Boot problems with my laptop now!!!!

Chris_Hebden · 1 Apr 2010 at 09:52

I swear i shouldnt be allowed near technoloygy!!! I installed an automatic update on my laptop last night, it installed fine and asked me to reset the system, which i did. Since that point i havent been able to boot the laptop. I can get into the BIOS area, i can go to the boot menu (F12 on my system) but cant get too the system that allows you too start windows in safe mode (F8 on my system).

Its like Windows doesnt want to boot! Please help :confused:

Philtor · 1 Apr 2010 at 09:56

Do you have an o/s disk you can boot with so you can try a system restore?

datalol-jack · 1 Apr 2010 at 10:13

Latest update that was pushed out was an IE8 security patch, I doubt it would cause this behaviour. If you have any USB devices connected to the laptop, please remove them and any other peripherals, so as to leave the laptop isolated. Try starting as normal, see how it goes. If it does boot, then feel free to reconnect any USB storage, but remember to remove it next time before boot.

If the above is not the problem, try windows restore or system repair from the system disk first.

If it still won't have it, enable HDD S.M.A.R.T. in the BIOS, it will let you know if it is a hard drive issue or just check if it is still being picked up by the BIOS. I will be surprised if it just died without any prior signs or warnings, however. :\

Chris_Hebden · 1 Apr 2010 at 13:14

philtorrens said:
Do you have an o/s disk you can boot with so you can try a system restore?

datalol-jack said:
Latest update that was pushed out was an IE8 security patch, I doubt it would cause this behaviour. If you have any USB devices connected to the laptop, please remove them and any other peripherals, so as to leave the laptop isolated. Try starting as normal, see how it goes. If it does boot, then feel free to reconnect any USB storage, but remember to remove it next time before boot.

If the above is not the problem, try windows restore or system repair from the system disk first.

If it still won't have it, enable HDD S.M.A.R.T. in the BIOS, it will let you know if it is a hard drive issue or just check if it is still being picked up by the BIOS. I will be surprised if it just died without any prior signs or warnings, however. :\

Thanks guys, I do not have a recovery/systems disk. The laptop was a factory refurbed one and didnt come with one. There is a partition hardrive that holds the system restone but i cant/dont know how to access it on system start up!

Not sure my BIOS has a S.M.A.R.T option in it!

Before the update last night the laptop had been running fine before!

datalol-jack · 1 Apr 2010 at 13:27

There is a partition hardrive that holds the system restone but i cant/dont know how to access it on system start up!

It is normally assigned to one of the 'F' keys on your keyboard. Key is dependant on the manufacturer, but you can normally look it up on their product sites, since they keep all manuals in digital form for people to download. It should also be displayed during the first few seconds of the system's boot up sequence.

Once the OS is back up, you can normally burn your own recovery CDs from the partition on your drive. If you are not given the option to either use system recovery or restore, and are prompted to do a clean install of Windows from defaults, make sure you back your data up first either by sticking the laptop's hard drive into another pc or using a Linux live CD, or anything allowing you to get at the data really.

But if this is a refurbished product, didn't it come with some basic warranty? Something to keep in mind, if there is a terminal fault with it.

CooK1E · 1 Apr 2010 at 13:59

datalol-jack said:
If the above is not the problem, try windows restore or system repair from the system disk first.

If it still won't have it, enable HDD S.M.A.R.T. in the BIOS, it will let you know if it is a hard drive issue or just check if it is still being picked up by the BIOS. I will be surprised if it just died without any prior signs or warnings, however. :\

I'd say that a windows repair should probably sort it. Although bear in mind that you will probably have to apply SP3 again unless your original media includes it. Oh and avoid whatever update it was that buggered it in the first place! If you are going to run hard drive tests (other than SMART) be careful that you don't end up killing the drive. If its on its way out a full thrashing with the test could kill it forever.

datalol-jack said:
It is normally assigned to one of the 'F' keys on your keyboard. Key is dependant on the manufacturer, but you can normally look it up on their product sites, since they keep all manuals in digital form for people to download. It should also be displayed during the first few seconds of the system's boot up sequence.

