Question

Trouix said:

A blackout early this morning took out my computers, yet when power came back on one was crashed the other is fine. How is this possible?
Both computers are on seperate surge protectors, and the crashed computer is still currently running the dsl even though a message stated that system configurations were deleted and the os has to be reinstalled.

My question is this, will the dsl have to be reinstalled?

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This will be tough for me to explain...
When you have DSL, NOTHING has to be installed. Windows has the capabilities built in. Lets say you have YahooATTWhatever it is now. You don't need all of their garbage software installed. You only need to be set up at the modem(and the router, if you have one... Do you???). I would imagine your modem is already set up, so all you should have to do is plug in, open Internet Explorer, and you should be fine.

Now let's work on your "crashed" computer
Can you give a little more info on what it is doing? What is the exact message? You may be able to fix the MBR or do a repair install and be just fine.

It said that a system configuration dll was deleted and that it needed to be reinstalled. The person trying to reinstall the whole os is having trouble doing so, which i know is a whole different problem.

The person trying to reinstall the whole os is having trouble doing so, which i know is a whole different problem.

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You probably experienced a hardware failure with the blackout. A surge protector is not protection against a power outage. Not at all. A power outage turns off your computer abruptly, plus there is usually a spike or perhaps several when the power turns off, or turns back on again. Any of these things can damage the hardware in your computer. The fact that now you are expiriencing issues reinstalling Windows may prove my point (although I don't know what the issues are). You really need what is called a UPS - Uninteruptable Power Supply - with surge protection built in. Then only plug in the tower, not the monitor, and certainly not a laser printer. Also, only get one with software that will gently and properly shut down your computer in the event of a power loss. One other point is you can only trust the surge protection part of this battery backup for about 2 years, even though it may appear to continue to be working properly.

The problem reinstalling the os is once its done copying files it just restarts and says to reinstall it again. Im told though that it worked the 6th time around.

I think it might still be the hardware but im having them use the ups they have on the computer cause somehow mine is completely fine.

After it reboots, do NOT hit "any key to boot to cd" Just let it go, and the install will continue.
It sounds like your "tech" is hitting a key everytime it reboots. Make him stop!:smile:

Keep in mind that most hardware failures are discovered when the computer is powered off. Hard disks are especially good for this. Just out of their shear nature, they will run until you power off the machine... when you start the machine back up... that's when you finally realize you have a problem.

Well the computer works now but now the internet says i have to reinstall the dsl and it wont allow me, i think its cause my computer is plugged into the dsl through ethernet but im not sure.

If you are using the DSL with the ethernet cable, there is nothing to install. No software, no drivers, nothing.

Its unfortunately aol dsl, but after just using add program the dsl software dled to the computer, so i guess that makes this problem solved. Thanks to those whove helped out.