laptop start up problems

[ladyluck]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help.

My laptop (Advent 8117 running Vista if that helps) has been working fine, then this morning things went pear-shaped. To begin with things worked as usual - Everything seemed to load up as normal, I left the room for maybe 5-10 minutes and when I returned there was a black screen. I waited a while and nothing happened so I restarted.

It comes up with 'Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.'

From there I can either start normally or run a repair.

It doesn't seem to matter what I click here because I get a 'Techguys' support thing come up either way but now nothing on it works. To begin with I ran the Repair Environment, but it couldn't fix it. I also got to try a System Restore but I seem to have no points to restore to.

Now I can't get the Techguys page to do anything. So I tried running in Safe Mode but once again I'm faced with the unmoving Techguys page, and the same goes for when I try and load from the Last Know Good Configuration.

I desperatly don't want to have to lose everything.

Any help on this would be much apreciated. I have no idea when it comes to this.
Thanks!

 

[Airbot]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help.

My laptop (Advent 8117 running Vista if that helps) has been working fine, then this morning things went pear-shaped. To begin with things worked as usual - Everything seemed to load up as normal, I left the room for maybe 5-10 minutes and when I returned there was a black screen. I waited a while and nothing happened so I restarted.

It comes up with 'Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.'

From there I can either start normally or run a repair.

It doesn't seem to matter what I click here because I get a 'Techguys' support thing come up either way but now nothing on it works. To begin with I ran the Repair Environment, but it couldn't fix it. I also got to try a System Restore but I seem to have no points to restore to.

Now I can't get the Techguys page to do anything. So I tried running in Safe Mode but once again I'm faced with the unmoving Techguys page, and the same goes for when I try and load from the Last Know Good Configuration.

I desperatly don't want to have to lose everything.

Any help on this would be much apreciated. I have no idea when it comes to this.
Thanks!

Hi ladyluck,

Have you tried a startup repair from your installation disk if you have one?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/194765-system-recovery-options.html?ltr=S

Try running SFC as well.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html?ltr=S

 

[ladyluck]

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I don't have an installation disc. I've seen the tutorial on creating the recovery disc (is that the same thing?) But I don't know if my Vista is 32 or 64 bit. Would it be bad to use the wrong one?

And I can't get into anything to allow me to run the SFC.

 

[Airbot]

Here is the tutorial on creating a recovery disk.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html

To find out if you have 32 or 64 bit go to Start menu- control panel- performance info and tools-clikc on the view and print details, it should tell you what you have. Yes, only use 32 bit if you have 32 bit.

If you can get to safe mode like you said, you should be able to run SFC from there.
You might also see if you can run Checkdisk if possible.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html?ltr=S
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

 

[ladyluck]

Sorry I should have been clearer. I can't get it to run Safe mode.

When I try to it just takes me back to a 'Tech Guys' system help thing.

 

[Airbot]

Hmm, you may just have to make a disk on another computer to use start up repair. It might come to having to reformat and reinstall. Do you have a warranty on the computer? If so, you can take it back and have them try to fix it. You might be able to contact the manufacturer and have them send you an installation disk.

 

[ladyluck]

I was worried it would come to that, and my warranty's long gone

I've discovered that I can get into Command Prompts and do a CheckDisc - which I did and it claims to have found no problems.

Do you know if there's anything I can do in Command Prompts that could get me into safe mode or anything else?

 

[Airbot]

Yeah, follow the instructions to run system file checker from the tutorial in cmd prompt. What changed when this started happening? Did you download something, change hardware? It might have happened from malware.

 

[NormCameron]

Sorry I should have been clearer. I can't get it to run Safe mode.

When I try to it just takes me back to a 'Tech Guys' system help thing.

Can you give us a bit more info on the "TechGuys" support thing. Is this something you subscribe to?

Norm

 

[ladyluck]

I've now tried running the SFC command but I get 'Windows Resouce Protection could not perform the requested operation.'

I can't think what could have caused it, I downloaded a couple of updates for PaintShopPro a few days ago and I occasionaly plug in a mouse but thats never been a problem.

