Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   Whiterabbit-uk
   

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   Games Guru

   I had a major system crash on my main computer earlier today (well yesterday late afternoon), and i've been trying to fix it almost exclusively since, with no luck so far. Thanks to EAZ-Fix (a giveaway from earlier this year) I've finally managed to get the computer to boot up and get as far as where it says "Loading your settings" though it's been frozen like that for nearly 2 hours; and I'm debating whether to leave it for the rest of whats left of this early morning in the hope that the computer will finally open up and enable me to back up all my documents and the games that I'd not copied over to my external (i've got three Beta test games on the go at the moment).

   All the documents I'd prepared for the Christmas free games project were on the desktop. I have all the games backed up so I know which I'm posting, but I've also lost around 150 + links to good abandonware and freeware sites; which is very frustrating after all the work I'd put in to get the links. Thankfully a lot of the games I'd found prior to Christmas are on the externals with word documents detailing where they came from, so all's not lost. Still, it means more work. I'd hoped to have it a little easier over the Christmas period by only having to copy and paste the reviews I'd prepared. Now I'll hve to start all over again.

   Anyway; the long and short of it is that I'm going to have to miss posting any games for Moday and possibly even Tuesday. Though from then on things should have returned to normal. Wizzard and our new recruit reverseOrder will be posting games as well. Plus I will be adding the games that should have been posted over the days that are missed will be added to the days I plan to post a games bonanza (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day) I've got some excellent freeware and abandonwar games to share with you, and look forwards to reading any positive comments about how you feel about the games we post. (It always makes it worthwhile taking the time out to find and post these games)

   Anyway, sorry for disappointing anyone who was expecting a game today. Monday's should have been a fantastic one, which I'll post just as soon as I've re found all the information I'd collected. (plus theres hope that the other computer will open up sometime in the next several hours)

   Regards

   Whiterabbit

   Posted 11 months ago #
2. 

   falands
   

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   Member

   well don't let it happen again!!

   haha, kidding. sorry about your pc. Thanks for all your hard work tho!

   Posted 11 months ago #
3. 

   HOSS
   

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   Member

   I have a micro calibration tool that I could send to you. You may be able to find one in your area quicker however. The picture should help you get an idea of what I refer to. I hope this helps!

   HOSS

   Posted 11 months ago #
4. 

   Robert
   

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   Member

   WhiteRabbit,
   All joking apart.... your system may be up running again after a nice cold restart.

   If not,try booting in safe mode to diagnose the problem and see what happens.
   Restoring to a recent registry backup may work wonders too.

   Did EAZ-Fix remove the option to use System restore?
   In worst case try imaging your HD to an external one to recover files and folders when you feel up to it.
   Btw My favorite way is to use a dual boot system and/or the use of a BartPE or VistaPE DVD to recover non backed up items.

   Good luck!

   PS If you're not sure or your HD fails,go to a computer shop or a friend to recover the data you want ..or do it yourself using ornithos's method.

   Posted 11 months ago #
5. 

   ornithos
   

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   Member

   Hi Whiterabbit,

   Another thing you can consider - I have done this successfully recently - is to use a USB to IDE Adapter or a SATA to IDE converter (depending on your existing hardware).
   IMO this should be your method of first choice when you can't get your OS to start-up.

   Essentially you just remove your affected HDD and plug it into your second PC (which I know you have) using an appropriate adapter/converter. Maplins does these devices and if you follow this link you'll see what I mean:

   http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=ide%20adapter&source=15

   I always copy my "non-back-upped" data from any HDD first using an adapter before I start messing around with Restore Points, image files, etc.
   Note that if you use Vista on your second PC that you need to switch UAC off first, as it gets in the way.

   There is a Maplins in Stockport Portwood Court, but you probably already knew that.

   Good luck and please PM me if you need more information.

   Kind regards,

   SB

   Posted 11 months ago #
6. 

   albesir
   

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   Member

   man, I'm sorry for the trouble. Don't worry about not posting any games for us. We're all grateful for all the hard work you put into the Weekday Games Project, and anytime you need a break, every one here should be happy with whatever you give us and thank you for everything you've done. Anyway, sorry to hear you're having problems; I hope you get it all sorted out soon, and I look forward to seeing you back then.

   Posted 11 months ago #
7. 

   maizeydaze
   

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   Member

   Hi WR, I too am sorry about your computer dilemma. I noticed that, the very knowledgeable, Robert gave you a couple of suggestions. Here links to Bart's Preinstalled Environment ( BartPE ) bootable live windows CD/DVD and VistaPE that he has mentioned. I hope that you don't have to reinstall Windows. It would be a shame to lose all that hard work and important data. Good luck.

   Posted 11 months ago #
8. 

   midori
   

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   Member

   Hi, WRabbit... just wanted to offer you a HUG, as I don't have any techy suggestions for you! Of course it's a "not to worry" about posting the games... just hope you're able to retrieve the hard work you lost. Wishing you luck! and fingers crossed for you.

   Posted 11 months ago #
9. 

   aRenegade
   

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   Member

   Hello WR - That's some rough stuff you've got. Not a good a time to be mucking around with the holiday's in all. Were you at least able to boot up in safe mode and save any files in your 'My Documents' folder? I know when I've experienced a catastrophic crash the issue was not so much in straightening out the OS, which is the easy part, but saving files in the 'My Documents' folder.

   At this point in time this my or may not be of help but here goes anyway. If you're at the point where your options have run out (i.e., the windows repair procedure didn't work) and you have to do a clean install, you might still be able to save most of your documents. Do Not Let Windows Re-Partition the HD!!! Select the option to have Windows reinstall the OS "On Top" of the existing NTFS. I know that's not recommended but keep in mind the objective is to get in just enough to save My Document files. The system will be unstable but most of the My Document files will still be on the HD and very salvageable. Afterwords you can do the reinstall over a clean NTFS. I've done this procedure three times and was successful. Good Luck!

   Posted 11 months ago #

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