process continues from there. A special active partition of the device is detected, in which boot information (files) is located and the operating system kernel is loaded, to which all control of the computer boot process is then transferred.
If such a device is not found, or there are no boot files on it, or the boot files are damaged, an error message is displayed and the boot process stops.
There may be several errors:
Non system disk
Invalid system disk
System disk error
NTLDR is missing
What should you do if you see one of these messages?
First of all, find out in the BIOS the boot order from computer devices. It is quite possible that your first drive is a CD/DVD drive and some disc was installed in it during booting.
If the message continues to appear, then system files are most likely damaged. There can be a lot of reasons for this - from computer infection with viruses to unreasonable actions of the user himself. In this case, you can try to restore Windows, but this is a very delicate matter and it is very difficult to recommend a clear algorithm of actions that would suit everyone in all cases.
If the cause of the failure is viruses or malware, you can try to restore the system using Dr.Web LiveCD or Dr.Web LiveUSB. These are free programs with which you can boot your computer not from a hard drive, but from a flash drive or CD. You can then scan your computer for viruses and fix problems.
There are hundreds of other programs that help you restore your computer after a failure, but they are all built on the same principle as those mentioned above.
And one more piece of advice - if you didn’t have anything important on your computer, or rather on drive C (the system drive), then the easiest solution to the problem would be to reinstall Windows
If there is important information, then the matter becomes more complicated. I would recommend not trying to restore the operating system, but removing the hard drive from the computer, connecting it as a second drive to the working computer and moving the necessary information from drive C to another, for example, D. Then return the hard drive back and reinstall the operating system by formatting drive C .
Why don't I like restoring Windows? Yes, because, as my experience shows, this is a thankless and temporary task. As a rule, such errors occur in very “cluttered” operating systems and restoring several damaged files does not solve the problem globally - soon either the problem repeats itself or new errors appear. Therefore, I prefer, firstly, to keep my operating system clean, and secondly, I never bother with restoring damaged files, but reinstall the system from scratch.
Of course, reinstalling the operating system for a novice user is a murky task and is unlikely to be done without outside help, but it’s still worth learning.
10.08.2016
The causes of failures when starting a computer can be divided into groups: those related to hardware problems, those related to software errors, and those related to the human factor. All these errors must be diagnosed and corrected.
The computer won't start at all
In this case, we are considering the “dead” state of the computer: when you press the power button, nothing happens. In this case, there is a high probability of human error. Therefore, you need to check whether the PC is connected to the power supply and, if so, check the tightness of the contacts. It is quite possible that a contact has come loose somewhere, and therefore no electric current is supplied to the power supply. Also, the button behind the computer's power supply may be disabled. You need to turn it on.
The computer will not start if there is a loose memory stick in one of the slots or the processor is installed incorrectly, so you should check the tightness of the PC components in their sockets. So, you can eliminate the human factor in diagnosing your PC. If the check determines that everything is normal, then you should look for the hardware cause of the problem.
The most obvious reasons that lead to a computer not starting are faults in the power supply or motherboard. If there is a known working power supply, then it must be connected to the motherboard. A working power supply will allow the computer to start. In addition, even if the computer is turned off, its components are supplied with standby power from the power supply.
If the standby LEDs installed on the motherboard are lit, it means power is supplied, and therefore the power supply can start the computer. Also, to check the operation of the unit, you can connect a CD-ROM to it and if problems are found, then it is the power supply unit that is faulty. Problems with the motherboard can very rarely cause problems starting your computer.
Sometimes the problematic computer starts, but the boot itself does not occur. The coolers start and work, but the computer does not produce signals and the HDD activity indicator does not light up. In this case, you need to simplify the configuration as much as possible by disabling all possible components. Then gradually add one component at a time, checking which one causes the failure.
After the power supply sends a command to the chipset that everything is fine with power, the system logic starts the processor, which, having completed the self-test procedure, starts the PC component check and initialization procedure (POST) - it is a subroutine of the input-output system (BIOS) program. . Therefore, if the computer starts, but does not start loading, this means that the failure occurs precisely during the initialization of the components.
In this case, the motherboard usually produces sound signals when it detects initialization errors. These signals are different for each BIOS, however, the successful completion of component initialization is usually the same for all these programs - one short signal.
A minimal configuration of a processor, power supply and motherboard that does not produce a single signal is evidence of a malfunction of one of these components. If, when turned on in this configuration, the PC begins to reboot immediately, then there is a high probability of power failures, and therefore the power supply may be the culprit, since the chipset resets the voltage at the Reset pin only after receiving a signal from the power supply that everything is in order with the power supply. Also, the cause may be faulty motherboard capacitors.
