I need computer HELP!!!

BeerAdvocate · 06-10-2009, 03:23 PM

I started having problems with my computer today. When I turn it on, the 1st screen I get is a black screen that reads "Intel Boot Agent", it then starts running a series of "tests" or something, then after awhile it ends says "Reboot and Select proper boot device" I tried to reboot but it just keeps saying the same thing over and over and I get no where.
Can anyone please help me?

The Poet · 06-10-2009, 03:24 PM

Sorry, I left my hammer at home.

hikari · 06-10-2009, 03:27 PM

Can you give us some more information on the computer and Operating system?

Prospector · 06-10-2009, 03:50 PM

Sounds like its hung up in the BIOS looking for the default boot device (typically your primary hard drive) but not finding it. Do you know how to get into setup and change the boot device? Do you have a bootable CD that you could try? I don't think its even getting to the OS so that is not the problem. Either a BIOS setting got corrupted or your hard drive is not working properly.

06-10-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prospector

Sounds like its hung up in the BIOS looking for the default boot device (typically your primary hard drive) but not finding it. Do you know how to get into setup and change the boot device? Do you have a bootable CD that you could try? I don't think its even getting to the OS so that is not the problem. Either a BIOS setting got corrupted or your hard drive is not working properly.

Yep. Press delete for setup, or F2, or F2 or whatever and look for boot device settings. Maybe your hard drive died. It should list detected things like that when it is first booting up

Volt · 06-10-2009, 04:00 PM

Not a lot of info, but it sounds as if the boot sector is gone. Whether it is because of scrambled software or bad sectors - hard to tell from here.

BeerAdvocate · 06-10-2009, 04:45 PM

I got it to the BIOS screen and it said: "Please select boot device" and my options were: "4M-JLMS XJ HD166S" or "1BAFE Slot 0240U4110" choosing either one takes me back to that black screen....

mikeyj23 · 06-10-2009, 04:47 PM

Do you have any discs in your drives? Do you have a flashdrive plugged in to your USB? Make sure everything's empty and unplug external USB devices you might have plugged in.

SeanGAR · 06-10-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

I got it to the BIOS screen and it said: "Please select boot device" and my options were: "4M-JLMS XJ HD166S" or "1BAFE Slot 0240U4110" choosing either one takes me back to that black screen....

4M-JLMS XJ HD166S is a LiteOn CD drive, I'm not sure about the BAFE, but it doesn't look like a hard drive to me.

It appears to me that your hard drive is toast. I can't be positive without looking at it, but that's what it seems. If you're lucky and have lived a clean life, reseating the cable connections to the hard drive or replacing the cable may fix the problem. Not being seen in the BIOS suggests that it is worse than a corrupted boot sector (which could also prevent booting).

I have had more hard drive failures in the last 2-3 years than the prior 20 combined. They seem to be built cheaply these days.

It is generally possible but expensive to get data off of a hard drive that has suffered a hardware failure. I have my desktop backup all data files daily automatically to a separate drive since I don't trust hard drives anymore.

BeerAdvocate · 06-10-2009, 05:26 PM

I find the real BIOS screen you were talking about and changed some things around.
Not sure what I did, but it fixed it. Thanks for the help guys!

Tenor CS · 06-10-2009, 05:59 PM

Congratulations!
BOTL ingenuity at its best.

06-10-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

I have had more hard drive failures in the last 2-3 years than the prior 20 combined. They seem to be built cheaply these days.

It is generally possible but expensive to get data off of a hard drive that has suffered a hardware failure. I have my desktop backup all data files daily automatically to a separate drive since I don't trust hard drives anymore.

I don't do it daily but I do back up and multi store data. I totally agree about the failure rate. I have personal photographs stored in four separate locations.

Big sigh of relief to the O.P.

RGD. · 06-10-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

I find the real BIOS screen you were talking about and changed some things around.
Not sure what I did, but it fixed it. Thanks for the help guys!

Hmmmm - I don't think so. I'd suggest that you back everything up and prepare to change the hard drive. Unless you accidentally left a disc in your CD/DVD or a portable drive connected - you just got a warning and need to take steps now.

Ron

taltos · 06-10-2009, 08:46 PM

I wonder if the battery on his mother board is going and screwed up settings when the machine was turned off. Had symptoms like this on an older machine and it was the battery, I do agree about backing up stuff though.

BeerAdvocate · 06-11-2009, 06:17 AM

Dont worry. I always back everything up on an external HD.
Its time for me to get a new computer anyway. I think this one is close to 6-8 yrs old.

hikari · 06-11-2009, 10:36 AM

Glad to see you got things worked out.

poker · 06-11-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGD.

Hmmmm - I don't think so. I'd suggest that you back everything up and prepare to change the hard drive. Unless you accidentally left a disc in your CD/DVD or a portable drive connected - you just got a warning and need to take steps now.

