death of a computer ?

[bernie]

Just got this email from Asrock support , I honestly think ive tried tried all of this stuff apart from a fresh windows install , looks like that is the only option left .

what do we think ?

Hello,

 

If you can see the Windows logo then it looks like the HDD is found.

If the system stops booting with “Device not found” then it looks like no Windows installation or bootable medium was found.

So this seems contradicting.

 

Let’s try a few things.

 

During bootup please press F11 (repeatedly). This should open a boot menu. If the HDD is shown in the boot menu then the HDD is detected during bootup.

 

The motherboard has four SATA2 ports (blue) and two SATA3 ports (white). Please test with the HDD connected to both types of ports. Use the F11 boot menu to see if it is detected. For the performance it makes no difference if the HDD is connected via SATA2 or SATA3.

 

If the HDD is never detected then please check if you can feel any vibrations in the disk when you start the system. If you cannot feel anything then it could be related to (the connection to) the PSU.

 

If the HDD is shown in the F11 boot menu then please try to boot from it. If it shows the Windows logo but then restarts then it could be related to a different SATA mode compared to your old system, or to drivers.

Please try other settings for:

BIOS > Advanced > Storage Configuration > SATA Operation Mode > IDE or AHCI (if the HDD is connected to a blue SATA2 port)

BIOS > Advanced > Storage Configuration > Onboard SATA3 Operation Mode > IDE or AHCI (if the HDD is connected to a white SATA3 port)

 

Please try starting Windows in safe mode. If that works then it might be related to drivers. Please uninstall all drivers, and then try to start Windows in normal mode and install the new motherboard drivers.

 

If the HDD is detected but you cannot find a way to start Windows then please try a fresh Windows installation. Intel and AMD platforms are quite different, so a fresh Windows installation is advisable and may in some cases even be required.

 

Thanks,

ASRock Support

 

ASRock Europe B.V.

Bijsterhuizen 1111

6546AR Nijmegen

The Netherlands

[Cookie]

"does the "loading window" screen mean the mb and cpu are all OK ?"

Yes, definately!

Have you tried to let run any other booting CD or USB device?
Have you tested if the W7 cd boots in your other PC? (Just abort any installation! But if it goes such far, the CD/DVD is ok)

Do as I suggested, with a small Linux live system that will show you if there are any HW problems.
I have an old 1GB stick and a CD with it allways in reserve, to proof any PC's HW is working correct as it will start every Computer.

PS

Just saw your Asrock answer...

It's just what I say.

Don't set the SATA to AHCI, set to IDE mode!
The F11 should help to boot the W7 CD/DVD

[bernie]

What a marathon that was !

Gave up with all the other options , bought  a new hdd , and was able to get up and running with a new install of Win7 . had to use USB stick to load windows (thanks Axel) as the win7 disk refused to run . ( I found since that the dvd drive was ok for music disks but wouldn't run up to the higher speeds neccesary for data transfer !

Now hope to transfer my files ( GPL , GPL secrets etc ) to the new hdd , not sure what is the best way to do this ?

thinking perhaps using a new partition for GPL files , disk size 1TB  what do you think ?

answers on a postcard please 

[Cookie]

That's how I do it with a fresh Windows, if you have W7 installed and made 2 partitions:
Do not connect any old HDD while installing W7 just the new one! To keep the C: and D: partion names fixed!

Make c:\ ~ 100GB for W7 and a d:\ with the rest for the data

After installing W7 just install all the drivers I mentioned above, then connect to the net and let W7 install all updates!

Install GEM+ into C:\GPLSecrets
copy GPL into d:\GPL

There is no reason why GPL should not work in your new system. I installed, or passed GPL from one PC to another many times. This is what I do :

1) A fresh installation of GEM+ (must), if I install GPL for the first time in a new PC
2) A fresh installation of GPL with the latest installer, directly in the main driver :C/Sierra. (Not strictly necessary. I could also just copy my GPL folder from one PC to another)
3) Replace  installer's tracks, cars, sounds or other folders with my preffered ones
4) Install new mod
5) Launch GEM+ and point to the rigth directory of (GEM) GPL!

If I need to install GEM+ for a second time, I make sure to have deleted or renamed my previos GPLSecrets folder and there are no other sgem.ini file somewhere else.

Btw, while writing I am thinking that there is the GPL installation step by step guide, prepared by Stephan explaing in detail some if not all, of the above points.

Good luck.

[bernie]

OK I just d/l GEM but when I try to run the .exe my Norton av says its unsafe and has deleted it 

Also what is the best way to copy my GPL folder from the old hdd to my new hdd

Thanks

[Cookie]

Switch off the real time scanner,
or just uninstall any Norton kraken. There are less restrictive free antivir softwares that have better scan results.
In those days the Norton Commander was a good tool

First you have to have a complete and updated W7, than connect your old HDD and copy the GPL folder to D:\ GPL

 

[bernie]

Hi Axel

You say I should download and install GEM into my gpl secrets folder , I have copied gpl secrets from my old hdd and it has GEM & Igor in there

Do I delete the existing GEM and install the NEW GEM  or is it OK to overwrite the OLD GEM  with NEW GEM ? 

Also how to get the desktop shortcuts for GPL GEM etc. ?

sorry for the numpty questions and very glad you can help / advise 

[Cookie]

GEM needs a fresh install! Do it into C:\GPLSecrets

It makes big troubles if you copy it to the new W7 C:\ !!!
Delete the copied folder and all files copied.

With the installation you will get the shortcuts of GEM and IGOR on your desktop.
Put the 60fpsxx.xml  files into the C:\GPLSecrets\GEM\options folder and the ffb2.xml if you use forcefeedback.
GEM indexes the GPL files to handle them.
It's not a big deal to show GEM the installed GPL. Then activate the mods you use and set the graphics etc.

[Cookie]

Bernie reading here about the GEM+ installation may help

http://gplworld.org/easy-installation-guide.html

[bernie]

Luck of the Devil ? My new HDD I spent hours configuring has died , fired her up and got the clickety click of death , on its way back to the maker for a replacement 

More than a bit cheesed off with this lot , thought it was just going to be a case of fitting the new cpu & mb  in place of the old one , instead its turned into a marathon sized nightmare 

Wish I'd left things as they were , unbroken 

[bernie]

Should I load logitech G25 drivers up before I run GEM

Do I connect my G25 before or after installing GEM , I mean does it make any difference ? ( chicken or egg syndrome )

[bernie]

Bernie reading here about the GEM+ installation may help

http://gplworld.org/easy-installation-guide.html

Reading that I'm thinking it might be better to do a complete new install 

[Cookie]

Yes Bernie, before GEM install

- W7 complete with all HW drivers (incl G25) and all MS W7 updates
- DX9 update to have all MS DirectX files for older DX software
- now GEM+

[Cookie]

Yes Bernie,
I myself prefer to do a fresh GPL install first on a new PC with the 1.07 installer.
Then GEM+ and if this works, I copy the "old" GPL besides the new folder and rename the new to GPLxx

[bernie]

Cant get G25 wingman software to run , have run setup.exe and wingman shortcut is present in programes but when I click on it to set up the wheel .... NADA

Oh what fun