Re: Laptop wont reboot

Luckycharms_74

Hi All

Looking for some help out here. My laptop died on me last night it was low on C.Drive space less than the 200mb required to run.

When I try to reboot it it just goes into a loop after the windows logo in startup. I have tried safe mode and still no joy. Its a Sony Vaio and PC World replaced the hard drive less than 2 months ago with a similar problem.

If I bring it to PC world all they are gonna do is put in the recovery disk and copy files to external hard drive at a charge of €70.

I need to copy the data from it to my hard drive.

What about if i take out the hard drive and put into external casing then copy to external hard drive via another pc, and just reinstall windows.

Any help would be much appreciated.


Regards
Noel

NullZer0

Try F8 at startup and then "last known good configuration"



As for copying files:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

Get some stuff off there and then do a repair install of windows xp
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm



iRock

tpotter

If you have an external laptop hard drive enclosure than that would be one way to fix your problem.

You could also download a Linux Live Cd, like sysrescue, and try booting to that. This would allow you to copy your files or you could try deleting some files, such as your temporary internet files, and see if it just wasn't booting because of the space issue,.

Luckycharms_74

Thanks guys ill try that

Obsidian

Have you checked the boot order? My pc once decided to keep trying to boot from a non existent CD-ROM and did that.

You might just need to change the boot order like i did.

Luckycharms_74

Obsidian wrote: »

Have you checked the boot order? My pc once decided to keep trying to boot from a non existent CD-ROM and did that.

You might just need to change the boot order like i did.

How do i do that. When the laptop died there was blank cd in the drive because I was burning a dvd and thats when low system resources less that 200mb required came up.

Can I download windows xp boot software and make cd to get it rebooting then copy files to external hard drive.

majiktripp

http://torrent.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/
Link to download Knoppix Live Linux CD. (English is first one in list)
Basically Linux that runs from a CD which, if you plug in a USB / External Hard drive into the laptop from startup, will allow you to copy files from Laptop HDD to External HDD as backup. Either that or remove laptop HDD as stated and put in external housing and copy files to a desktop pc or another laptop.

Luckycharms_74

majiktripp wrote: »

http://torrent.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/
Link to download Knoppix Live Linux CD. (English is first one in list)
Basically Linux that runs from a CD which, if you plug in a USB / External Hard drive into the laptop from startup, will allow you to copy files from Laptop HDD to External HDD as backup. Either that or remove laptop HDD as stated and put in external housing and copy files to a desktop pc or another laptop.

Do i just burn to cd or do i need to make mountable ISO file. Also where can I download a simple windows xp boot cd

majiktripp

You just burn it to cd and run the linux direct from the cd.
There is no "Simple XP boot cd" if you mean boot to a "run from CD" version of windows.
There is a variation called BartPE but involves tinkering and a deal of time, If you want to reinstall Windows, simply use the CD that came with your laptop.

Luckycharms_74

majiktripp wrote: »

You just burn it to cd and run the linux direct from the cd.
There is no "Simple XP boot cd" if you mean boot to a "run from CD" version of windows.
There is a variation called BartPE but involves tinkering and a deal of time, If you want to reinstall Windows, simply use the CD that came with your laptop.

Ok thanks i'll try that and hope it works

Luckycharms_74

nslattery1974 wrote: »

Do i just burn to cd or do i need to make mountable ISO file. Also where can I download a simple windows xp boot cd

I have tried that but still no joy. I tried to burn it to DVD and CD but still it wont even boot. It goes into the selection mode (i.e. last known good config, or start in safe mode, etc) and then back to the loop restart.

I think i'm screwed on this

majiktripp

You need to change the boot order to boot from CD first. When you turn on the laptop and see the Vaio welcome screen before loading windows,hit either F1, or F10, or F2 (it'll probably say F2 for Setup or something) where u can change the order from hard drive first (as it currently is) to CD Drive first.
If you can try this hopefully you can get it up and running, keep us informed!

Luckycharms_74

majiktripp wrote: »

You need to change the boot order to boot from CD first. When you turn on the laptop and see the Vaio welcome screen before loading windows,hit either F1, or F10, or F2 (it'll probably say F2 for Setup or something) where u can change the order from hard drive first (as it currently is) to CD Drive first.
If you can try this hopefully you can get it up and running, keep us informed!