Ron

When something fails, it will usually not fix itself.
Its a sign from Murphy it will fail again at the most inopportune time possible.

mosesbotbol · 06-11-2009, 11:33 AM

Sounds like the hard drive is unplugged and the computer is passing by as it does not see it connected...

357 · 06-11-2009, 11:37 AM

When you power it on, listen for a clunking sound. If you hear that, your hard drive is toast. Someone with skill might be able to get some data off if you're lucky.

No clunk, then I would snug up all the cables from your hard drive to your motherboard and power supply.

GTCanuk · 06-13-2009, 06:56 AM

Make sure you have no USB drives or camera cards plugged in. Might be trying to boot off of 1 of those. This includes card plugged into printers by the way

06-10-2009, 03:23 PM	#1
BeerAdvocate BeerHunter Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Travis Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 1,912 Trading: (45)	I need computer HELP!!! I started having problems with my computer today. When I turn it on, the 1st screen I get is a black screen that reads "Intel Boot Agent", it then starts running a series of "tests" or something, then after awhile it ends says "Reboot and Select proper boot device" I tried to reboot but it just keeps saying the same thing over and over and I get no where. Can anyone please help me? __________________ *I Brew the Beer I Drink*

06-10-2009, 03:24 PM	#2
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Sorry, I left my hammer at home.

06-10-2009, 03:27 PM	#3
hikari Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: North Hollywood CA Posts: 108 Trading: (0)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Can you give us some more information on the computer and Operating system?

06-10-2009, 03:50 PM	#4
Prospector I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Mike Location: Arizona's beautiful Verde Valley Posts: 2,500 Trading: (11)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Sounds like its hung up in the BIOS looking for the default boot device (typically your primary hard drive) but not finding it. Do you know how to get into setup and change the boot device? Do you have a bootable CD that you could try? I don't think its even getting to the OS so that is not the problem. Either a BIOS setting got corrupted or your hard drive is not working properly.

06-10-2009, 04:00 PM	#6
Volt I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,799 Trading: (19)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Not a lot of info, but it sounds as if the boot sector is gone. Whether it is because of scrambled software or bad sectors - hard to tell from here. __________________ Curing the infection... One bullet at a time.

06-10-2009, 04:45 PM	#7
BeerAdvocate BeerHunter Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Travis Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 1,912 Trading: (45)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! I got it to the BIOS screen and it said: "Please select boot device" and my options were: "4M-JLMS XJ HD166S" or "1BAFE Slot 0240U4110" choosing either one takes me back to that black screen.... __________________ *I Brew the Beer I Drink*

06-10-2009, 04:47 PM	#8
mikeyj23 Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Michael Location: Texas Posts: 635 Trading: (10)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Do you have any discs in your drives? Do you have a flashdrive plugged in to your USB? Make sure everything's empty and unplug external USB devices you might have plugged in.

06-10-2009, 05:26 PM	#10
BeerAdvocate BeerHunter Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Travis Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 1,912 Trading: (45)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! I find the real BIOS screen you were talking about and changed some things around. Not sure what I did, but it fixed it. Thanks for the help guys! __________________ *I Brew the Beer I Drink*

06-10-2009, 05:59 PM	#11
Tenor CS Feeling Better! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Christian Location: Davenport, FL (near Orlando) Posts: 717 Trading: (2)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Congratulations! BOTL ingenuity at its best. __________________ When the world itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies?

06-10-2009, 08:46 PM	#14
taltos Really, really old Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Paul Location: Saugus, MA Posts: 2,486 Trading: (3)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! I wonder if the battery on his mother board is going and screwed up settings when the machine was turned off. Had symptoms like this on an older machine and it was the battery, I do agree about backing up stuff though. __________________ Jimmy, some of its magic, some of its tragic, but I had a good life all the way. He Went to Paris, J. Buffett

06-11-2009, 06:17 AM	#15
BeerAdvocate BeerHunter Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Travis Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 1,912 Trading: (45)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Dont worry. I always back everything up on an external HD. Its time for me to get a new computer anyway. I think this one is close to 6-8 yrs old. __________________ *I Brew the Beer I Drink*

06-11-2009, 10:36 AM	#16
hikari Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: North Hollywood CA Posts: 108 Trading: (0)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Glad to see you got things worked out.

06-11-2009, 11:33 AM	#18
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Sounds like the hard drive is unplugged and the computer is passing by as it does not see it connected... __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

06-11-2009, 11:37 AM	#19
357 Will herf for food Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Home is where I park it Posts: 4,075 Trading: (9)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! When you power it on, listen for a clunking sound. If you hear that, your hard drive is toast. Someone with skill might be able to get some data off if you're lucky. No clunk, then I would snug up all the cables from your hard drive to your motherboard and power supply. __________________ “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar;” Mark Twain

06-13-2009, 06:56 AM	#20
GTCanuk Still Watching My Back Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Paul (AKA Darrel) Location: Windsor. ON Posts: 248 Trading: (0)	Re: I need computer HELP!!! Make sure you have no USB drives or camera cards plugged in. Might be trying to boot off of 1 of those. This includes card plugged into printers by the way