Hi,

I'm running a optiplex 780 DT, so one of these. https://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/a...nual_en-us.pdf

The computer I use has had a shut down problem over the past three and a half years or so, it would shut down after some use on the web, sometimes too many ads using up memory or youtube, and would crash.

Lights, 1, 2 orange and 3. It couldn't of been a power problem, so it may of been a main board problem, or something to do with windows 7 system on the drive, which wasn't the original drive of the computer, it was in a small optiplex that packed up after ten months, that was six years ago.

I tried the default Run windows, and Repair windows, even F8 option, it then doesn't do anything further, it required the net to gain more data on the problem.

So I don't know what caused this, but to my surprise, I am using Linute lite running firefox 71. The annoying thing about this is my files are on the windows system on the other drive.

So what is the solution to the windows 7 start up, does it require some sort of disc to repair, and why has this only happened now?

It isn't a hardware problem now, so I don't know what caused those shut downs.

I am not sure how you can fix Windows 7. One possible way is to reinstall without formatting the disk, or make a new install after backing up your files. If you have two disks, you should do that with the second disk removed.
A second and better option, is to upgrade to Windows 10, which as far as I know, was a free upgrade from Windows 7 provided your system was activated. Same rule as above should be applied, remove second disk for the upgrade and make a backup of your files.

Edit. You should also know that Windows 7 is unsupported and Windows 10 is supported until 2025 I think.

You can mount and access your drives via linux as another option. Man mount. If you're using a gui you can usually mount from the file manager.

It is possible to have both drives on the computer, but removing the disc drive.

I did for a little do this. But the drives got a little too warm having both connected in the computer.

Because the computer was purchased second hand, and the drives along with them, I don't have a windows 7 disc.

I'm using the optiplex and the lite partition, so windows 7 on this isn't accessible. Clearly it isn't a hardware problem, so the cause of the shut downs are a mystery except for the lights, 1, 2, then orange and 3.

So the manual there doesn't give much info.

So using lite, I can access the other drive and copy files from it? My main annoyance is my web browsing history I needed, and some publisher files, a few word documents, and some videos I have, episodes. Pretty much, I do have a HP elite 8000 ultra small form factor, under powered for web browsing, runs 7 okay, but i really wanted to keep using seven on this computer for as long as I can.

I think this image is what you mean by accessing another drive or area on a drive?

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I have purchased a disc off of Ebay, I will see how that goes. Windows 7 professional 64bit, The others are expensive, anymore may as well get a cheap old computer.

I want to use a Bit torrent, run one game, and use MS office 2007, so I can't avoid windows 7. Linux was nice as a temporary use, but not as a main, and the HP has no disc drive or cable for one, and even so, too much money to travel from the states.

So I can't really be bouncing between windows xp for one game, in particular, then windows 7 for practical use, and then optional use of linux, while formatting the first windows 7 system drive, just for that, after having backed up my files I have on there. Most, of them.

I did all of what you say in linux, except I don't run the game, although I do use a windows software suite. You obviously have a clear idea of what you're trying to say, but you didn't impart it to me, or probably others. You start talking about an optiplex (Dell?) and then make casual reference to 'the HP' . You obviously don't really need your files because you never thought of a backup. Maybe backup the few you want before you start mucking about.

I'm also a bit confused about your problem so let me see if I guessed correctly. You have an Optiplex (Dell?) which has had a shutdown problem for several years and this was while using windows 7, correct? Have you posted at a windows forum? The drive on which you have windows 7 was not originally installed on this computer but was moved from another computer, correct? Windows is generally licensed to be used on a specific computer but I don't know if moving it to another computer is part of the problem. When the computer would shut down, would you ever get warning or error messages? Did you try adding more RAM? Did you check log files on windows?

As pointed out above, copying your files from the windows partition isn't a problem. All you need is the ntfs-3g software which can be easily installed if it not installed on a default Linux Lite.

If the windows 7 boot files are still present and not corrupted, the boot repair software may be able to add an entry to the grub.cfg file to chainload windows but generally repairing windows boot problems requires windows software.

In your initial post you indicate you have had a problem with sporadic shutdowns and this was apparently on windows. You also ask what is the solution to the windows startup? So you have had a shutdown problem with windows for years and now you can't start it?

I can only recommend to install windows 7 on a MBR table, and not GPT.
it helps a lot.

this is the magic:
https://gitlab.com/openbsd98324/hard...a-mbr-9999.img

I use linux, with devuan with partclone/partimage to restore and clone windows 7.

Besides, this mbr works as well with windows 10, meaning you can run win 10 with classic mbr.

Yancek, yes you are correct, on everything.

I'm not knowledgeable with the OS's in general. As for linux, so yeah I only installed lite just as an alternative to windows and software having lost support or will lose support, such firebox, chrome.

I haven't posted on a windows forum, I don't use any, or need to, I never have problems with windows. I joined here because of the linux try, but I had real use for it. Since XP, and 7 did what I needed it too.

As for linux, use the system feature to transfer files I want,transfer a file from the windows 7 partition to the linux partition.

No RAM was ever added, everything is as it is, only a new disc drive to replace the opening one before, would open all the time, which I did make a topic here three years ago on, I didn't remember.

My best option is to give the windows 7 disc a try, using hopefully the product key on the optiplex, which is the new system using an drive from the first one I had, that packed up five years ago.


Business kid, sorry if you didn't quite understand what I meant. The manual has the diagnostic lights error meanings, but it is probably a lost cause, I will just see where I go with the disc when it arrives. I can back up what I need, I do have some backups, but obviously not everything is backed up to date, because I didn't expect windows 7 to not load, the hard drive physically is in good shape, manufactured in 2007. So I thought any future problem would be hardware of the optiplex, not windows 7 or the drive.

I have been able to get the transfer of some of the files I wanted. So both drives are connected and are selected to load after switch on of the system, but yes, the linux one is the one loads with the option to use windows 7 or that, so I then logged on the lite section and connected to the drive, so linux save the day, got my two episodes, and a publisher file, if I need it, and a javascript game, I had been trying out from a book, most of the game examples don't seem to work. I did forget the save file for vice city, I have backups of the game files to play my terrible car model file. That wasn't a problem for XP. I even checked the floppy disks for any backups, nothing. Not too much a problem, back ups are great when the tech or software malfunctions, but they have rarely ever happened. I used one computer from 2003 to 2016, so few disks, that I didn't use much, I was lucky, still am, I guess.

Not the first book I've tried with errors from the company.

Linux lite saved the moment of inconvenience. I didn't think that would happen.

Unfortunately, the disc hasn't done anything to solve the problem. There is no system restore point available. I am not sure.

So if I can't repair it, do I need to try a new install? I guess if did so, I'd need a key, the one on the top of the computer should work, and even if not, I may of lost the system as it stands, I'd a sound drive, integrated graphics driver?

Maybe noone created a system restore point.

If you have a sticker with a key code, it should work. You may also try to retrieve the key in your computer with a utility, Hiren's boot CD comes to mind. Then you can compare the two keys which can be different. At least one should work. The key maybe also be in the BIOS depending on the age and BIOS of your computer. My second generation intel laptop had the key in the UEFI BIOS. It came with Windows 8 as it's operating system (I actually bought it second hand from ebay).

I did not understand this (english is not my primary language).

I had that scenario windows 8, failed updating to 8.1. I went to legacy boot then(2013) called CSM today.I got a 250G SSD, Installed linux(only), and never looked back. It's still working but I've recently retired it.

As for the thing you don't understand, English IS my only language really, and I don't understand it either.