Computer help: 2 Questions
2 Questions
by BrianZachary - 10/23/08 2:05 PMI have an eMachines W3052 with XP Home SP2. I have Googled both of these, but could not find any clear answers. I do know something about computers, but I'm not an IT major or anything.
First question:
Is it safe to just delete the run_startmenu.cmd in my Startup folder? Or would it just put itself back after rebooting? If that's the case, is there some other way to remove it completely? For that matter, is it even needed by my computer?
Second question:
Whenever I reboot the computer, it freezes. It shuts down and when it starts back up, it gets to the big "e" and just sits there. I can't do anything but shut it off manually by holding the power button in. Even if I do that, it still freezes at the big "e". The only way to get it to load up is to unplug the power cord, plug it back in and push the power button to turn it on. It boots up normally after that. I've gotten to where I don't reboot anymore, but rather just shut it down, unplug and plug in the power cord and turn it on.
It's been doing this for a couple months at least and I don't remember downloading or installing anything or changing the computer in any way that might have caused this...Or at least I don't remember what I was doing when it started, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Does anyone have any ideas as to the possible cause and how this might be fixed? I'd appreciate any help on this. If any more info is needed, let me know. Thanks in advance.
Possible answers.
by Kees Bakker
- 10/23/08 2:25 PM
In reply to: 2 Questions by BrianZachary
As I don't have an eMachine I can't guess what's in the run_startmenu.cmd. It's a batchfile that runs other programs. Open it with Notepad and post what it contains. I assume it are some programs that eMachines thought useful or necessary, but I can't tell without seeing the contents.
I assume the big E is during the boot. I've had a Compaq that put a red Compaq on the screen to hide the BIOS-messages. It has nothing to do with Windows, so it can't be caused by downloading anything.
You can try if you can get in the BIOS setup program (by pressing del or escape or f1 or f2 or f10 or whatever key it is with this machine) and see if there's an option to reset it to defaults. But I'm afraid it won't help. The eMachines tech support might know a solution. If not, learn to live with it.
Maybe somebody else has a better idea.
Kees
Thanks, Kees
by BrianZachary - 10/23/08 4:25 PM In reply to: Possible answers. by Kees Bakker
The run_startmenu.cmd thing isn't that big a deal really. All it seems to do is open the command window for less than a second when Windows starts. However, I did read where run_startmenu.cmd is sometimes put on computers by spyware, or something to that effect, but this one has always been on this computer and haven't had any problems from it. I guess I will just leave it alone. I just don't like to have more stuff running on my computer than is needed, plus I like to have control over what is on my computer, as most people do.
Yes, the big "e" is the eMachines logo that is seen during booting up. It doesn't necessarily "hide" BIOS messages, as far as I know. When the "e" screen is up, in the lower left corner are 2 commands. I believe they are F2 for BIOS settings and F10 for boot order.
I could contact eMachines about it, but I've had the computer for about 3 or 4 years, so the warranty is gone by now and many computer manufacturers are not very helpful even WITH a current warranty. I guess it couldn't hurt to check their site, though. Thanks for the suggestion.
Sounds very much like an old issue.
by R. Proffitt - 10/23/08 2:29 PM
In reply to: 2 Questions by BrianZachary
"Whenever I reboot the computer, it freezes. It shuts down and when it starts back up, it gets to the big "e" and just sits there. I can't do anything but shut it off manually by holding the power button in. Even if I do that, it still freezes at the big "e". The only way to get it to load up is to unplug the power cord, plug it back in and push the power button to turn it on. It boots up normally after that. I've gotten to where I don't reboot anymore, but rather just shut it down, unplug and plug in the power cord and turn it on."
Cnet wrote about the BAD CAPS issue at http://news.cnet.com/When-good-capacitors-go-bad/2100-1041_3-5940438.html
The symptoms match what you wrote above. Be sure that your backups are current as such machines only last a little longer after you see this issue manifest itself.
Bob
Thanks, Bob
by BrianZachary - 10/23/08 4:36 PM In reply to: Sounds very much like an old issue. by R. Proffitt
Well, I don't like the sound of that. I really hope "bad caps" is not the case here. I did read through that article, but didn't see my symptoms listed, but I can see where you might think that. I wasn't even sure what a capacitor was, I had to look on Wikipedia. I can open the case next time I shut the computer off, if I remember to do so, and check the capacitors. Hopefully I won't find anything wrong.
Curiously, though, if the capacitors were faulty, wouldn't my computer have more problems than just this one issue? Everything else works fine. Windows does take a couple minutes to load everything up, but that's just due to what programs start up when Windows does, which isn't much really. Usually I go out for a smoke and when I come back everything is loaded up and ready for me.
As far as backup, I have my trusty external hard drive where I keep everything, so I don't have to worry about finding everything again. If I ever get a new computer, I can have it how I want in about 2 hours, give or take.
Over at the bad caps web page
by R. Proffitt - 10/23/08 5:23 PM
In reply to: Thanks, Bob by BrianZachary
You can see the pictures. Sorry if the Cnet article didn't list the symptoms.
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