URGENT HELP please comp keeps rebooting

[Deleted User]

Good, then it can write to CDs. First, does the desktop have a DVD drive and can you find the Windows Vista restore disk that should have come with the laptop? If it is a DVD drive and you can find the disk, insert that and the computer should hopefully start up off it. If it doesn't, then you may need to enter the BIOS and look around for an option to change the startup drive to CD instead of hard drive; when the computer first starts, look for a message like "press key to enter setup". Press whichever key it tells you to press. If you can't see the message, try delete and F1.

If you can do that, then I will tell you how to proceed and hopefully recover the information.

If the computer only has a CD-ROM (or if you definitely can't find the laptop Windows disk), then ignore the above and let me know.

Do you even have a license key code for Windodws XP? It might be on a sticker on the side of the computer's case.

Dopey_Dora_42

ok thank yand will come back to you. I shall go and try find the vista discs 9might have to wait till hubby comes home as he has a good habit of putting these things away safely (prob be about 6pm)

fiddiwebb

Dora

Had you just done the windows XP updates before the reboot problem?

[Deleted User]

OK, great. The Vista disk is almost certainly a DVD though, so don't bother looking for it if the desktop only has a CD-ROM.

Norant

fiddiwebb wrote: »

Dora

Had you just done the windows XP updates before the reboot problem?

I was just about to type the same thing fiddiwebb,sounds familiar does it not?

Dopey_Dora_42

Something was updated as son said it wanted to do a restart which he postponed. I cant find any discs!!! I have a copy of xp pro with a serial number in hubbys stuff would that work or would it reformat it all back to when we first got it?
Im so cross with the boys I try and drum into them BACK UP and even bought them a seperate hdd but do they use it---no.
Dora x

[Deleted User]

The XP Pro disk will hopefully be able to fix the problem. Do not reinstall Windows from it (and definitely don't format the hard drive), but look out for the option to enter recovery console. It takes quite a long time to load the disk and then I think the recovery console option is either on the first or second screen after that.
It does indeed sound like it is the problem caused by the recent update, so you can hopefully follow the advice in the second post at this link to fix it:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/73cea559-ebbd-4274-96bc-e292b69f2fd1/#e9b28c45-635c-4adf-8d24-817bf39c207b

Dopey_Dora_42

Hi
Ive got the xp disc in drive and managed to recovery console but now it says
which installation would you like to log onto?

What do I do before I do the bits in the link please?

Dopey_Dora_42

it says which windows installation would you like to log onto? and the cursor is for 1 letter only-I dont know what to do Help please
many thanks Dora x

Richie-from-the-Boro

You downloaded ' the windows update KB977165 on Tues / Wed, this may not be the cause of your problem but if it is you are not the only one affected.

Do what ' tentonine ' says and get your important info off first, fix your puter only when your coursework is secure !