The result of the self-test procedure is a table in which all found devices are recorded. The creation of the table is accompanied by the entry “Verifying DMI pool data”. If, after creating the DMI table, loading still does not occur, then there are a number of reasons why this could happen.
- The computer's configuration has been changed and the BIOS routines are not interpreting it correctly.
- Faulty device found.
- The DMI table data in CMOS is corrupted and can no longer be written to.
- Problems in the BIOS itself.
To resolve these problems, you must reset the CMOS settings to default or have the POST routine recreate the table.
Why does the computer not start when loading the operating system?
After completing the POST procedure, testing the memory modules and initializing some other components, the boot record is searched for on those devices and in the order in which they are listed in the BIOS. The I/O system looks for the 55AA signature to identify the boot sector of the disk. The detected MBR boot record on Windows systems consists of two parts: the bootloader program code and the partition table. The boot loader begins searching for the active system partition, trying to identify its boot record.
The loader of the active partition, in turn, launches the boot manager bootmgr, which is located as a system file in the root directory of this partition. The boot manager, having read the system configuration data from the BCD store, transfers boot control to the winload. At the new stage, the system kernel is loaded and initialized, and then drivers, services, user session data, and the desktop are loaded.
Problems during the boot phase of the operating environment can be caused by existing problems in the chain of boot stages: problems in the MBR master boot record lookup stage, problems in the partition boot record lookup stage, problems with the boot manager and with reading configuration data from the BCD store. Also, the download may be disrupted by problems at the stage of loading the system kernel and its initialization.
If the computer does not start and problems arise precisely at the stage of loading the operating system, then a system recovery disk can help in this case. It is easy to create using Windows tools itself. At the same time, the user can use the operating environment startup recovery tool. If necessary, a boot failure can be overcome by rolling back the system to the time the image was created.
For example, in order to use the system startup repair tool, the user must go to the boot selection menu using the F8 key. There you need to select the “Troubleshoot your computer” item, as shown in the figure below.
Windows 7 Localization Options The operating environment will open a recovery utility window asking you to configure its localization settings. The user must select a language convenient for him and click the “Next” button.
At the next step, the system will prompt you to log in, and if the user logs in using a password, and not automatically, then he must enter his valid password in the “Password” field. This way, he will have access to the recovery tool. If the login is automatic, then simply click “OK”.
The recovery utility offers a number of options to choose from. However, in our case, the computer does not start due to failures in loading the environment, and therefore our choice is “Startup Repair”.
The user's selection of a tool will allow the system to launch it and begin searching for problems. If the problems are related specifically to problems at the boot stage, the system will detect and fix them. If no problems are found, the environment will notify the user about this.
The computer does not start - this is a sign of significant problems
Problems with starting a computer can usually be caused by a whole group of reasons. This may be due to either individual PC hardware components, software problems, or a person who forgot to connect the plug to the outlet or did not install the component tightly in its slot.
To correctly diagnose problems, the user must correctly understand the process of starting the computer and loading its operating system. Only understanding at which stage the failure occurs will make it possible to localize the cause of the failure, which will make it possible in the future to accurately determine what the problem is related to, which of the PC components.
I have long wanted to write an article on this topic, since in my work I often have to resuscitate broken computers that squeak plaintively instead of proudly shoveling tons of information and drawing ones and zeroes.
When you turn on any computer, self-diagnosis occurs, and all systems and subsystems of the personal computer are polled. At this stage, various hardware errors most often appear. Correctly diagnosing a breakdown is the key to successful treatment.
An anemicist is akin to a doctor. Before prescribing pills or pills to a patient, you need to know what to treat, since a universal method of treating a person and resuscitating a computer has not been invented, unless you count the purchase of a new computer as a recovery method.
First, you should figure out which BIOS you have in front of you. For the most part, there are only 3 companies that develop BIOSes for motherboards that have a certificate of conformity: AWARD, AMI and Phoenix. It seems that there are still some small producers, but they are not counted.
Manufacturers of motherboards independently choose which BIOS to install on a particular motherboard (probably there, like everywhere else, there is a rollback system; whoever rolls back is in trouble).
