No further with Computer problem, some help please

[leon]

Hi Guys, in relation to my last post requesting some suggestions for my daughters computer, it seems that we are no further than before.

The machine will start and she hits f8 to open in safe mode, it comes up to the page with administration details and stops.

Some suggestions with using the set up disc that came with the machine would be helpful, I am no expert on this subject, so how is the best way to address this problem.

Do we just put in the supplied disc and boot from there or is there other options available to us.

Any suggestion would be much appreciated.

Thank You in advance,

Leon

[TheDecepticon]

Hi Leon.

You can put in the disc, and some will run automagically, some will require you to press any key on the keyboard to start the disc, but you will see that come up. Once the disc is started, follow the instructions, if any. It really does depend on what sort of disc it is. If it is a genuine recovery disc, it will probably just go through and lay down a new copy of your operating system. If it is a Windows operating system disc, you may get the chance to "repair" the system.

Please note that you could lose your data if you do not have more than one drive for storage.

Either that, or you will need to take it to a repairer and have it professionally repaired.

Cheers,

Gray.

[leon]

Many thanks Gary, I do expect it may have to go to the professionals, however we will try the disc, and see how that goes without going to far and losing the lot.

Leon

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Leon

From what I understand that you posted above, your daughter gets to use the F8 option and then it displays the list of choices that one gets with the "Safe Mode" screen ie Safe Mode, Safe Mode with networking etc and that it is at this point that the PC seems to hang and cannot progress any further so that she cannot actually choose one of the options to go the get the PC to boot into safe mode

If the preceding is the case then hopefully the disc that came with the PC is indeed the Windows operating system one rather than just a "recovery disc" (which probably will offer to re-install the original system including programs - this of course is typical with branded PCs - and is usually destructive in nature ie it will wipe off everything on the harddrive and reinstall/configure the system like it came from the factory!!)

I would suggest that if it is indeed the Windows OS disc then the first instance of "Repair" that you will get which follow after Windows loading all the drivers etc and then it asks to press F8 - that's the one (that's the "repair" option you want as it will drop you into a "windows recovery console administrative mode" which is in a DOS shell (black screen with white text and you will be asked to select the drive and then the administrator password first before you can do anything in the black screen area) - mind you there is still another "repair" option which I will describe later on

Once into this recovery console mode type the word "fixboot" without the quotes after the prompt symbol >, then it will probably ask to confirm the drive letter and it should be C - this might fix the problem your daughter is having - of course if that doesn't work after the reboot repeat the above again but this time type the word "fixmbr"

The second instance of the "Repair" option in using the Windows OS disc occurs if you ignore the first repair option after pressing F8 in the above sequence and instead choose to install Windows - it will then try to detect any previous installation of Windows and if it finds a copy of Windows already installed it will then offer to wipe off everything and start afresh or to "Repair" the current version - if choosing the repair option fortunately this will not destroy any data like My Documents, Emails, My Pictures etc since it only replaces the vital Windows files BUT you must know what your "Product Key" is before you actually use this in-situ Windows repair method AND I have found that you at least need the same version of Windows that was installed (mind you there has been Windows, Windows SP1, Windows SP2 and Windows SP3) and it is in my experience that say for example if you had originally had Windows SP1 installed and then over a period of time updated Windows to the lastest SP3 level then you would be very lucky to be able to log back on after an in-situ repair because the silly Windows activation is required again and because you had done a "repair" probably the network (LAN) adapter is not working until you load the driver again and you are caught into an "endless loop" not unlike the "chicken or the egg" first conundrum!!!

I hope that you have not been scared off trying to fix this but perhaps to save oneself the grief of losing vital irreplaceable data eg pictures/documents go get the professionals to do the job and if they are really professionals they should be able to get that going or at the worst case scenario re-install the whole shebang AFTER making a clone of the drive

HTH
Cheers
Bill

PS:
BTW if you're in Perth call me if you still need to get the MS Office fixed!

[leon]

Many thanks Bill for that very descriptive suggestion on the fix.

I will have to read it a couple of times to get what you said lodged into my head, but it dose sound like the way to go.

I appreciate your time and effort.

Leon