Laptop Problems - won't even start up

kraggy

Hi guys,

My girlfriends 2 month old laptop is not working.

It's an Acer, and she can't bring it to the shop she bought it in as she has moved abroad.

Problem? The laptop was slowing down considerably until today. First time today, it started up and she could log in, but it froze when the trial version AVG window came up and we couldn't close that window or others. It wasn't responding.



I then started it in Safe Mode as I thought I would be able to try to fix it that way. I ran an AVG scan but when we got back from being out, I couldn't see any mention of number of files scanned or how many were infected etc. So I clicked restart to start it again. Now when we try to start it, it won't even go to the password page. It just gets as far as having the blue screen that comes up with the password prompt and field for entering your password. But without those fields. i.e Just blue.

Any ideas on how to solve this?

Thanks.

JonathanAnon

Which is two months old, the girlfriend or the laptop

Seriously though.. You've a couple of options.. If you are DONT care about the data currently on the laptop and just want to get it up and running you could, you could either a) try a System Restore or b) Reinstall Windows from DVD or restore partition.. (this depends on what method Acer gave you to restore the system)..

System Restore lets you go back to your Windows installation at a previous date (called a restore point), and assuming that it was working then, it should be working when you use that restore point..

How To Use System Restore to Undo System Changes in Windows 7

If you can get in to Safe Mode and try the above instructions, it will let you know what Restore Points are available to you... However, if there are any files on the laptop that you currently cannot live without, I would copy them to USB drive FIRST.

duckysauce

run diags on the hard drive

ricman

try safe mode,select directory services restore ,this replaces windows startup files with backup versions of the files ,or try safe mode,last known good configuration,You could use a livecd,cdr eg linux mint to acess the data .You,d have to download the mint iso,burn to a cd use imgburn ,burn iso image to a cdr.If you install windows to c/windows directory ,same directory as before ,and use install,do not format disk option,keep existing format ,your user data should be ok.

Alanstrainor

duckysauce wrote: »

run diags on the hard drive

It sounds to me like the hard drive is on it's way out.

Alanstrainor

ricman wrote: »

try safe mode,select directory services restore ,this replaces windows startup files with backup versions of the files ,or try safe mode,last known good configuration,You could use a livecd,cdr eg linux mint to acess the data .You,d have to download the mint iso,burn to a cd use imgburn ,burn iso image to a cdr.If you install windows to c/windows directory ,same directory as before ,and use install,do not format disk option,keep existing format ,your user data should be ok.

This is so hard to read man...

ricman

heres a link for mint linux,livecd,its 698meg,fits on 1 cdr,http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=18, youmay need to press f2 ,go to bios menu,advanced options,boot mode,1st boot device =cd/dvd, cd=drive 0,hd=drive 1.
from mint you can browse drive c, ,my documents,user,documents,copy,or move any data,mp3s,etc

kraggy

Hey guys,

Thanks for posting with your ideas.

Going to have a go with it tomorrow, but just wondering, how long will those ideas take to work. I know obviously it will depend but ball park, 1 hour or a whole night?

And which idea should I use first? i.e. which is the most likely to be the problem/solution?

Thanks again, much appreciated.

kraggy

Ok now when I press f8 and select Safe Mode, it goes to the blue screen but stays like that.

So can't even get to system restore.

How about pressing f8 and selecting "Last known good configuration"?

The laptop is only 2 months old!

paddylieback

It sounds like the s/w needs to be completely re-installed on it. This is what i would do if you don't mind any files being destroyed. If you have the original windows CD's then this is what i would do. I work with PC repairs and this option would save you time to be honest. I hope its not a virus that has found its way into ROM, otherwise your laptop is goners...One a ROM virus gets into the hardware the whole motherboard will need replacing!!

kraggy

Hi again,

Following up on this, it only dawned on me what might be the problem.

Girlfriend bought the laptop in Ireland, then moved to Korea where there are different sockets. The sockets in her apartment didn't quite fit the adapter that the laptop was plugged into so the power was cutting in and out.

Could this be the problem and if so, is the laptop a goner or is it fixable?

Thanks for your help.