anyone really good with computers?

rach!_3

got a prob with a 24hour old laptop
and need to know wether it can be fixed from here orf it needs to be sent back
googled it and only found 1 exact match on a vista forum but it had no replies.
if anyone thinks they may be able to help please reply or pm me
right got it yesterday installed mcafee went on it for around an hour last night
got up today turned it on and got this
file \windows\system32\winload.exe
status 0x000000f
the selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt
i dont really want to do anything without any advice(have emailed supplier aswell) but at the min it is running diagnostics, will this help?
cheers in advance
rach x

Conor_3

THe windows installation is corrupt. This could be anything from a software glitch to a faulty hard drive or memory.

If you've got system restore CDs, try that first.

rach!_3

ok thanks, i'll try that and let you know, should i leave diagnostics to continue or cancel it and restore?

rach!_3

may i ask why its the last thing i want to do?
i hate it when there is conflicting answers, lol
will try this first then restore?

rach!_3

ah ok i will try system restore
i would much rather learn how things work and how to put them right.
i have done quite a few things when my laptop has gone wrong but this is a new one so thought id better ask.
cheers

Nikolai

Aardvark, the laptop is only 24 hours old!. A restore would be simplest at the moment IMO.

rach!_3

hi
again i have tried the things you suggested but nothing happens really.
on the "recovery disk" i have jjust noticed it says insert cd restart laptop and then click either make backup or restore back, i have tried restore backup but nothing much happens

rach!_3

if i press f8 whilst its starting i get to the screen which asks you to choose
safe mode etc have tried normally, safe mode but cant do anything other thN RESTORE BACKUP OR MAKE BACKUP
EXCUSE caps knocked it by mistake, i am worried as my OH just tol me he used the disk whilst i was out to try and sort the problem, should we have "made backup" when it was 1st used?
and if so, is thereanything else i can do?

Browntoa

possibly you needed to make the back-up Cd/DVd when you first got it, in which case this won't work as you have no disks

what make laptop ?? Dells come with a hidden partition

rach!_3

its a hi-grade?
he got it from his catalogue.

albertross_2

what does the documentation say about restores?