Windows 7

stilltheone

Toxteth_OGrady wrote: »

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/startup-repair

Already part of my solution in post #4.

stilltheone

steve1980 wrote: »

IMO the above won't work as you can't get to the desktop. I just clicked on the link for the windows recovery disc (which is the same as what is on the hidden partition) to be greated by a groupon popup.

What on earth are you writing?
It is written clearly that she is writing from another laptop with Vista Home Premium as the OS.

As to the Groupon Popup, what's that to do with anything? I don't see it, though that is possibly because of my HOSTS file.

Just use Ctrl + W to remove it.

santer_2

When everything is running, the OP may find this useful for the future, if you download it you have to start installing it before 7am tomorrow to be sure of getting the key

Paragon Backup and Recovery 10 Home Special Edition

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/paragon-backup-and-recovery/

hotspur_pam

Hi all thanks for the replies

Just to clarify, my sis employers gave her the laptop for work. She's hesitant about informing them of the problem as she trashed one of their computers before :cool:. She never backs up her work and always gets herself in these sorts of fixes... never learns.

alanrowell, yes, i can get 'safe mode with networking' and all the options in 'advanced boot option' after hitting F8 repeatedly.

I tried your solution stilltheone, i get as far as 'view advance options for system recovery and support' but there is no option for 'command prompt'. I'm getting the option to either 'start-up repair' or 'recovery manager' option.

Is there any thing else to try? Me thinks lil sis will have to bite the bullet on this one :cool:.

Thanks flexrider and santer, i'll look into those .

Edit: Have you checked that the backed up files are complete and readable? Do you know what paid for software is on the computer and what the licence keys are for reinstallation?

Can't say for sure the back-up i attempted was successful, but it seemed ok. Not sure if i can run it on my Windows Vista without wrecking anything?? Don't know what the licence keys are or anything else :S .....
Again, thanks for all the help :beer:

tomthered

If you can get hold of an external drive you can image the disk to this external drive. This will give you a complete back up and still have access to all files and data required.

Then try a system restore first as it sounds like the operating system is hang when it is calling for a procedute to work. As the system is still showing is booting it could be a number of things.

Never had this particalar problem with a call routine but have been fairly successful in doing start up repairs. If this wont work its a system restore job and after that its a format and reinstall of the operating system.

One piece of advice, once the system is all up and running do a copy of the drive to an external drive. Failing that partition the exisiting drive for a 25 gb partition. Providing the exisiting lappy drive does not have too much info and programs on it you should be able to image a drive copy onto this partition.

Most imaging programs allow you to create a boot rescue CD to boot from. this would allow you to restore the virgin image to your other partition. If you back it up once a week, this ensures a freshness of the data.

Two programs I have used are [EMAIL="Active@Boot"]Active@Boot[/EMAIL] image and Macrium reflect. Of the two macrium is superior as if your hard drive fails, and you install a different manufacturers drive, the existing image has your old drive signature on it and it plays havoc on Win 7. macrium overcomes this be zeroing the drive signature allowing you to reinstall your legit OS installation onto anothe type of hard drive.

Finally good luck , having been there I know what its like. Its a hard way to learn a lesson!

mluton

You can still use this method if the machine is part of a domain.

Can you get to safe mode with command prompt ?

If so at the prompt type:
cd\ (enter)
cd c:\windows\system32\restore (enter)
rstrui.exe (enter)

This will launch system restore manually. Select the day before the problem and fingers crossed that will sort it.
Was it installing service pack 1 by anychance ?

steve1980

If it's a works laptop then she should return it to the IT department so they can go into the backend of it. She will be doing more harm than good.

stilltheone

hotspur_pam wrote: »

Hi all thanks for the replies

Just to clarify, my sis employers gave her the laptop for work. She's hesitant about informing them of the problem as she trashed one of their computers before :cool:. She never backs up her work and always gets herself in these sorts of fixes... never learns.

alanrowell, yes, i can get 'safe mode with networking' and all the options in 'advanced boot option' after hitting F8 repeatedly.

I tried your solution stilltheone, i get as far as 'view advance options for system recovery and support' but there is no option for 'command prompt'. I'm getting the option to either 'start-up repair' or 'recovery manager' option.

Is there any thing else to try? Me thinks lil sis will have to bite the bullet on this one :cool:.

Thanks flexrider and santer, i'll look into those .

Edit: Have you checked that the backed up files are complete and readable? Do you know what paid for software is on the computer and what the licence keys are for reinstallation?

Can't say for sure the back-up i attempted was successful, but it seemed ok. Not sure if i can run it on my Windows Vista without wrecking anything?? Don't know what the licence keys are or anything else :S .....
Again, thanks for all the help :beer:

Command prompt is your last option. You should try Startup Repair first. If no good, then System Restore to a few days ago. Don't know how you arrived at Recovery Manager.

PS: I thought that you wrote that you couldn't get in to Safe Mode. You wrote "The little circle just spins for hours in normal start-up and safe mode."

stilltheone

steve1980 wrote: »

If it's a works laptop then she should return it to the IT department so they can go into the backend of it. She will be doing more harm than good.

Please...your posts are doing more harm than good. I hope you aren't offended, but... stop.

steve1980

stilltheone wrote: »

Please...your posts are doing more harm than good. I hope you aren't offended, but... stop.

Don't insult me.

The OP has posted about her sisters WORK laptop which was given to her by her employer.

This would have been preinstalled with the programmes used and purchased by her employer. She should not be trying to do anything untoward on it as this could result in disciplinary action by her employer. Are you going to take the blame for it and pay out for a new laptop?

I have been working with IT for over 15 years so think I am qualified to give an opinion.