Lap top boot up problem

[ugly and fat]

on trying to switch the lap top on i get the message:

windows failed to start etc

options are start up repair or start normaly


start normaly ends up with system back to failed to start message, repair option leads eventually to a blank screen


any ideas?


it is under warranty,but im assuming its something simple and i dont really wanna put it in for repair and look stupid!!!!

[Sluggo]

At first glnce I'd say, worst case senario, that the hard disk has gone pop. If you can get into the BIOS when you first switch it on, check that the system can see the hard disk and know something about it (like tha capacity or the serial number or something).

Slightly less serious, although more of a pain to fix, it's possible that for some reason best known to Bill Gates some of the system boot files have got corrupted. You can try the repair option if you have the original CD's, but in my expirence it rarely works. In which case it's a re-install from scratch! If possible run a check on the hard disk first for bad sectors. If it finds more than 2 or 3 random bad sectors, bin the disk and start again from scratch!

HTH

[Ridcully]

If you have data on there you want be careful about restoring etc

[ugly and fat]

Originally Posted by Sluggo

At first glnce I'd say, worst case senario, that the hard disk has gone pop. If you can get into the BIOS when you first switch it on, check that the system can see the hard disk and know something about it (like tha capacity or the serial number or something).

Slightly less serious, although more of a pain to fix, it's possible that for some reason best known to Bill Gates some of the system boot files have got corrupted. You can try the repair option if you have the original CD's, but in my expirence it rarely works. In which case it's a re-install from scratch! If possible run a check on the hard disk first for bad sectors. If it finds more than 2 or 3 random bad sectors, bin the disk and start again from scratch!

HTH

i know someone who maybe able to do this for me,BUT would it then be better for me to have it done under warranty,cos that sounds like something that isnt goner make me look stupid when i put it in?

[ugly and fat]

Originally Posted by Ridcully

If you have data on there you want be careful about restoring etc

i personally dont,as i havent used it much since we've got it,its mainly used by the kids for FM2009 and facebook etc...

could this have been caused by a virus?

[Ridcully]

More likely to have been the power going off whilst the disk was active IMHO

[ugly and fat]

Originally Posted by Ridcully

More likely to have been the power going off whilst the disk was active IMHO

that could've happened.....

[Timbo]

Assuming it's Vista try the repair option. Unfortunately my wife's new laptop has a recurring problem. It may not fix the problem but at least the pooter will start up

[Sluggo]

Originally Posted by ugly and fat

i know someone who maybe able to do this for me,BUT would it then be better for me to have it done under warranty,cos that sounds like something that isnt goner make me look stupid when i put it in?

I'd say it's worth following up via the warranty route. You won't look stupid coz it's doesn't sound like something that'll be a two-minute fix.
If you haven't got any important data (pictures, songs, stuff like that) on the hard disk, just games and internet access, and you have the original disks and you are feeling brave, you could tackle this yourself. The tricky bit is recovering data before you trash the system, re-installing from scratch is pretty much 'stick the disk in and follow the prompts'

The choice is yours.

[rovens]

I had this problem and used scan disc to fix the problem. It just moved the corrupt parts of the hard disk out of the way and copies the data to goo areas.

[ugly and fat]

when i try and use the repair option,i now get a message that "the installed programme cannot start click ok to turn off computer"

[ugly and fat]

Originally Posted by Sluggo

I'd say it's worth following up via the warranty route. You won't look stupid coz it's doesn't sound like something that'll be a two-minute fix.
If you haven't got any important data (pictures, songs, stuff like that) on the hard disk, just games and internet access, and you have the original disks and you are feeling brave, you could tackle this yourself. The tricky bit is recovering data before you trash the system, re-installing from scratch is pretty much 'stick the disk in and follow the prompts'

The choice is yours.

im assuming i have the start up disc (it was bought as a presssie for xmas,and im not the type of person to throw away ANYTHING!!!!) I MAY TRY THAT!!!

[ugly and fat]

at some point during boot up i get the option to press F2 and 1 other poss F12,1 for set up utility 1 for boot manager

[Sluggo]

F2 will probably take you into the BIOS. This will be useful to tell you about the computer. The capacity of the hard disk, the speed of the cpu, the amouth of RAM and lots other stuff you won't need to know.
There may be a bit in there about 'Boot Order'. This may need some looking at and adjustment so that your laptop boots from the CD rather than the hard disk. Put the CD drive at the top of the list. If there is a bootable CD in the drive when the laptop is switch on the system will try to boot from it. Otherwise it'll go to the hard disk and, in this case, fall over.

You may also be able to achieve this effect from the Boot Options bit you referred to.

Once the system boots from the CD, it should basically tell you what to do. Re-format the hard disk and then install the operating system.

Give it a go, you can't make it any worse.