If you have a motherboard with a BIOS installed from the company AWARD, then the signals will be like this:
| BIOS AWARD signal | Problem |
|---|---|
| 2 short | Minor problems with the BIOS configuration, but it prompts you to enter the BIOS. If this error persists, replace the battery or remove it for 15 minutes. |
| 3 long | The keyboard controller does not work. Restart your computer. If this does not help, then you need to replace the motherboard or use a USB keyboard. |
| 1 long + 1 short | RAM problem. Most often it occurs because the memory stick has slipped slightly out of the connector. If this does not help, then try booting with another memory stick, borrowed from a friend. |
| 1 long + 2 short | Problem with the video card. Pulling it out of the slot and inserting it back helps a lot. If it doesn’t help, then throw the card in the firebox and run for a new one. |
| 1 long + 3 short | The keyboard is lost. Yes, this happens. Most likely it's a connector issue. |
| 1 long + 9 short | Problem with the permanent memory chip. You can only reboot your computer and hope for a miracle. There is a possibility that after flashing the BIOS, if this is possible at all, the computer will work as before. |
| repeating short beeps | Error in the power supply. First, you should clean it from dust or carefully inspect it for swollen condensers. |
| repeating long beeps | The RAM is installed incorrectly somehow. I really can’t imagine how it could be installed incorrectly, but it’s worth a look. |
| continuous beeping | The power supply has come to an end. |
If you have a motherboard that is controlled by the BIOS AMI, then you should look at this table:
| BIOS AMI Signals | Problem |
|---|---|
| 2 short | RAM problem. It is worth checking whether the RAM strips are installed correctly in the slots. If this does not help, then you need to replace the RAM. |
| 3 short | There is no RAM installed at all. AMI knows whether RAM is installed or not only after polling the first 64 KB. If they are operational, then there is memory. Most likely the strips are either installed incorrectly or are not working properly. |
| 4 short | The system timer is faulty. If further work is impossible, then the motherboard must be replaced. |
| 5 short | Problem with the processor. The processor should be removed and inspected to ensure that the legs are intact. If after this nothing has changed with the error, then the processor needs to be replaced. |
| 6 short | The keyboard controller does not work or does not work correctly. Either change the motherboard or use a USB keyboard. |
| 7 short | The problem is with the motherboard. It is worth inspecting it for swollen condensers. |
| 8 short | Error when diagnosing the video card. Inspect it for swollen capacitors. If everything looks good, then you should replace the video card. |
| 9 short | The BIOS firmware checksum was broken. The problem is difficult to treat and it is easier to acquire a new one. |
| 10 short | It is not possible to write to the non-volatile memory area where the BIOS is located. The problem is difficult to overcome, since you will have to update the BIOS with a special programmer. |
| 11 short | Problem with external cache memory. The problem is no longer relevant. |
| 1 long + any number of short | Video card problem. |
In order not to overload the article with unnecessary information about Phoenix BIOS errors, I will write about it a little later. And some will probably never need it at all.
I wouldn't have posted these tables here if the site I usually looked at hadn't crashed the other day. Now, if I need to understand the reason for the music not turning on the computer, I know where I can find the transcript.
Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine life without PCs; computers help, and often replace humans, perform a huge amount of varied work. However, like any other equipment, they can fail, and an error indicating the nature of the problem will be reflected on the screen.
There can be quite a lot of different problems in computers; moreover, they can be both hardware and software. The difference is that a hardware error means the failure of any computer components, that is, the motherboard, processor, etc., while a software error is associated with an error in the operation of the software. To facilitate diagnostics, computers use error codes to help a technician identify a software problem. Unfortunately, the displayed error does not guarantee that the error that it means has occurred. This is due to the fact that the occurrence of one error could be provoked by another, but in the end it will be the latter that is displayed on the screen.
For example:
a blue screen appeared, displaying a RAM error code, this error occurs as a result of the failure of the memory module, you should not immediately think that it needs to be changed, and it’s time to throw away the old module. In most cases, this error occurs due to memory overload, that is, you launched an application that requires more memory than your computer has and it will be enough to restart it for further work.
In addition to error codes, the computer can signal the user about any problems with an audible signal, this is called a “Hardware Error”. As an example, when you turn on the computer and the standard system boot, you can hear one signal, this is the so-called POST (Power-On-Self-Test), testing components before starting, one signal means that the testing of components was successful, otherwise the computer signals will report an error. Sound errors can be deciphered using the instructions from the motherboard. Or use the description on the website.
Hardware errors
Hardware errors are divided into two types, sound and text.
Sound errors
When you turn on the computer, it immediately carries out a quick diagnostic of the system and, depending on its result, produces one signal indicating that everything is in order, or a series of sound signals indicating that one or another error has occurred. As a rule, beeps indicate quite accurately that an error has occurred. But the error can be caused by a number of malfunctions and before eliminating it, it is also necessary to identify the cause that generated this error.