Can you give us a bit more info on the "TechGuys" support thing. Is this something you subscribe to?

It just came on my laptop, it seems to be in place of the windows version of the repair pages. It offers these options:

• Start Windows Repair Environment (won't work)
• Reinstall Windows - which leads to 1. System Restore and 2. Full Destructive Recovery (restore won't work and I don't want try Recovery)
• Advanced Options - leading to 1. ChkDsk (works but finds no problems) 2.Notepad and 3. Command Prompt (both of these work)
• Exit and Restart (doesn't work)

 

[NormCameron]

I've now tried running the SFC command but I get 'Windows Resouce Protection could not perform the requested operation.'

I can't think what could have caused it, I downloaded a couple of updates for PaintShopPro a few days ago and I occasionaly plug in a mouse but thats never been a problem.

Can you give us a bit more info on the "TechGuys" support thing. Is this something you subscribe to?

It just came on my laptop, it seems to be in place of the windows version of the repair pages. It offers these options:

• Start Windows Repair Environment (won't work)
• Reinstall Windows - which leads to 1. System Restore and 2. Full Destructive Recovery (restore won't work and I don't want try Recovery)
• Advanced Options - leading to 1. ChkDsk (works but finds no problems) 2.Notepad and 3. Command Prompt (both of these work)
• Exit and Restart (doesn't work)

The Repair Guys page for your computor gives the following instructions for a factory reinstall ( if the worst case scenario arises)

Hard Drive Recovery

Should your Windows develop serious errors or fail to start, you can restore your computer back to factory settings by using the hard drive recovery located on a hidden partition on the hard drive.
To restore your computer back to factory settings, follow the steps below:

1. Turn on the computer and keep tapping F8 until the advanced options menu is displayed
2. Use the up/down arrow keys on the keyboard to highlight Repair Your Computer and press enter to select it
3. Select the language you wish to install (normally English is the only option)
4. Once you have chosen your language you will be presented with the available recovery options
   • Microsoft Repair Environment - after choosing the UK keyboard layout you will be asked to choose the Operating System you wish to repair. If Windows Vista is not listed then you cannot repair the OS without doing the full recovery. After choosing Vista the Microsoft Vista startup repair tool will run and attempt to repair any startup problems you are experiencing
   • Reinstall Windows - gives you the options available to reinstall Vista
   • Advanced Options - this launches the diagnostic centre allowing you to run chkdsk, launch notepad or bring up a command prompt
   • Exit & restart computer - Exits withut running the recovery process
5. To continue with the recovery program you need to choose Reinstall Windows
6. On the next screen you have the ability to launch Vista System Restore and roll back to a date when Vista was last working ok or to run the Full Destructive Recovery. To continue with the recovery program you need to choose Start Full Destructive Recovery
7. After choosing the Full Destructive Recovery option you are presented with the warning screen that all data will be lost. It is important to make sure all data has been backed up to disk if possible and to realise this process deletes all data and reverts the machine back to it's default state. To continue with the recovery program you need to tick the box indicating you are aware of data loss
8. The recovery process will then run through, the computer will restart a couple of times during this. You will also need to go through the Vista "Out of Box Experience", to configure Vista. This is fairly straightforward so just follow the onscreen instructions

UKT Support - Advent 8117 Laptop

Norm

 

[coolnewyorker]

Anything that just popped in on your system and now controling it is a suspect. Unstall it.

And run anti-virus scan.

And turn on your System Restore

 

[ladyluck]

Thank you for your help everyone.

Yikes - I have a feeling I'm going to have no option but to do the full recovery - The only problem is I don't have anything backed up... Is there anyway to possibly move my files to my external hard drive through Command Prompts? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Anything that just popped in on your system and now controling it is a suspect. Unstall it.

And run anti-virus scan.

And turn on your System Restore

I can't get into anything to do that.

 

[Airbot]

Yeah, you probably are going to have to do a recovery/reinstall. I wouldn't know how to save all your stuff thru cmd prompt. I don't know if you could.

