Laptop help please!

Donnie

jandrewcrook wrote: »

Hi, nothing happens when i press F4, i can't find a recovery partition (looked on c and d drive). there is a samsung recovery solution icon on desktop but i do not have the authority to use it!!!!
It is running xp but it doesn't have a cd/dvd drive and no disc.
if anyone else ever buys a second hand computer please please check that you are an administrator.......this is doing my head in.

Thanks to all who have replied trying to help

1.
Click Start and then click Shut Down.

2.
In the drop-down list of the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.

3.
As your computer restarts but before Windows launches, press F4.

busenbust

jandrewcrook wrote: »

Hi its a little one Samsung N120 so no room for cd/dvd drive.
I tried signing in as an administrator but it didn't work
thanks again

drew, if nothing else works u can still connect an external drive and boot up that way.

busenbust

You might need to change the boot order priority to cd.dvd -rom.

DrScotsman

The seller should really know the administrator password...

Here are the options as I see them
1. Try safe mode - press F8 when Windows is starting up before the Windows logo appears on screen, you can find more on how to get to it on Google. I doubt this'll work, but whenever I log onto safe mode (XP, Vista or 7) there's an "Administrator" user, and I'm sure it's mysteriously NOT been passworded at least some of the time.
2. You don't have a CD-ROM drive, so you will somehow have to find a way to reinstall Windows using a USB flash drive (an EMPTY flash drive, you'll lose all data on it). You can find guides on how to do it on Google. Here's one for Windows 7. EDIT: Or an external DVD drive as busenbust says, but I'm guessing you're more likely to have a flash drive.

busenbust

busenbust wrote: »

You might need to change the boot order priority to cd.dvd -rom.

As above. Just ignore u know who.

jandrewcrook

macman wrote: »

OK. At the risk of being pedantic, what you have purchased is a netbook (low powered small laptop with no optical drive). A notebook is just another word for a standard laptop. Hope you can get it sorted.

Oh, thanks...told you i wasn't technical!!!

Donnie

Did the OP state that they have the Samsung Recovery Media they would need in order to 'boot up' with an external DVD drive? I must have missed that post.

In post #15 it is written:

It is running xp but it doesn't have a cd/dvd drive and no disc.

Poor OP, having to trawl through these unhelpful distractions.

busenbust

busenbust wrote: »

You might need to change the boot order priority to cd.dvd -rom.

Quick guide here:
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bios-boot-cdrom

dispossessed

When the machine boots up you will see displayed (very briefly) "for system recovery press F" - Obviously the exact wording may be slightly different but that is the gist of it. If you press that key you can commence the Factory Restore procedure.

However - using this feature may ask you for the System Disk at some point in the procedure. I have never undertaken a re-installation on the netbook model you have so I cannot say for sure.

Trevor

fiddiwebb

jandrewcrook

Maybe worth also asking on the Samsung netbook forum here...............

http://www.sammynetbook.com/forum/