Need computer help

Lacy

Lacy

Ex FMAS bod member
Premium Member
Hi all,

My computer is giving me fits. I'm writing this from Mike's iPad. It started about two weeks ago where the startup would loop at the logo (Acer) screen. Mike ran a clean on it (Norton) and it started working ok. Then, a couple of days later, it happened again. This time it would not start at all.

Mike used our recovery disks and reloaded the OS (Windows Vista) and now it gets through the load (starting services) then says the system is corrupted, needs to restart. When it does, it does the same thing. Mike reloaded again, same result.:headwally:

Now the option is to keep doing the same thing or totally reformat the disk but I don't want to loose all my data.

Recommendations? Do I have to reformat? Is there a service in the area I can take it to and recover the data? Is there software I can purchase that will recover the system? I checked two local services but their cost is astronomical.

Thanks.
 
can you just boot it into like safe mode w/o networking or something and hook up an external drive and copy your data off?

Try to boot off a linux cd and copy the data to an external drive? I'd say you need a way to get the data off then when you do a reformat would be good. You could probably also just get a new hard drive, install windows on that, and then have your old drive with the data on it (and get it copied to the new).

All just ideas, see which one might work best.
 
what error is it giving you exactly.. it's just not saying system is corrupted. dies at a blue screen or black screen? just doesn't boot at all?

have you tried the F8 - Last known good configuration? you might have a driver issue from a windows update.
 
How old is it? It could be the battery for the CMOS (on the motherboard) or a failing drive. Hard drives get wiggy when they begin to fail.

You already reinstalled the os so it's a physical issue. Bet it's the hard drive. Which is good since there cheap and ez to replace.
 
It's about 18 months old. Mike keeps it updated though. It's a laptop, not a desk model.

The safe mode does not boot, same message, system corrupted, restarting.

Black screen. When is boots from the disk, it goes to windows, then lists about 100 files its loading, then "Starting Services" then the error message.

I did ot know about F8, I'll give it a shot. When do I hit F8? At the opening (Acer) screen when it has the F2/F10 options?
 
Last edited:
If you don't find anyone here on RC and you want to save money and want to take a risk look in craiglist. Lots of cheap techs there.

Sent from somewhere
 
Joshporksandwic said:
If you don't find anyone here on RC and you want to save money and want to take a risk look in craiglist. Lots of cheap techs there.

Sent from somewhere
Click to expand...

Thanks but it has a lot of personal info, that's why I was looking for a tech recommendation or a solution I can work myself. I would rather reformat than hand over my info.
 
ninjamini said:
How old is it? It could be the battery for the CMOS (on the motherboard) or a failing drive. Hard drives get wiggy when they begin to fail.

You already reinstalled the os so it's a physical issue. Bet it's the hard drive. Which is good since there cheap and ez to replace.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Mike said he had forgotten about the CMOS battery.

If it is the Hard Drive, can the data be recovered with software?
 
start hitting f8 right after the acer screen. same way you get into safemode. try selecting the last known good config. see if that changes anything. it really seems like you have a driver issue not hardware
 
Have you tried a chkdsk? You can run chkdsk /r from windows recovery console (usually found on the same cd you use to reformat the system, or you can pull the drive and use a usb enclosure to run chkdsk from the windows environment using the command prompt). Its amazing how many hard drive and boot up issues that utility can fix, even if just long enough to retrieve your information

Other than that, I would use a linux live disk to access the drive and move your important stuff to an external backup, then wipe the drive. More than likely, that drive is failing, especially seeing as the problem is persisting through a reformat.
 
Easiest way to get out of this is to buy a 3.5/2.5" USB HDD Dock for like 20 bux, remove the HDD from the laptop (if you feel comfortable, if not let me know and I can help out) move your data to another properly working desktop/laptop using that dock. You may need to remove either screws or a rail from the HDD to get it to fit inside the Dock. Move only the Data you want to said desktop/laptop, don't mess with anything else.

Anyways, after that is done restore the laptop back to factory either using CD's or a restore image that is sometimes hidden on a seperate HDD partition.

Lastly restore your files, and wala. Good to go...


Good luck
 
What's the error message your getting after seeing the system load the drivers in safe mode?

You could try removing a stick of memory from the laptop and try to install with just 1 stick in there. If it crashes again, swap them out. If the same, then you have just checked if your having a ram issue.

Next, as mentioned above "You can run chkdsk /r from windows recovery console".
 
Lacy said:
Thanks, Mike said he had forgotten about the CMOS battery.

If it is the Hard Drive, can the data be recovered with software?
Click to expand...


Yes there is a program called spin write that will recover data. It might run for days or weeks but it will get it.

Then get carbonate or mosey online backup. One touch restore of your data.

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm



O yea there is a 20% fail rate on hard drives each year:
20% 1year old
40% 2 years old
60%...


There is a 30% chance of your 18 month old HD failing. Plus it's a laptop they get bumped around more.

You may want to get a solid state drive. There a LOT more expensive but they last longer and are a WHOLE LOT faster. Imaging a cold boot to windows in 15 seconds.

http://www.carbonite.com/en/
 
Lacy, You need to reformat your drive and reinstall windows if safe mode fails to boot. My recommendation to you, is that when you decide to spend money on ether buying an external HD or get data recovery software. First upgrade you windows to windows 7. Windows Vista has many issues that Microsoft abandoned and never fixed due to windows 7 corrected these problems. If your computer can run Vista it will run faster with Windows 7. IMHO cut your loses with your data and reformat and install windows 7 buy a external HD and keep your data on that external and you will never have this problem again. Unless you are running quickbooks or something important that you cannot lose than you will need to spend some money to recover your data and all options to recover your data are not cheap.
 
kiss your info good bye..
letting some one who does not know about computers work on one is sure fire way to make data non recoverable.
 
Rena although some of these suggestions presented here are nice tips, for someone that is not familiar computer workings most will be a waste of time.....first off do not reformat it as a first step and even if you did dont sweat it the data can still be retrieved although more difficult and could be a costly trip.....for now lets just stay away from that until you have retrieved your data....dont need to buy any external disk either just to fix it although having one is nice for keeping all your data on instead of the drive containing the os......2 options 1st bring it over and I can help you with it or 2nd you can fix it yourself, they sell a cable at most computer parts retailers that will allow you to take the hd from the laptop giving you issues plug it into another working computer and extract data you would like from it THEN you can wipe it clean and re install the os of your choice, I would recommend a version of 7 and a little memory upgrade and you should be back up and running if you don't have a version of 7 just pm me, its about a 1 1/2 hr job at the most and most of that time will be re installing the new os.....one thing I would recommend though is from this point forward one of two things for your data, partitioning the hd into two segments one for the os and one for the data and programs or an external hd for the data.... either will save you a little time should you encounter any issues in the future and have concern about the data
 
F8 has no effect

Now, even inserting the recovery disks and specifying which drive to boot from, it still does this:

ACER screen (f2 and F12 messages)
Broadcom UNDI PXE-2.1 V12.2.0 and EXITING BROADCOM PXE ROM screen
A string of drivers loading (LOADED: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM 32\DRIVERS\...) around 75 different strings.
Windows logo (four color build, I verified it is Windows 7)
"Setup is Starting Services"
"The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed, click "OK" to restart the computer and restart the installation."

And it does the same thing over...

Chkdsk does not work as the cursor never appears.

Windows 7 is installed and the Recovery disks were made when the computer was fresh out of the box.

A.T.T.R., that's why I was asking for a recommendation of someone I could take it to.
 
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