Daughters sick laptop - no bootable device!

richwhit

Ok absolutely no joy with Acers Indian Call Centre - all they could tell me - it's out of warranty, unable to help with ineligible Windows product key and £55 cost to send it to them to be assessed!!

So no help there - time to get the caddy and see what that turns up?

and thanks for the PM's

richard

richwhit

Ok caddy ordered for a v.reasonable £4.75 and possibly may be able to get round the Windows problem courtesy of my new PC.

Will re-surrect the thread as soon as the caddy arrives and thanks Figment and others for your help so far.

Richard

robmar0se

Richard,Sorry I missed most of the posts since, but just be aware that with these cheaper enclosures you don't get a proper Y USB cable - hopefully you won't have a problem, but if the computer you attach it to, doesn't recognise the device, it may be because there is insufficient power (5v) coming from the host system (common problem) - not the end of the world as you can easily get them either this type http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-USB-2-0-USB-Male-Data-Power-Y-Cable-/300473476254?pt=UK_Computing_USB_Cables&hash=item45f59d649e

or this depending on what enclosure socket. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-2-0-2-Male-mini-B-5pin-data-Power-Y-Cable-/300472976412?pt=UK_Computing_USB_Cables&hash=item45f595c41c

Figment

If Richard has ordered the enclosure I linked to on ebay it will come with a Y cable, screwdriver, 4 screws (although you only need two) and a cheapo leather case.

TakeThis

2.5" enclosures usually don't need the extra USB cable .

You do not need the Product Key on the COA to reinstall Windows 7 on the ACER. Certainly no need to pay for another disc/licence. You already have one.

closed

Assuming it isn't completely broken (which it could be)

If you don't need any data, try acer erecovery at bootup to do a factory restore

if you do need any data, use a boot cd to get it off http://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-express/download_old.html , then use acer erecovery

if you ever get it booted again, create rescue disks, create windows recovery discs, create windows system image.

find the brand of the hard disk, then go to the manufacturers site, and download a hard disk diagnostic, and run it

if the hard disk really is broken, take the machine back to the retailer and quote the sale of goods act, instead of spending more money on a replacement hard disk, it's 18 mths old, not a reasonable time to break, should be fixed for free, nothing to do with warranty, this is uk law.

TakeThis

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U is the disc image that you need.
Download and save the image to a working PC. You will need a blank DVD disc.

Once the download is complete....

Download and install ImgBurn(No need to install the Google Toolbar. Remove the relevant tick). Burn the Image to Disc. Use this guide(skip step 2b) to burning the image to disc.

Now you have your disc, you will need to install it to the new HDD.

To install Windows 7 using the Custom option and formatting the hard disk

To format your hard disk during Windows 7 installation, you'll need to start, or boot, your computer using the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.


Turn on your computer so that Windows starts normally, insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive, and then shut down your computer.


Restart your computer.


Press any key when prompted, and then follow the instructions that appear.


On the Install Windows page, enter your language and other preferences, and then click Next.

If the Install Windows page doesn't appear, and you're not asked to press any key, you might need to change some system settings. To learn how to do this, see Start your computer from a Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.


On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms, and then click Next.


On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.


On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, click Drive options (advanced).


Click the partition that you want to change, click the formatting option you want to perform, and then follow the instructions.


When you've finished formatting, click Next.


Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7, which include naming your computer and setting up an initial user account.

Skip entering the Product Key(you don't have one anyway) and complete the installation.

Refer to me at this stage.

You also have the option to install Windows 7 Home Premium x86 SP1 U[/(The 32 bit version of Windows 7 HP) instead.

Alternatively, refer to post #37.

debitcardmayhem

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

Forgive me if this has been covered , but I am a small screen in a noisy pub (nothing unusual there then :beer:) have you got another W7 pc in the house, if so create a w7 repair disk on that and try and use that ..... just an idea really

Erm why does everyone assume that the HDD is burgered ...still an idea though

Edited: it may be a HDD failure but if there is a chance of running a W7 repair first ....

richwhit

Wowsah - thanks for all the advices guys that I seemed to of missed whilst I awaited delivery of my caddy.

Ok caddy has arrived today so time I guess to see if the HDD on daughters laptop is repairable?

Very apprehensive to do anything on my own at this stage so any advices from anyone as to what the next step in the process would be v. appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,

Richard

P.S. Just to advise that the caddy came with everything Figment said it would do in post #35 - seems v.good value for waht I seem to need.

Figment

Next step is simple.

Remove the hard drive from the laptop.

Push the SATA to USB adapter that came with the caddy onto the connectors of the hard drive (it will only go on one way) push it on firmly, but don't force it.

Slide the HDD into the caddy (as you're only testing the HDD, this is optional, but it lessens the chance of the adaptor coming off or you knocking it and breaking something.)

The USB cable has a single plug on one end - this goes into the USB socket of the caddy. The two on the other end should be plugged into 2 USB sockets on your desktop.

Then comes the moment of truth. You may (should) see the New Hardware wizard detecting the caddy. If it's working you should hear the HDD spinning up and (if enabled) the autorun window popping up asking what you'd like to do with the disk. It should appear as a drive letter (probably E or F) in Windows Explorer ("Computer")