Identifying beeps that indicate an error
For "AMIBIOS"
For "AWARD BIOS"
Text messages
If the video system is operating in normal mode, the computer can also display text messages about hardware errors, as a rule these are either additional to audio messages or separate messages, usually notifying that a minor error has occurred.
Identifying text messages that indicate an error
Of course, these are just a few of the huge variety of codes, but very often these are the codes that indicate that an error has occurred. If problems arise with your computer, of course, the best option would be to have it diagnosed by a technician, but it is worth considering that the message that an error has occurred is not uncommon and appears quite often for many users. Of course, you shouldn’t ask a technician for help every time your computer throws an error; first, try simply rebooting it; if you still can’t turn it on, or the error occurs again and again, then feel free to seek the help of a specialist.
Software errors
Software errors are the most common; when problems arise, the computer displays one or another error. Moreover, the way the error is displayed can be different, as a rule, it is a pop-up window with a message; in most cases, the text of the message itself contains a link and an error code. It’s impossible to even say exactly how many codes a computer can display, there are a lot of them. For example, operating system errors alone can generate more than 1000 messages, while many programs have their own errors. Unfortunately, software errors are not so accurate and often the real problem may be related to completely different things. However, for a professional technician, “an error code that appears says a lot,” by understanding the entire operating principle of the software and its dependence on the hardware, it is possible to hear the checksum beeps to understand what caused this error.
Hexadecimal error code
Errors in hexadecimal code are displayed on the BSOD screen, or as it is also called the “blue screen of death”, many users are very afraid of this, mistakenly believing that this means something very bad with the computer and this is a fatal error. In fact, everything is not quite like that, let's start with the fact that this is a very useful thing, this screen really notifies the user that a truly fatal system error has occurred, however, in most cases, a simple reboot of the system helps. Of course, it will be very useful to familiarize yourself with the error that appears in order to understand what it means, but in most cases, users simply restart the computer and continue to use it until the next error occurs. Often, it is the fact that users, without trying to find out the cause of the error, reset it and continue to use it, leads to more serious malfunctions.
Table of the most common errors
| Error | Description of the error |
| 0x00000001: APC INDEX MISMATCH | Internal error in OS |
| 0x0000000A: IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL |
Device driver error |
| 0x00000002E: DATA BUS ERROR | RAM error |
| 0x00000004C: FATAL UNHANDLED HARD ERROR | Fatal access error (there may be many ways this error may occur) |
| 0x00000004D: NO PAGES AVAILABLE | Driver error |
| 0x000000050: PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA | The RAM module is faulty |
| 0x000000051: REGISTRY ERROR | OS registry error |
| 0x000000073: CONFIG LIST FAILED | An error in the registry or lack of space in the main HDD partition |
| 0x000000074: BAD SYSTEM CONFIG INFO | Error reading system files |
| 0x00000008B: MBR CHECKSUM MISMATCH | This error is often associated with a virus infection of the computer. |
If any of these errors are displayed, then in most cases the help of a specialist is necessary, since it is quite difficult to fix it yourself and in most cases, in order for the error to be completely removed, as well as all the factors that caused this error to be removed, it is necessary to format and reinstall the system.
Reasons for a computer error code
The main reason for displaying an error message is a software glitch. To understand why it happens, you need to understand more deeply the principle of computer operation. The vast majority of computers have operating systems installed; an operating system is actually a program that, interacting with all the computer hardware, ensures the operation of additional software. Additional software is what the user installs on the computer, be it games or any work programs. Many, mostly large programs, must be installed before they can be launched. When installing a program, the program files are copied to a specific folder of the operating system for further work, while it makes an entry in its registry that a certain program is located in such and such a place. After installing the program, it starts. At the time of launch, the program sends a request to the operating system to provide it with the resources necessary for normal operation, for example, a certain amount of RAM, type of memory, etc. The operating system provides the necessary resources for the program to run. But it happens that it cannot provide the required amount of certain resources, for example because the computer does not have the required amount. Then, having not received the resources for normal operation of the program, an initialization error occurs, that is, a failure to prepare to launch the program; a message may also be displayed that the checksum is in error; in fact, it is the same thing, but has a slightly different fault structure. As a result, a message is displayed on the screen that an error has occurred. This error can be reflected either by the program itself, if it provides for this, or the message is shown by the operating system. The error code depends on who displayed the error message, the operating system or the application.
