Tecchie help

closed

What did the shop say, do?

do you need any data from it - if so, buy a usb caddy (find out if your disk is pata or sata first), backup your data somewhere else, then reinstall the os - you will need to go into the bios, and tell it to attempt to boot from the cd before it attempts to boot from hard disk

Dells come with a factory restore partition, the instructions on how to use it are in the manual or on the dell website, it removes the need for a cd, but will wipe your data

TakeThis

haffies wrote: »

Hi thanks for that. I put the windows installation disc in (it was purple) and pressed enter however the Windows Boot Manager appeared and stated the same message at the bottom of the page as before. The message at the top stated Windows failed to start ?

That is because it is not 'booting' from the CD, but continuing to boot from the hard drive.
You need to set it to boot from the CD on restart and then to use the Start Up Repair function.

Vista or Windows 7? The Service Tag is what we need. Look on the bottom of the laptop.

robmar0se

TakeThis wrote: »

That is because it is not 'booting' from the CD, but continuing to boot from the hard drive.
You need to set it to boot from the CD on restart and then to use the Start Up Repair function.

I agree.

Co-incidentally I have the same model in for repair (she dropped hers!). Just press F2 during the initial boot will get you into the BIOS. Then goto the boot sequence option and change it so that the dvd/cd drive is first and the hdd second. Save and reboot.

When you next boot, with the Dell system disk loaded, you will be given the option to start from the CD/DVD. You need to accept that.

Good luck

haffies

Thanks for all your replies. As you have probably guessed I dont know the first thing about computers however your advice is really appreciated. I put the disc in again however the same message appeared. I pressed the F12 button as advised and windows started loading files. Then the windows screen appeared with an option to repair which I clicked however there is now a message saying 'This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disc that is compatible.' Is is Windows Vista that is installed. I do not have a recovery disc. It is now giving me options to Load Drivers ? I do have the drivers and utilities discs.

TakeThis

haffies wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies. As you have probably guessed I dont know the first thing about computers however your advice is really appreciated. I put the disc in again however the same message appeared. I pressed the F12 button as advised and windows started loading files. Then the windows screen appeared with an option to repair which I clicked however there is now a message saying 'This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disc that is compatible.' Is is Windows Vista that is installed. I do not have a recovery disc.

Find your Service Tag

We don't need your serial number, you can delete that from your post.

You have a Private Message.

haffies

service tag - C76XXJ1

robmar0se

Two years ago was the time that Windows 7 came out. Systems sold with Vista were given the option of a free upgrade to WIn7. If That is your situation, the recovery option is not for you

You need a clean install of Win 7. If you followed my previous post to hit F2 during the initial boot you will then be able to access the BIOS, you must then change the boot sequence as indicated. Did you do this????

If you did you would get the option to boot from the CD...did you see this? Then it will give you the option for a clean install...there may be other options but a repair is NOT for you.

You also need to say if you have a 32 or 64 bit version of Win7, and confirm yr drivers disk is for win7.

Otherwise you can get the drivers from the following provided you know the answer to the 32/64 bit question;

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19