 

[coolnewyorker]

I dunno much about Advent...that "green" stuff is not getting rave reviews from techies, I heard. Anyway, see if you can get any help or info from your Help and Support Tool (I wonder if you have) and Try to get in the equivalent of HP's HP Recovery Manager (Advent must have something like that) and see if you can make system recovery DVD's. (HP allows it once...only one time and that's it)

Otherwise, if you are still under warranty, ask for remote assistance from customer support and hope they send you OS recovery DVD's if they cannot help. Or demand. I really think PC manufacturers should not be allowed to sell without such DVD's. I did it once with DELL, two yrs ago.. I yelled at two reps on two separate occassions and I ended up with two sets of rec DVD's. Do not use expletives when yelling...they hang up on you (except the Indians...they keep apologizing)

Is there an Advent Forum?

Sorry...I did not realize you are out of warranty. Oy!

 

[NormCameron]

Thank you for your help everyone.

Yikes - I have a feeling I'm going to have no option but to do the full recovery - The only problem is I don't have anything backed up... Is there anyway to possibly move my files to my external hard drive through Command Prompts? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Anything that just popped in on your system and now controling it is a suspect. Unstall it.

And run anti-virus scan.

And turn on your System Restore

I can't get into anything to do that.

Can you take it to a Tech and get him to do a recovery of the files before you restore. I just did that for a lady who "bricked" her lappy by spilling wine all over it. She got a new one but we removed the old HDD, put it in an external USB case and recovered everything.

Norm

 

[pooch]

I was worried it would come to that, and my warranty's long gone

I've discovered that I can get into Command Prompts and do a CheckDisc - which I did and it claims to have found no problems.

Do you know if there's anything I can do in Command Prompts that could get me into safe mode or anything else?

Hi ladyluck,

Try this;
[FONT=&quot]System restore not working well for you. You’ll have much better success running it from the command line.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Running System Restore from the command line is often the only way to get a system back up and running. I’ll describe it from the initial boot.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1. Restart your system
2. When the system first boots, type F8 to bring up the boot menu
3. Select the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option
4. Log-on as administrator if needed
5. At your command prompt type [/FONT][FONT=&quot]%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
6. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Hit Enter
7. This will open the system restore wizard…[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
I hope this might help its worth a try

Pooch

 

[ladyluck]

Still no real luck... I took itinto PC World and the chap ran a test of some sort on my hard drive and seemed to think he'd be able to recover everything... for upwards of £100. Daylight robbery!

So today I've been out and got myself a HDD Docking station. My problem is it doesn't seem to be doing what it should be. It reads on this PC, and then makes noises for a while... when I go into have a look in the drive it should be in it asks me to format. Do I want to do that? I was under the impression that format meant to wipe it? Am I supposed to boot up the PC with the HDD plugged in and ready to go?

Once again thank you for all your help!

 

[pooch]

Still no real luck... I took itinto PC World and the chap ran a test of some sort on my hard drive and seemed to think he'd be able to recover everything... for upwards of £100. Daylight robbery!

So today I've been out and got myself a HDD Docking station. My problem is it doesn't seem to be doing what it should be. It reads on this PC, and then makes noises for a while... when I go into have a look in the drive it should be in it asks me to format. Do I want to do that? I was under the impression that format meant to wipe it? Am I supposed to boot up the PC with the HDD plugged in and ready to go?

Once again thank you for all your help!

Hi ladyluck,

I am not quite sure what you are trying to do here, could you explain this

 

[ladyluck]

As a possible way to save what I have on my harddrive, I've now got a hard drive docking station -> CnM Lifestyle Products - Technology for everyday people!

I was hoping that I would be able to just plug it all in to my spare PC and I'd be able to access my files from the laptops harddrive. However it's not working, the PC recognises that the doking station is connected but I can't access the files.

When I go into My Computer and click what is supposed to be the laptops harddrive, I's just asks if I want to format it.

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong.

I hope that helps.