Is My Computer's Failure to Boot a Hardware or Software Problem?

  • Thread starter Thread starter t-money
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Hardware Software
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around diagnosing the failure of a custom-built computer to boot, exploring whether the issue is related to hardware or software. Participants consider various potential causes and solutions, including the impact of recent online exposure without virus updates.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their custom tower setup and the recent issue of failure to boot after being connected to the internet without prior virus protection updates.
  • Another participant suggests that the problem could stem from various sources, indicating uncertainty about the root cause.
  • A third participant asks for specific error messages that occur when attempting to boot, implying that this information could help diagnose the issue.
  • A later reply references a similar problem faced by another member and suggests looking at a related thread for potential advice.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether the issue is hardware or software-related, and multiple competing views about the potential causes remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not provided specific error messages or detailed diagnostic steps, which may limit the ability to accurately identify the problem.

t-money
Messages
32
Reaction score
1
I have a custom tower with DVD,CD-rom and even floppy disk which I plan on replacing. It has a AMD athlon processor, and I never used this computer online. Recently a friend of mine hooked it up online (long story) without updating for viruses etc. Now the windows startup won't boot. And I have tried wiping but can't seem to get it started. Are there some programs that I can buy online or is this just a hardware problem?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
It can be everything.
 
Or anything. What's it say when it won't boot?
 
t-money said:
I have a custom tower with DVD,CD-rom and even floppy disk which I plan on replacing. It has a AMD athlon processor, and I never used this computer online. Recently a friend of mine hooked it up online (long story) without updating for viruses etc. Now the windows startup won't boot. And I have tried wiping but can't seem to get it started. Are there some programs that I can buy online or is this just a hardware problem?
t-money,

Funny you mention it, another member is having similar problems, see advice in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=382493", my post #14, this may be of some help.

Rhody...
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
8K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
7K
  • · Replies 123 ·
5
Replies
123
Views
20K