HI Majitripp

I have pressed F2 to get into the bios menu. There is no option to boot from cd in thast menu.
Any other idea on how I can make it boot from the CD first ?? I have checked some forums and they say there should be a hidden section in the bios menu to make it boot from CD but I cant seem to find it.

Thanks again for the help fo far

majiktripp

There should be an option there, either Boot Order or something similar which may give you a drop down menu. Also try hitting F10 as it may give you the selection of deviices to boot from without having to go into the bios setup proper.
Thats all I can think of at the moment. When the Sony Bios screen is up when you turn on the laptop, check does it mention along the bottom "Press F2 for setup" yada yada as it might give an alternative button (ie. F10) for the boot menu.

gamer

LOOK IN BIOS advanced options ,boot priority,order set cdrom dvd to 1st or 0 ,zero ,hd c is 1 or 2 order.
just insert cdrom,reboot,it,ll prbly boot up the linux cd anyway,you could try windows restore option.OR try ACTIVE BOOT DISK demo,you need to install it on a pc,it makes a cdrom boot disk,which contains a mini version of windows vista,loads off cdrom into ram,reads fat32 or ntfs hardrives,allows you to copy files be4 you reinstall windows.
you need a working winxp os pc with cdrw to burn make a bootable cdr disk.
TRY PUTTING in cdr first ,it,ll prbly boot off the cdrom ,before you go near the bios.you need to register active boot disk demo,get it here www.ntfs.com

Luckycharms_74

gamer wrote: »

LOOK IN BIOS advanced options ,boot priority,order set cdrom dvd to 1st or 0 ,zero ,hd c is 1 or 2 order.
just insert cdrom,reboot,it,ll prbly boot up the linux cd anyway,you could try windows restore option.OR try ACTIVE BOOT DISK demo,you need to install it on a pc,it makes a cdrom boot disk,which contains a mini version of windows vista,loads off cdrom into ram,reads fat32 or ntfs hardrives,allows you to copy files be4 you reinstall windows.
you need a working winxp os pc with cdrw to burn make a bootable cdr disk.
TRY PUTTING in cdr first ,it,ll prbly boot off the cdrom ,before you go near the bios.you need to register active boot disk demo,get it here www.ntfs.com

Hi Gamer

There is no option in the bios advanced option to boot from cd, the cd is not even listed there.

majiktripp

I think your next step should be remove the hard drive from laptop and put it one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2-5-IDE-USB-External-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ310087372462QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item310087372462&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
If an IDE drive , lots of pins when you take out the drive.
Or,
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2-5-SATA-to-USB-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Enclosure-Case_W0QQitemZ400037666700QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item400037666700&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
If just 2 shaped connectors on the end. Either one can have a hard drive easily installed then plugged into a standard pc and have your files copied off.

Luckycharms_74

majiktripp wrote: »

I think your next step should be remove the hard drive from laptop and put it one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2-5-IDE-USB-External-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ310087372462QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item310087372462&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
If an IDE drive , lots of pins when you take out the drive.
Or,
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2-5-SATA-to-USB-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Enclosure-Case_W0QQitemZ400037666700QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item400037666700&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
If just 2 shaped connectors on the end. Either one can have a hard drive easily installed then plugged into a standard pc and have your files copied off.

Hi Maji

I have order the very thing yesterday from the supplier which you recommend. I should have it Tuesday or Wednesday. Hopefully that will sort out the problem and I can re-install windows. PC "Ripoff" World were charging €25 for a similar enclosure.

Thanks again for the help

Luckycharms_74

majiktripp wrote: »

I think your next step should be remove the hard drive from laptop and put it one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2-5-IDE-USB-External-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ310087372462QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item310087372462&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
If an IDE drive , lots of pins when you take out the drive.
Or,
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2-5-SATA-to-USB-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Enclosure-Case_W0QQitemZ400037666700QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_HardDriveEnclosures_RL?hash=item400037666700&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
If just 2 shaped connectors on the end. Either one can have a hard drive easily installed then plugged into a standard pc and have your files copied off.

Hi majiktripp

I recieved my external enclosure and put in the IDE drive. The problem is my hard drive is split into both C: and drives. The drive shows and I can copy my data off it. The C: drive says not accessable due to low memory.
Any ideas what I can do to get at the C: drive data.