Windows 7 laptop not booting

peter999

A Windows 7 laptop has stopped booting. It's not my laptop, so haven't seen problem.

Apparently it had problem, did repair & worked.
This happened again few days later, but didn't work.

I'm not that familiar with Windows 7, so what things can I try to get it working.

On Windows XP you could do Repair Install which would repair the current installation, so your data wasn't lost & you could access your data.

There isn't a recent full backup of all data, so it would be good to copy data before restoring system using recovery facility.

Is this possible or would I have to remove hard drive from laptop ??

peter999

SB20

You have a few options

If you can get your hands on a windows 7 DVD you can run a repair through see if that helps

OR you can search google for a linux distro ( i recomend ubuntu) that you can run off a live CD all the instructions for that are here - (search google for below im to new to post links)

use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer

its a howtogeeks article

or as you say take the hard disk out the laptop and whack it in another pc for ease of backing up.

One thing i would double check though before you go any further, can the hard disk be seen in the bios? (usually an Fkey or delete immediately at boot depending on your make and model) if it sees the hard disk in there the data should still be good. Also listen out for any clicking or grinding noises from the hard disk this can be a sign of head crash, which is bad news! hope this helped!

peter999

SB20 wrote: »

You have a few options

If you can get your hands on a windows 7 DVD you can run a repair through see if that helps

OR you can search google for a linux distro ( i recomend ubuntu) that you can run off a live CD all the instructions for that are here - (search google for below im to new to post links)

use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer

its a howtogeeks article

or as you say take the hard disk out the laptop and whack it in another pc for ease of backing up.

One thing i would double check though before you go any further, can the hard disk be seen in the bios? (usually an Fkey or delete immediately at boot depending on your make and model) if it sees the hard disk in there the data should still be good. Also listen out for any clicking or grinding noises from the hard disk this can be a sign of head crash, which is bad news! hope this helped!

I think the laptop has recovery partition to restore laptop to original installation.

Does linux/ubuntu option wipe or affect the recovery partition ??

peter999

fwor

peter999 wrote: »

Does linux/ubuntu option wipe or affect the recovery partition ??

No - as long as you run it as a LiveCD and don't try to install, it won't touch the hard disk unless you tell it to.

SB20

As above, you should be fine, linux can run using a Live cd which is basically just off a cd allowing you to recover your files with no danger!

dsavvy83

peter999 wrote: »

I think the laptop has recovery partition to restore laptop to original installation.

Does linux/ubuntu option wipe or affect the recovery partition ??

peter999

firstly back up all your work before you do anything. What laptop do you have?

This is assuming you can not log into windows 7...
You can go to any computer shop and buy an external USB caddy for a 2.5 inch sata hard drive. they range from £10 + depending on the brand but you need something basic.

You then place your laptop hard drive in the caddy and then back up all the work you need on another computer. Have you password protected the windows 7 on your laptop? you might find other issues.

once you are satisfied with what you have backed up you can put the hard drive back into the laptop.

Now, you then find out how to start recovery mode on your laptop, because most recovery partitions give you the option to do a full recovery or repair, you might as well try the repair option and see if that works? otherwise just do a full system restore and follow the instructions.

peter999

SB20 wrote: »

As above, you should be fine, linux can run using a Live cd which is basically just off a cd allowing you to recover your files with no danger!

Where is best place to get Linux/Ubuntu ??

What can you recover files to, usb flash or hard drive, networked Pc ??

peter999

TakeThis

Ubuntu. Your choice.

SB20

peter999 wrote: »

Where is best place to get Linux/Ubuntu ??

What can you recover files to, usb flash or hard drive, networked Pc ??

peter999

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download

This will guide you through how to burn a Live CD aswell, you can back up onto all medias. If your anything like me this will be the first time you use ubuntu and then you will learn to love it afterwards, this was me 4 years ago. Ive since learned an ubuntu live cd is a technicians toolbox in a CD!

fwor

peter999 wrote: »

What can you recover files to, usb flash or hard drive, networked Pc

Depends on how much data you have. Using a networked PC by setting up a Windows shared folder on the destination PC can be a bit hit and miss - sometimes it works, sometimes not.

If you use a USB pendrive, don't forget to test it first with h2testw or similar. Faulty/fake pendrives are not uncommon, and you won't otherwise find out it's faulty until you try (and fail) to get your data back off it.

peter999

TakeThis wrote: »

Ubuntu. Your choice.

SB20 wrote: »

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download

This will guide you through how to burn a Live CD aswell, you can back up onto all medias. If your anything like me this will be the first time you use ubuntu and then you will learn to love it afterwards, this was me 4 years ago. Ive since learned an ubuntu live cd is a technicians toolbox in a CD!

The laptop started working of its own accord, so I was able to get a backup of the data.

It was stuck at the Windows 7 logo for long while, then booted up.
After that it seems to be booting ok.


Also created ubuntu Live CD, booted off it & could see file system to do backup.

Will investigate ubuntu/linux in future.

peter999