andsome Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 My daughter has just telephoned me with a problem. They had a brief power cut and then it came back on almost at once, The computer did not completely power down but turned off and back on again. Now when she starts it up she gets a warning that W32 configuration files are not present, and that she should put in the installation disc and try to recover the files. She has a surge protector fitted, but this did not prevent the damage. I understand that devices to ensure a continuous power supply are availabe, and I have been scared by this event to look into buying one. I already have a surge protected lead myself but would like to install one of these devices. I have looked on google, but they all that seems to be on offer are AC to DC power supplies. I want something that I can plug into the wall socket, and then plug my power leads into this, so that in the event of a power cut, I will get a warning and long enough to switch off the computer properly. Any advice as to availability please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Is this what you are thinking about http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=uninterruptible+power+supply&x=13&y=19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Thinking about this, your surge protector should stop any hardware damage and the Acronis backup would sort any software problems, so why waste your pension. The only person that I know uses/used one is curly if you need to know more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted February 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Is this what you are thinking about http://www.amazon.co...upply&x=13&y=19Thanks yes, that is the sort of thing, but I understand that I need to know how much power the PC draws. My daughters computer sounds buggered as it will not boot up at all. I understand that abrupt shut downs can cause actual damage, but will stand correcting on this point. You are right about Acronis, I have used it for a restore on more than one occasion. It is possible hard drive etc damage I am concerned about, or am I worrying over nothing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Ensure that you have your machine set to Shut Down in the event of power failure. I think the default is to restart in this situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 It is possible hard drive etc damage I am concerned about, or am I worrying over nothing?Power outages usually cause bad sectors on the HDD andsome, but it is not always that all is lost.You can run *CHKDSK*/f Fixes errors on the volume./r Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.Lots more UPS here: http://www.ebuyer.com/search?store=8&cat=193From crippling to affordable ! :P John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Ensure that you have your machine set to Shut Down in the event of power failure. I think the default is to restart in this situation.How would I set that up please? I think I will pass on a UPS for the time being, it was potential hardware damage that bothered me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I think I've given some misinformation here. The default of XP was to restart after power failure. On Vista and W7 the default is not to restart.Is your daughter using XP, andsome? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Thinking about this, your surge protector should stop any hardware damage and the Acronis backup would sort any software problems, so why waste your pension. The only person that I know uses/used one is curly if you need to know moreUPS's aren't expensive!I only paid £50 for mine and it lasts years :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Ensure that you have your machine set to Shut Down in the event of power failure. I think the default is to restart in this situation.I didn't know that Windows can do this as how would it have the power to accomplish this task? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Ensure that you have your machine set to Shut Down in the event of power failure. I think the default is to restart in this situation.I didn't know that Windows can do this as how would it have the power to accomplish this task? when the power comes back on ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Ensure that you have your machine set to Shut Down in the event of power failure. I think the default is to restart in this situation.I didn't know that Windows can do this as how would it have the power to accomplish this task? when the power comes back on ;)But it's too late then as the hard drive might have been damaged with bad sectors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 I think I've given some misinformation here. The default of XP was to restart after power failure. On Vista and W7 the default is not to restart.Is your daughter using XP, andsome?Yes XP, but I use W7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 From: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows7/ht/automatic-restart-windows-7.htm 1. Click on the Start button and then on Control Panel. Tip: In a hurry? Type system in the search box after clicking Start. Choose System under the Control Panel heading in the list of results and then skip to Step 4. 2. Click on the System and Security link.Note: If you're viewing the Small icons or Large icons view of Control Panel, you won't see this link. Simply double-click on the System icon and proceed to Step 4. 3. Click on the System link. 4. In the task pane on the left, click the Advanced system settings link. 5. Locate the Startup and Recovery section near the bottom of the window and click on the Settings button. 6. In the Startup and Recovery window, locate and uncheck the check box next to Automatically restart. 7. Click OK in the Startup and Recovery window. 8. Click OK in the System Properties window. 9. You can now close the System window. 10. From now on, when a problem causes a BSOD or another major error that halts the system, Windows 7 will not force a reboot. You'll have to reboot manually when an error appears.Apologies if I've caused confusion over this. Must be my age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Aaah ! - XP why didn't you say so in the first place ?Just nip over to Scarecrowman's guide here: http://forums.windowsforum.org/index.php?showtopic=15213Could've saved you about three days of wafflin' on about bugger all if you'd hav'd said so. Good guide. And it works andsome ! Bish-Bosh, - as Jamie oliver would say, problem sorted. andsome 'appy, daughter 'appy, all the family 'appy, - end of thread innit ? :) John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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