Recording PC has apparently snuffed it. What are my options? - Off Topic Discussions on theFretBoard (2024)

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• Emp_Fab Frets: 24671

  June 5

  If what you have suits your requirements, I'd just get it repaired - and buy an external drive to regularly back up your stuff to!!

  The main reason I suggest repair is that the learning curve for updated recording software will get in the way of you actually making music for a while. Unless you need the extra functionality of newer packages, why waste money on them and time learning how to drive them properly.

  Donald Trump needs kicking out of a helicopter

  Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."

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• Brio Frets: 1959

  June 5

  I'd suggest grabbing a computer literate mate an trying to get the data off the drive.
  Then consider the CPU dilemma...

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 5

  Cheers, I get what you're saying. And I like the idea of repair over repeating the cycle of chucking stuff and buying new.

  At the same time, I'm not bashful about learning new software, and I'm certainly not ready to write myself off as never adopting post-Y2K tech!

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 5 edited June 5

  Brio said:

  I'd suggest grabbing a computer literate mate an trying to get the data off the drive.
  Then consider the CPU dilemma...

  Yep, that sounds like a sensible place to start.

  Once the computer-literate-mate has stopped laughing at the fact I was running Windows '98.

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• monquixote Frets: 17884

  June 5 tFB Trader

  DannyP said:

  Brio said:

  I'd suggest grabbing a computer literate mate an trying to get the data off the drive.
  Then consider the CPU dilemma...

  Yep, that sounds like a sensible place to start.

  Once the computer-literate-mate has stopped laughing at the fact I was running Windows '98.

  Yeah unless the drive has died I'd suggest banging it into a caddy and getting the data off it.

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• crosstownvamp Frets: 332

  June 5

  Very likely to be the power supply and not that hard to replace yourself as long it's a standard size PSU unlike lots of Dells.

  Maybe the CMOS battery, not sure if that would stop it booting - it's pennies to replace
  

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 5

  monquixote said:

  DannyP said:

  Brio said:

  I'd suggest grabbing a computer literate mate an trying to get the data off the drive.
  Then consider the CPU dilemma...

  Yep, that sounds like a sensible place to start.

  Once the computer-literate-mate has stopped laughing at the fact I was running Windows '98.

  Yeah unless the drive has died I'd suggest banging it into a caddy and getting the data off it.

  I'm not a golfer myself, but I'll see if someone can help me with that.

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 5

  crosstownvamp said:

  Very likely to be the power supply and not that hard to replace yourself as long it's a standard size PSU unlike lots of Dells.

  Maybe the CMOS battery, not sure if that would stop it booting - it's pennies to replace
  

  OK, if it's a reasonable fix, I might see if I can squeeze a couple more years out of it, while being more diligent about backing up.

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• Bod Frets: 1343

  June 5

  DannyP said:

  crosstownvamp said:

  Very likely to be the power supply and not that hard to replace yourself as long it's a standard size PSU unlike lots of Dells.

  See Also

  Very off topic: Chicago

  Maybe the CMOS battery, not sure if that would stop it booting - it's pennies to replace
  

  OK, if it's a reasonable fix, I might see if I can squeeze a couple more years out of it, while being more diligent about backing up.

  If you can get it back up and running, that buys you time to properly research a replacement before it fails again. Better to be in the position of retiring your old kit on your own terms.

  Trading Feedback thread -https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/59198/

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 5

  ; True...

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• TTony Frets: 27965

  June 5

  Before you assume that all your old projects/data are lost, unless the HDD has failed (which is unlikely from what you've described), you can put old discs into something like one of these ...

  

  ... and connect it to a new PC, and all your data should be accessible once more. Just search for "HDD Caddy" and get one that'll accept whatever drives are in your current PC.

  Of course, not necessary if you manage to get the PC repaired.

  Having trouble posting images here? This might help.

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 5

  TTony said:

  Before you assume that all your old projects/data are lost, unless the HDD has failed (which is unlikely from what you've described), you can put old discs into something like one of these ...

  

  ... and connect it to a new PC, and all your data should be accessible once more. Just search for "HDD Caddy" and get one that'll accept whatever drives are in your current PC.

  Of course, not necessary if you manage to get the PC repaired.

