Got up this morning, fired up the laptop and it won't start.
Battery is fully charged and it's plugged in to the mains.
It starts up, goes to a text only screen "windows didn't start etc etc", where I have 5 options:-
1. Safe Mode
2. Safe Mode with Networking
3. Safe Mode with Command Prompt
4. Last known good settings.
5. Start normally.
Whatever I chose, it cycles through back to the same screen.
Help
Mike
(Posting from desktop!)
Which version on windoze?
If its XP, put the CD in the drive, change first boot device to CD-ROM in bios (usually in advanced options)
Wait for it to do its boot thing, then select R from the options (repair)
Once thats done it will come up with a command prompt.
Type 'fixmbr' without the quotes
While you are there do a scandisk too, type 'chkdsc' again without the quotes. And let it fix anything it finds.
And see what that gives you 
David
Sorry Flak.
It's running XP.
Don't think I have the disk though, came from the supplier pre-loaded.
Mike
If you have a working PC (assume so as your on here) and a CD writer and Nero installed I can send you a link to download a Boot CD that will sort out
99% of most boot up type issues...and will allow you to back up/retrieve important data if not
Have U2U'd you the link and some instructions on use
Not about today (off to a wedding) but will be back tomorrow so can assist if needed
Regards
Rob
Try pressing F8 when you get the menu and then choosing 'last known good configuration'.
Worth a shot...
quote:
Originally posted by maxey74
Try pressing F8 when you get the menu and then choosing 'last known good configuration'.
Worth a shot...
I'd press F8 when booting, then select the "Disable automatic restart on system failure"
That will probably give you the classic "blue screen of death", but the error code may be of some use in diagnosing the problem.
It's usually in the form of 0x00000000, then just google the first number set in the format above.
It would help to know the make of laptop as Sony laptops for example have a number of boot up issues.
However it is likely the prvious owner deliberately erased the windows installation as a security measure, in which case you need to re-install. Most
laptops have a hidden recovery partition that will allow you to re-install windows. However the methods of getting the laptop to boot from the
recovery partition vary.
If not you can re-install XP using the windows product key on the sticker on the base of the laptop using any XP install disc that has the same
version of Xp as your laptop.
However it must be a puka Xp install disc not a set of system recovery discs made from another running system.
Of course you could just stick a Mint Linux boot dvd in ----
[Edited on 16/8/09 by britishtrident]
Right, the laptop is an HP 6735b, bought new about 6 months ago.
I've downloaded Rob's disc and burned that to a CD.
When I run that, I get a bluescreen of doom.
But the error code is 0x0000007B. Googling that takes me to microsofts website which appears to be written in some sort of foreign langauge!
Mike
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316401
How far into the boot of my disk does it go? before the stop message?
Do you get as far as the desktop?
I know that disk is a bit limited with drivers (SATA is not supported on this one and I should have asked I suppose, but was in a rush replying!)
It has always been fine with IDE controllers in the past though...and the error you are getting seems to imply controller driver issue??
I am sure I have one that does work with SATA if that is the issue
Could be worth re-downloading/burning if your sure its on an IDE hard disk??
Also worth trying memtest x86 out
(its another image to burn to CD and boot from)
Am at home today till Weds so gimme a shout if you need help :-)
Regards
Rob
[Edited on 17/8/09 by robocog]
Hi Rob
Thanks for your disc.
It doesn't get as far as desktop, I get Windows XP screen with the blue progress bar, then straight into bluescreen.
SATA / IDE is all foreign to me!
Cheers
Mike
OK - sure its booting from my disk and not from the original hard disk?
(mine says something about" robs boot disk ..please be patient" then eventually gets to a desktop)
Check its deffo booting from CD
(you did use nero to burn the 'saved project' image?- rather than just copy the image.nrg to a CD?)
If you put the CD into a working PC that is booted up into windows, you should have lots of files and stuff on the CD rather than a single big file
called image.nrg!
Let me know :-)
Regards
Rob
Hi Rob
Yup deffo booting from your CD.
Get the message "Rob's NTSC is loading, please be patient!"
And when I put the disc in this desktop I can see all the folders.
Mike
Does the other PC boot from it ok?
(just to rule out that its not the CD or image)
The disk will just boot to a desktop and nothing gets changed till you tell it to do something, so perfectly safe for use on a happy PC :-)
Let me know
Regards
Rob
quote:
Originally posted by robocog
Does the other PC boot from it ok?
(just to rule out that its not the CD or image)
The disk will just boot to a desktop and nothing gets changed till you tell it to do something, so perfectly safe for use on a happy PC :-)
Let me know
Regards
Rob
OK so second PC won't boot from it - I guess same error message? and at same point?
If so..
Looks like either I flunked creating the image, putting the image on the server, or it glitched when downloading or being burned to CD
Will re-create and upload it (same place, same name) will reprt back when its done
re-download/burn and have another go
Regards
Rob
you have U2U!
new image created burned and tested and re uploaded :-)
Let me know
Regards
Rob
Rob
New file downloaded, burned to disc, stuck in machine. Says "Robs NTFS disk now loading, be patient!"
Then goes back to the bluescreen with the same 0x00000007B message as earlier.
When it boots up normally, it comes up with the windows logo and XP, when it boots up from your disc, it comes up XP professional?
mike
[Edited on 17/8/09 by Guinness]
ISTR with HP laptops the recovery mode is activated by pressing F11 when booting.
Oh bugger!
How about on the other PC?
If it boots that one OK it will rule out the CD being odd
Don't worry about the XP Pro bit
Its actually PE -Preinstalation Enviroment
If its not booting either PC I suspect that its something to do with the CD writing process rather than anything else as I tested the image a few
times here before posting the link
I could post you a disk (snail mail)
if you drop your address by 2U2
Regards
Rob
I had a similar problem on my laptop a year or so ago and it was the memory which had gone t1ts up.
If you have more than one memory module in the machine try taking one out or checking in the setup to see if that is seeing any memory.
Laptop is back, was the hard drive that had died.
New hard drive fitted and all data recovered from the old one!
Remember folks, back up all your data, often!
Mike