Vista ctrl+alt+del wont work

Hi, be patient with me please :D

1 I'm a newbie
2 As will become obvious, I know nothing about the workings of a computer!

I have an Acer laptop that was running windows vista, it had a virus on it which wouldnt let me boot up but managed to get it going in safe mode and think I got rid of it.

When I boot up now, it almost immediately goes to a black screen, which reads

A disk read error occured
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart
(cursor)

I have done as instructed and the same message always appears. I have no installation disks, rescue disks etc, just the laptop and that's it. If I press any keys, it just beeps loudly at me!!

Any chance of getting it going again and if so can someone help me and walk me through what to do or am I better off just taking it to a store and asking them to fix it. I am loathe to do that as money is tight having just been laid off.

Thanks

Welcome
Hope this fixes the problem. Make sure the boot order is correct in BIOS. I know it sounds hard but it is not. Make the hard driive the first boot priority.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/205005-boot-priority-change.html

This is great and I have got to the boot drive and have the following options (The first one is already highlighted white):

1. IBE HDD: WDC WD2500BEVS-22USTO-(S1)
2. IDE CD: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T40N-(
3: PCI BEV: MBA v9.4.5 Slot 0800
4: USB HDD:
5: USB CDROM:
6: USB FDC:
7: USB KEY:
8:
Excluded from boot order:

Bearing in mind I have no cd's or back up discs, which do I select please or is it just a case of trial and error?

Thanks again

You are set correctly, just click save changes (if such an option) and then exit. Boot, tell me if problem is still there.

Sorry, the problem is still there :-(

Im sorry that you are having this problem, but you are learning stuff that may help in the future.
Can you still Boot in safe mode? If you cant boot probably means that the hard drive is bad
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/123496-safe-mode.html

If you can boot in safe mode, try to get to last known good configuration.
Seven is the same as Vista
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html?ltr=A

Thanks for all your help, is there any way I can get to safe mode from this boot screen? Should I hit F9 to load defaault config?

If there isnt a way to get to safe mode then I think it will be a trip to the repair store

In your first post you mentioned that you were in safe mode, go the same way.
If you cant try to hit f8 many times and quickly during boot.
Dont bring it in to the store, I have plenty of methods that are easy and at least one should work.

Hi, I did have it in safe mode and fixed (I think) the virus however however now when I reboot all I get is tthe ctrl+alt+del screen.

I have tried f8 pressing it quickly as I can and it still gets to the c+a+d screen. The only difference is that whilst pressing it the acer screen stays there for much longer whilst a blue bar starts to fill at the bottom. If I dont press f8 then I get this screen for maybe a second before it flips to the c+a+d screen

Do you have stuff that you dont want to lose?

Nope, as long as I get it up and running again I dont mind

Do you have another computer that you can borrow?
and
Make and model of your computer? Eg Dell XPS 420

Yes, I am using my sons at the moment.

My laptop is an acer aspire 5920

Last question
On your computer do you have a certificate of authenticity with a number with dashes and numbers and letters?

Your computer not your Son's

Yes I do, the one below the barcode? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

OK we are going to try two things, the first is the easiest the second a little more difficult but easy enough that your Son can help.

Turn off the computer, boot it as it boots many times and quickly hit f10

If that does not work download this image of Vista
Save to a CD. You can do it on your Sons computer

Microsoft Windows Vista (32-bit) Free Download and Reviews - Fileforum

I deleted your key number. I did not want it on the screen. It is private and you should not tell it to anyone. If the wrong person sees it and uses it before you, it will not work for you.

Good luck, be sure to keep us posted.

Almost forgot, before you put the CD in the computer. You have to go back to BIOS and set this to the first boot selection
5: USB CDROM:

Be sure that it downloads to the CD and not your Sons computer.

Cheers, I have tried rebooting it pressing f10 about a dozen times but still getting the same result so I will try your second idea. Do I just save to a cd then insert that disk into mine and reboot?

Also, didnt understand your last post - told you I was a real beginner!

No need for that embarassed face, we all have things that we can learn.
Do you remember when you went into BIOS to change the settings for the boot priority? Well now its set for hard drive. You have to set it to CD. I think is number 5 on the post that you made. If that does not work try number 2.
Then just put the CD in and boot the computer.
See post below.

You must make sue that it downloads to the CD and not the computer.

hicksy said:

This is great and I have got to the boot drive and have the following options (The first one is already highlighted white):

1. IBE HDD: WDC WD2500BEVS-22USTO-(S1)
2. IDE CD: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T40N-(
3: PCI BEV: MBA v9.4.5 Slot 0800
4: USB HDD:
5: USB CDROM:
6: USB FDC:
7: USB KEY:
8:
Excluded from boot order:

Bearing in mind I have no cd's or back up discs, which do I select please or is it just a case of trial and error?

Thanks again

Click to expand...

You set it to number 2 if it does not work try 5