The Acer I had was a combination of F* + ESC. They are normally pretty random combinations.

Chris_Hebden · 1 Apr 2010 at 15:17

Within My Computer I can see that the system files are within this partitioned part of the hardrive, however i can not access it or tell the laptop to boot up from this hardrive!?

CooK1E said:
The Acer I had was a combination of F* + ESC. They are normally pretty random combinations.

Sorry, not quite sure what you mean, by pressing Fsomthing and pressing the ESC key i should be able to switch too booting from the recovery/system files?

MrMacca · 1 Apr 2010 at 16:14

Here's some information on how to get them I found on another forum a while back:

All manufacturers have a secret key combination you press on boot that will run a factory image restore. For Toshiba you press the zero key BEFORE powering on, and keep holding the key down until the recovery menu comes up.

You can also access it from a recovery utility from the OS assuming it's functional - it'll be in a Toshiba startup folder. Some manufacturers do save your data (they temporarily store it in a separate partition and then put it in a folder in the C drive afterward usually naming it something like OLD USER DATA but I wouldn't count on it - I ALWAYS back it up myself.

Here's a short list of other factory restor key combinations:

ACER:

1. Power on the machine
2. At the white ACER BIOS screen, hold the “Alt” key and press the “F10” key simultaneously to start Acer eRecovery
3. Once eRecovery has loaded, click “Restore to Factory Default Settings”
4. Click “OK” to continue
5. From here, the eRecovery process will update all the data on the C: drive and restore a fully functional factory image (approximately 10 minutes).
6. Once eRecovery has run, press “OK” to reboot unit

NOTE: If you get asked for an Acer Empowering Technology password then the client setup a password. To recover it use an ubuntu live disc and boot from that. Browse the hidden partition and look under all the .dat files. One of them has the password in it.

------------------------
DELL:

- When the Dell screen appears press and hold the CTRL key on the
keyboard, press the F11 key, then release them both at the same
time. The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears.

- Click the Restore button or press the TAB key to highlight Restore
and press the ENTER key. A caution message appears advising that all data will be lost.

- Click the Confirm button or press the TAB key to highlight Confirm
and press the ENTER key. The Progress window appears. Once the process is begun, Dell PC
Restore usually takes only 8 to 10 minutes to complete. When the restore is complete, the message The system recovery process was successful appears.

- Click the Finish button or press the TAB key to highlight Finish and
press the ENTER key. The computer will restart.

-------------------------------

HP:

During the POST screen repeatedly press F11.

------------------------------------------

TOSHIBA:

Pressing the zero (0) key and power on. This should start the Toshiba Recovery process

Chris_Hebden · 1 Apr 2010 at 18:57

Thats really handy stuff, unfortunately i have an advent! None of the above worked

MrMacca · 1 Apr 2010 at 19:06

Does this work? Taken from here : http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/pc/t1.htm

Your Advent computer uses the latest recovery system that doesn't require any CDs or DVDs to restore your PC to it's original factory condition -

* Restart your computer.
* Press F10 repeatedly until the message "Starting System Recovery" is displayed.
* The recovery will load and display a menu of options:
o Non-destructive recovery: this option will restore Windows, supplied applications, and drivers. This option will not destroy your documents or programs. These will be backed up along with the registry. These are restored at the end of the recovery process.
To access the recovery options below that erase all data from the computer, click the Advanced button.
o System Recovery - No format: this will reinstall Windows, supplied applications and drivers. It will move your files to a folder called "My old disk structure". Any applications (except those supplied) will need to be reinstalled.
o System Recovery - Quick format: this option will erase your hard drive including your personal files. Windows, supplied applications and drivers will be reinstalled.
* Select the Non-destructive recovery option and press Next.
* You will be informed about System Restore in Windows, click Yes.
* The recovery will begin. Once this is complete click Restart.

Chris_Hebden · 3 Apr 2010 at 16:20

Thanks, thats really great! It was a graphics card update that messed everything up! I managed to roll it back and works fine! Thanks for everyones help!