Help / advice required: Laptop won't boot up in XP.

nlgbbbblth

Would appreciate any advice on this situation.

Acer laptop.
XP pre-installed, no boot / OS disc.
Recovery backup disc created after installation.

Laptop crashed yesterday and was manually powered off.
Cannot restart in normal mode, safe mode, last known configuration - stuck in a loop.

Inserted recovery disc, pressed F2 and followed the boot options.
Acer eRecovery Management gives me option for a system restore but says that C drive will be wiped.
Some files on C drive are not backed up so do not want to lose them without trying something else.
Did not avail of this option and pressed cancel.

Is it possible to run a repair / recovery without losing C drive if I get hold of an XP boot / OS disc?

Neighbour may be able to locate a Dell XP disc that I can try - will there be compatability issues as mine is an Acer product?

Thanks.

Fysh

Using OEM media (ie media with manufacturer branding on it) may well cause problems as they tend to include hardware checks to prevent them being used on hardware other than that of the original manufacturer, as well as slipstream in hardware-specific drivers.

Realistically, your options at the moment are:

• If you can get a copy of the retail media (ie an off-the-shelf copy of XP install media) you can try the Recovery Console
• if the recovery console fails you could also try a repair install (similar to a normal reinstall except the media detects the old installation and attempts to repair it)
• get your hands on a linux LiveCD, boot into it and use it to make backups of whatever data you want to save before using the recovery media you've got to reinstall from scratch.

nlgbbbblth

Thank you Fysh

Option 3 - Linux Live - looks like the best option.

I could go in and move the C programs onto the D drive or make similar backups.

Is it possible to download the Linux Live programme - and if so, from where?

I can't download anything on my work PC so it would involve bringing an USB key into a net café and downloading the Linux Live from there.

Capt'n Midnight

get the live CD from http://ubuntu.com
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto#Windows

it's 700 MB though , you must know someone with broadband ?


http://puppylinux.org/ is about 105MB
http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=Download%20Latest%20Release.htm


ask the IT people nicely at work, possible that one of them will already have a CD

nlgbbbblth

This is after happening again. This time I am more prepared.

The majority of the C drive is backed up and a lot of files are on the D drive.

I also have an Ubuntu rescue CD.

There's a few files I want to save on the C drive - by transferring them to the D drive - so I will need to run the Ubuntu CD before putting in my own recovery discs.

Does anyone have a link or guidelines on the processes to follow for using the Ubuntu disc?

Thanks

bhickey

nlgbbbblth wrote: »

Does anyone have a link or guidelines on the processes to follow for using the Ubuntu disc?

When you've booted from the Live CD, you'll be able to see all the drives and partitions on your system. Open a window for each of C: and drives and copy/paste folders across.

yoyo

nlgbbbblth wrote: »

This is after happening again. This time I am more prepared.

The majority of the C drive is backed up and a lot of files are on the D drive.

I also have an Ubuntu rescue CD.

There's a few files I want to save on the C drive - by transferring them to the D drive - so I will need to run the Ubuntu CD before putting in my own recovery discs.

Does anyone have a link or guidelines on the processes to follow for using the Ubuntu disc?

Thanks

If its happened again simular symptoms I would run a diagnostic scan of the hard drive, it could be broken and corrupting more and more as you use it, download www.ultimatebootcd.com , burn it to CD like you did Ubuntu and when you boot off it look under hard drive diagnostic tools, use the one for your drive manufacturer or SeaTools should work with all drives

Nick

nlgbbbblth

Thanks guys

More complex than I thought. The CD drive appears to be affected as it will not load or run the Ubuntu or Acer Recovery discs properly. The Ubuntu menu is displayed but when I click on start the screen fills with hundreds of comments (referencing I/O , O/S, buffer etc)

I am going to have to download the Ubuntu and Ultimate Boot to a USB key in a net cafe, bring them home and try and boot from a USB port. Heartache.