In addition to the operating system, various applications (programs) generate errors; this was done mainly for the developers of this software. Almost all possible application errors are pre-provided for in the software and if any error occurs, often the program not only shows the error code, but also prompts the user to send a report about this error. This report is sent to a specific address, pre-written in the program, at this address, all errors are distributed by code, roughly speaking, distributed into folders, and software developers can see what errors and in what quantity occurred. Having identified the most frequently occurring errors, developers begin to carefully review each such report. The fact is that a program or operating system, when sending an error report, often in addition to the error itself, sends important data for the developers of this software about the user’s computer, more precisely about its characteristics. For example, if a program uses 1GB of RAM in its work, then it is important for developers to know how much RAM is on the user’s computer. And having already analyzed all the received data, programmers release a so-called “patch” for the program, thanks to which any error in the program is corrected, which ultimately leads to more stable operation of the software and prevents the occurrence of errors.
A computer error has appeared
If an error is displayed on the monitor, this does not indicate problems with the computer. In the vast majority of cases, the error is caused by applications installed on the computer; in addition to applications, for the correct operation of many programs and external devices, drivers are used, and these are essentially the same programs that often cause an initialization error. In this case, the error is resolved by installing the required driver.
Troubleshooting computer errors
In order for the error to be eliminated, a specialist conducts a complete diagnostic of the computer; this is the only way to find out the true reason for its occurrence. After identifying the cause, the malfunctioning software part is removed and replaced with another. Next, the performance is checked, as well as testing in various modes. If after carrying out restoration work and testing the error does not appear, various internal storages of the computer are checked for the remains of deleted files and deleted so that they do not cause another error in the future.
It is difficult to name the time it takes for a technician to fix an error; it depends on its type and nature. Most are fixed within a few minutes, but there are some that can take more than an hour, since the corrected error could harm the software and this also needs to be fixed. However, on average, it takes no more than an hour to eliminate the error, as well as the consequences of its operation.
conclusions
The error does not appear on its own, it is the result of processes taking place in the computer and its software; errors that appear again and again cannot be ignored, since this is ignoring the computer’s warnings and the incorrect operation of the equipment or software. Applications do not always work stably and errors that appear are extremely important for both ordinary users and developers of various software; they help check what is associated with a particular computer or software error. However, it can still be quite difficult for an ordinary user to determine a malfunction by mistake, due to the interconnection of various processes, so it is impossible to say with confidence that, having found a description of the error, this will be the problem and the error can be quite simply corrected. Quite often, in order to correct the error, as well as all the negative factors that influenced its occurrence, a complete reinstallation of the system is necessary. In this regard, if any computer error occurs, we recommend that you do not experiment with self-repair, as this can lead to more serious consequences, but contact the “ETekhnik” service center. The service center specialists have extensive experience in repairing computer equipment, as well as setting up various software; they will quickly figure out the cause of the error and fix all the problems.
Our prices
The prices of the “ETekhnik” service center are absolutely transparent, there are no markups or “surprises” for the client; after diagnostics, the technician names the exact and final price of the repair and only after approval by the client does he begin work. Thanks to a large customer base and solid material and technical equipment, the ETechnik service center offers not only high quality work, but also some of the best prices on the market. By contacting the ETechnik service center, you are turning to professionals.
Hello! Help me please. When you turn on the computer, it gives the following error: “Windows could not start, perhaps this was due to a recent change in the hardware or software configuration” and the reboot begins. And so on in a circle. I never found any restore points. What to do?
Expert answer:
Hello, Nikita! This error, in its essence and difficulty of elimination, is in many ways similar to the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).
Option 1
The error text also contains standard recommendations for troubleshooting, which unfortunately do not always help, but it’s worth a try. To do this, insert the installation disk or bootable USB flash drive with the Windows operating system into your computer. Next, you should simply follow the installer’s recommendations to install and fix damaged files and boot sectors.Option 2
If unsuccessful, try pressing the “F8” button when booting the operating system to gain access to the “Advanced Boot Options” section. In this section, you should pay attention to two items “System Restore” and “Safe Mode.” “System Restore” is carried out by analogy with the steps described in “Option 1”. “Safe Mode” - the operating system will boot with minimal “baggage”, which allows you to bypass errors and load the OS (not always). If you managed to boot into Safe Mode, open “Start” - “Standard” - “Service” - “System Restore” and “roll back” the state of the operating system to the last successful configurations.Option 3
The error text contains the line “Status”, opposite which the error code is indicated, the most common is “0xc000000f”. The elimination methods are the same as described above; in addition, try the following:- When you turn on the computer, depending on the model, hold down the “BIOS” key - this can be “F2”, “F10”, “DEL”.
- Find the “Hard Disk Drivers” section, with two lines active, highlight the first one and press “Enter”.
- The second line is called “SATA: 4S-WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0” and it is this line that should be moved to the first place using the “+/-” or “up/down arrow” function keys.