PC Boots, OS Doesn't Load. Help Required (Update: FIXED)

PasturesNew

Hi

I am house-sitting a sibling and the PC won't boot. So I had a go at fixing it.

I don't know where any disks etc might be, I don't know what OS but suspect it's a few years old (might be XP, might be Vista).

What happens is:
- It loads a screen saying WinFast
- it starts to load OS basic stuff, then it stops and gives you the options about starting in Safe Mode, Safe Mode Without Networking, Last Known Good Configuation, Start Windows Normally etc.

I have so far tried Safe Mode, Last Known Good, Start Normally - and what it does is repeats the loading of WinFast and ends up back at that choice screen again.

I went into the settings and changed it to be set to load from HD first (can't remember what it said before) - tried again. Still the same.

Any idea what I can do/try next?

NiftyDigits

Brand name and model number?

PasturesNew

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Brand name and model number?

Probably not much help, but it just says Cooler Master on the front of the tower.

NiftyDigits

Do you have another machine from which you can create a boot disk?

PasturesNew

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Do you have another machine from which you can create a boot disk?

No, but if buying a USB stick would enable me to do that, I'd give that a go.

I've got a HP laptop here (mine/typing on it right now), not got any discs to burn - and not even sure if this laptop even burns discs.

NiftyDigits

PasturesNew wrote: »

No, but if buying a USB stick would enable me to do that, I'd give that a go.

I've got a HP laptop here (mine/typing on it right now), not got any discs to burn - and not even sure if this laptop even burns discs.

If it's an old machine, it may not have the option to boot from a USB thumb drive. So CD-R would be best.

PasturesNew

I don't know how old it is. Potentially up to 10 years or so. But I've no idea and can't ask.

How can I tell if my HP laptop can write to CDs? It's a 6735s. Specs: http://gdgt.com/hp/6735s/specs/ (probably)

That seems to say it writes CDs.

Also - I've never burnt a CD - would I need software to do that too? If so, what?

PasturesNew

I have to go out now, back in 3-4 hours for any responses.

Cheers.

NiftyDigits

You would just need blank CD-R. My instructions would include software.

Does the PC have a Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity stuck to it?

PasturesNew

No idea if it has a certificate stuck on it. I'll have to go grubbing about under the table where it's shoved ... in the dark, among all the leads. I'll look later.

I've got a step by step "what to do" now, via PM, so will check the certificate later. I'll try to get a CD-R later today.

NiftyDigits

PasturesNew wrote: »

No idea if it has a certificate stuck on it. I'll have to go grubbing about under the table where it's shoved ... in the dark, among all the leads. I'll look later.

I've got a step by step "what to do" now, via PM, so will check the certificate later. I'll try to get a CD-R later today.

Certificate is important, as it will tell you which version of Windows is likely installed.
You need to know that beforehand, so that you can obtain the correct disc for the system.