Acer laptop problem...won't boot

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Hey folks.

A couple of weeks back I had a problem with my Acer laptop, Win XP.

I was advised to do a rollback on it, so I did (don't worry, I'm not trying to apportion blame or anything, I knew the risks ), now it won't boot.

So, I was just thinking of doing a fresh install, the only thing is that I've lost the disk that I got with the computer. Is there anything I can do?

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Sorry, I should clarify.

I've just turned the machine on, and it WILL go to the log in screen (two users)

I can type the password(s), but it doesn't load a desktop.

dr.bollocko

Well you should have a licence key on the bottom of your laptop which should still work for windows if windows came pre-installed. So essentially any XP install disc of the same build (home premium or whatever) should let you input that licence key and you're laughing. Somebody should have one lying around the place hopefully?
You'll need to get the drivers but should be able to get them online from acer support if you have the make / model.

Ghost Train

Is safe mode still working? can you roll back further or create a new user

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dr.bollocko wrote: »

Well you should have a licence key on the bottom of your laptop which should still work for windows if windows came pre-installed.

Ah, yes there is a licence key on the bottom

dr.bollocko wrote: »

So essentially any XP install disc of the same build (home premium or whatever) should let you input that licence key and you're laughing. Somebody should have one lying around the place hopefully?

Any XP disk at all? Even from a different computer?

That's cool. Any idea where I'd get one?

dr.bollocko wrote: »

You'll need to get the drivers but should be able to get them online from acer support if you have the make / model.

Brilliant, thanks.

dr.bollocko

I think it has to be an XP disc of the same vintage as your own, ie if you have home premium you need a home premium install disc?
I dunno where you could get one. I generally just asked the IT guys at work if I could borrow one but I have XP pro on mine. Generally anyone who has a laptop and kept hold of those bloody discs they ship should have one XP disc lying around? Maybe you can get one from Microsoft? Not sure tbh.

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Ghost Train wrote: »

Is safe mode still working? can you roll back further or create a new user

Just saw this.

When I boot in safe mode, again I get the log in screen, with another option called Admin, but when I select either of the logins I get a black screen with "Safe Mode" in each corner, nothing else happens.

I am able to press F2 and get to the system settings, but there's nothing there that looks helpful.

dr.bollocko

The administrator login should not have any password automatically.

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dr.bollocko wrote: »

The administrator login should not have any password automatically.

It didn't.

I clicked it, and it looked like it was logging in, but all I got was a black screen and it hung there.

Same as when I was logging in in normal made to the user "des", it loaded my background ok, but no desktop. I could ctrl/alt/delete and get the task manager and shut down from there though.

It's strange, it just doesn't seem to be building the desktop for some reason.

Would a list of the processes that are running be helpful?

dr.bollocko

That's strange. A default new account should load.
Sher it couldn't hurt to have a look at the processes not that I know much about it. Strange it won't even boot to safe mode.