  Thanks @TTony ( and @monquixote ).

  Having Googled those, I'm pleasantly surprised by how cheap they are.

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• Emp_Fab Frets: 24671

  June 5

  But don't buy anything until you know what the score is with your existing PC. In my experience of too many decades of being an IT engineer, I'll give you my best guesses in order of likelihood:

  1. Power supply in the PC blown
  2. Internal fuse in the power supply
  3. Motherboard capacitors
  4. Failed power switch
  5. Something else on the motherboard

  There's nothing there that's going to cost you more than £50 incl parts & labour in my opinion.

  Good luck!

  Keep us updated.

  Donald Trump needs kicking out of a helicopter

  Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."

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• bazxkr Frets: 618

  June 5

  I was actually using hdd caddy today on some old Sata drives. Where are you in the south east ? If you are local romford happy to see if it will read your drive

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• crunchman Frets: 11519

  June 6 edited June 6

  bazxkr said:

  I was actually using hdd caddy today on some old Sata drives. Where are you in the south east ? If you are local romford happy to see if it will read your drive

  It might be IDE rather than SATA if its 20 years old. Your caddy might not work if its SATA only.

  To the OP:

  First check the obvious things like fuses.

  Assuming it's not a simple blown fuse, then try replacing the power supply. That should be a simple swap unless you have a weird bespoke case like you sometimes get from Dell (and some other major manufacturers).

  It might be worth checking its not the on/off switch as well. Open it up, and find the connector from the switch, take the connector off, and touch a screwdriver across the terminals that it was on.

  If that doesn't work, then it's most likely to be your motherboard.

  The good news with Win 98 is that it's not locked to your motherboard to activate if I remember correctly, so replacing it shouldn't be a problem and Windoze should still work with a different motherboard. You should be able to go on Ebay and buy a motherboard / CPU / memory combo that someone has upgraded from very cheaply - probably £20 or so. You will need to check if your drives are IDE or SATA and make sure that the motherboard has the correct type of connectors. You should be able to upgrade performance that way as well if you buy something 15 years old instead of 20 years old.

  Before you do anything though, put the hard drive in a caddy and back the data up, as others have said above.

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• BillDL Frets: 7730

  June 6

  When you say that the computer has "died", can you describe exactly what happens from the time you press the power switch.

  1. Any lights showing front or back or on the keyboard or changing colour on the monitor screen?

  2. Any mechanical sounds of the hard drive and/or fan spinning up?

  3. Does it show the black screen with white text you are probably accustomed to seeing in the early stages as it boots up?

  4. Any beeps from the computer case?

  5. If you are hearing sounds and seeing panel lights but there's no screen display, have you checked that the monitor is connected properly and switched on? I know that's very simplistic, but sometimes computer problems can be so simple that we overlook them.
  

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• Emp_Fab Frets: 24671

  June 6

  I think he has a computery mate who's going to look at it for him. I don't think the OP is going to attempt any diagnosis or repairs himself.

  Donald Trump needs kicking out of a helicopter

  Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 6

  bazxkr said:

  I was actually using hdd caddy today on some old Sata drives. Where are you in the south east ? If you are local romford happy to see if it will read your drive

  Very kind! I'm not far away if it comes down to that, but I'm going to try some of these recommendations first.

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 6

  BillDL said:

  When you say that the computer has "died", can you describe exactly what happens from the time you press the power switch.

  1. Any lights showing front or back or on the keyboard or changing colour on the monitor screen?

  2. Any mechanical sounds of the hard drive and/or fan spinning up?

  3. Does it show the black screen with white text you are probably accustomed to seeing in the early stages as it boots up?

  4. Any beeps from the computer case?

  5. If you are hearing sounds and seeing panel lights but there's no screen display, have you checked that the monitor is connected properly and switched on? I know that's very simplistic, but sometimes computer problems can be so simple that we overlook them.
  

  Absolutely zero of the above!

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• DannyP Frets: 1700

  June 6

  Emp_Fab said:

  I think he has a computery mate who's going to look at it for him. I don't think the OP is going to attempt any diagnosis or repairs himself.

  Quite right!

  I've contacted Carillon and they're being pretty helpful so far, so hopefully this route will yield a solution!

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