G/F's Laptop not loading into Windows.
Discussion
My G/Fs laptop wont load into Windows. Its goes as far as the first Windows Screen then stops.
Error message is roughly.
Windows did not start successfully.
Safe Mode
Safe With Network
Lat Known Config
Start Windows Normally.
All options have been tried and none of them work.
Now I would say that means that Windows needs to be repaired, but She doesn't have an XP disc (for some reason, I thought All new computers came with a disc), and I can't find mine.
Is there any other way of sorting this without a disc, or is it something unrelated to windows?
TIA
Stuart,
Error message is roughly.
Windows did not start successfully.
Safe Mode
Safe With Network
Lat Known Config
Start Windows Normally.
All options have been tried and none of them work.
Now I would say that means that Windows needs to be repaired, but She doesn't have an XP disc (for some reason, I thought All new computers came with a disc), and I can't find mine.
Is there any other way of sorting this without a disc, or is it something unrelated to windows?
TIA
Stuart,
A lot of new computers aren't supplied with an OS disk as they have a recovery partition on the hard drive to revert the computer back to the state it was when new. How you access this will depend on how the manufacturer has set it up, so have a look at any docs you have from them.
The first thing I would suggest is go into the bios setup straight after you turn on the laptop. This is usually done by pressing del, F1, or F2 depending on the make. It may well tell you as it powers up.
Once you are there, try to find an option to reset ESCD data. This may be under the PnP set up section, or it might be called something like 'reset configuration data'. Set this to enabled, save and reboot.
Have you made any recent changes to the machine (new software, service packs etc)? Also, what make/model is the laptop?
The first thing I would suggest is go into the bios setup straight after you turn on the laptop. This is usually done by pressing del, F1, or F2 depending on the make. It may well tell you as it powers up.
Once you are there, try to find an option to reset ESCD data. This may be under the PnP set up section, or it might be called something like 'reset configuration data'. Set this to enabled, save and reboot.
Have you made any recent changes to the machine (new software, service packs etc)? Also, what make/model is the laptop?
Edited by tank slapper on Wednesday 18th October 23:18
Ok. RTFM and find out how to restory to factory. It's probably burried in either the machines boot menu or bios.
Next up ask the GF if she's got her documents/pictures/music backed up somewhere and then make sure it's a recent one, just incase the machine goes and reformats itself rather than giving the option of a repair install.
If she doesn't then you'll need to head off to somewhere like Maplins and get a laptop to desktop HDD converter or a 2.5" external USB drive cage, which one you get depends on how confident you are taking the machine apart and if the machine your going to slave the system too is a desktop or laptop.
Assuming it's a USB caddy you get boot the second machine, attach USB cable and start burning CD/DVD's of her stuff.
Next up ask the GF if she's got her documents/pictures/music backed up somewhere and then make sure it's a recent one, just incase the machine goes and reformats itself rather than giving the option of a repair install.
If she doesn't then you'll need to head off to somewhere like Maplins and get a laptop to desktop HDD converter or a 2.5" external USB drive cage, which one you get depends on how confident you are taking the machine apart and if the machine your going to slave the system too is a desktop or laptop.
Assuming it's a USB caddy you get boot the second machine, attach USB cable and start burning CD/DVD's of her stuff.
Thanks for Replies.
First up. ATM I dont have access to Laptop, Docs or TFM, and telling her what to do on the phone is very difficult. She's very selective when it comes to reading stuff off the screen etc etc.
She doesn't have anything backed up, years of Pictures, Music etc, no backups.
No Recent changes been made that I'm aware of.
I'll wait til I have access then do whats been suggested.
First up. ATM I dont have access to Laptop, Docs or TFM, and telling her what to do on the phone is very difficult. She's very selective when it comes to reading stuff off the screen etc etc.
She doesn't have anything backed up, years of Pictures, Music etc, no backups.
No Recent changes been made that I'm aware of.
I'll wait til I have access then do whats been suggested.
tvradict said:
Thanks for Replies.
First up. ATM I dont have access to Laptop, Docs or TFM, and telling her what to do on the phone is very difficult. She's very selective when it comes to reading stuff off the screen etc etc.
She doesn't have anything backed up, years of Pictures, Music etc, no backups.
No Recent changes been made that I'm aware of.
I'll wait til I have access then do whats been suggested.
First up. ATM I dont have access to Laptop, Docs or TFM, and telling her what to do on the phone is very difficult. She's very selective when it comes to reading stuff off the screen etc etc.
She doesn't have anything backed up, years of Pictures, Music etc, no backups.
No Recent changes been made that I'm aware of.
I'll wait til I have access then do whats been suggested.
Before you go or she comes, get her to tell you the make and the model number. Then google it and try to find the service guide or "How do I upgrade the HDD on a X" at least that way you'll know what tool's you'll need to pull the drive and where in the chassis it's located (well designed laptops make it easy to get to. But old Sony Vaio's burried the damn drive in the chassis and made you go through the keyboard & palm rest to get to it).
thepassenger said:
If she doesn't then you'll need to head off to somewhere like Maplins and get a laptop to desktop HDD converter or a 2.5" external USB drive cage, which one you get depends on how confident you are taking the machine apart and if the machine your going to slave the system too is a desktop or laptop.
She's tried to do this, Using a 2.5" External USB Cradle plugged into a Desktop. She's found the drive on MY Computer but it wont open.
Does this mean the Disc is Goosed?
tvradict said:
thepassenger said:
If she doesn't then you'll need to head off to somewhere like Maplins and get a laptop to desktop HDD converter or a 2.5" external USB drive cage, which one you get depends on how confident you are taking the machine apart and if the machine your going to slave the system too is a desktop or laptop.
She's tried to do this, Using a 2.5" External USB Cradle plugged into a Desktop. She's found the drive on MY Computer but it wont open.
Does this mean the Disc is Goosed?
Depends what the error message is. Next job might be to run a chkdsk. Right click on the drive and choose properties, then tools, the option to check it for errors, tick all the boxes and leave it for an hour. Good luck!
aldi said:
tvradict said:
thepassenger said:
If she doesn't then you'll need to head off to somewhere like Maplins and get a laptop to desktop HDD converter or a 2.5" external USB drive cage, which one you get depends on how confident you are taking the machine apart and if the machine your going to slave the system too is a desktop or laptop.
She's tried to do this, Using a 2.5" External USB Cradle plugged into a Desktop. She's found the drive on MY Computer but it wont open.
Does this mean the Disc is Goosed?
Depends what the error message is. Next job might be to run a chkdsk. Right click on the drive and choose properties, then tools, the option to check it for errors, tick all the boxes and leave it for an hour. Good luck!
Indeed it does depend on what exactly the error message is, but Aldi's got the nail on the head about hitting the thing with chkdsk.
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