Solved Laptop Will Not Start

[richc46]

The next step, as far as I know is to reinstall. It will work unless this is a hardware problem.
Do you want to restore from the computer
or
Do you want me to get you and ISO that you can burn to a DVD
The DVD is SP2. The higher the SP the less updates you will have to worry about.

 

[Koukol]

"Actually as the very last resort, I can get you free, a Vista ISO that you burn to a CD. You would set the computer to boot from CD. If it works the CD will install a new copy of Vista. You must do the updates. The CD will be SP2, however. Your computer may be prior to the SPs meaning a lot more updates. Just tell me what I can do for you and I will try my best."


My PC has SP2 loaded.
If you have a Paypal account I can pay for the disc and shipping.
I live in Canada.

 

[richc46]

No one pays at this great forum. I will set it up that you can get one free. I will post shortly, I will give you a link, just give your email address. When you get the information. Go back and delete your email address for your own safety.

 

[richc46]

Ex-Brit (Peter) is just one of our great member. He will send you free, the information for a free ISO, you can burn your own CD
Just post your email and tell peter exactly what you need. 32 or 64 bit and edition, Basic, Home Premium etc
http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/296167-vista-iso-download-132.html
Please keep me posted each step of the way

You do have the key number? xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx It looks like this. May have OEM in the middle.

 

[Koukol]

Ex-Brit (Peter) is just one of our great member. He will send you free, the information for a free ISO, you can burn your own CD
Just post your email and tell peter exactly what you need. 32 or 64 bit and edition, Basic, Home Premium etc
http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/296167-vista-iso-download-132.html
Please keep me posted each step of the way

You do have the key number? xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx It looks like this. May have OEM in the middle.

Unfortunately I don't know the key number or where to get it.
I left my info with Peter.

Cheers!

BTW~Will this ISO save my programs and downloads?

 

[richc46]

Sorry,
I you reinstall with the ISO, you are back to square one, everything will be gone.
If you have a hardware problem the CD from the ISO will not even work. My guess is that you have a hardware problem with your hard drive.

 

[Koukol]

Oh, I see.
I should start system restore and this CD will help with updating.

 

[richc46]

You said that you had VistaSP2.
If you use the copy of Vista that you were just given, you have to update only the updates issued after SP2
What you should do with that CD is set your computer to boot from CD. Then you will get instructions on the screen. They are easy things like boot etc. Possibly a few questions. Do not do anything until you have your Key.Without that Key, Vista will work only 30 days
You can see the entire process if you go to You Tube and look for Vista installation.
As I said all your stuff will be lost.

That being said. If you were able to boot the computer, which you cannot. You boot into windows, then insert the CD and it would repair whatever your problem is, unless it is hardware.

Did you try to boot in safe mode?

 

[Koukol]

"Did you try to boot in safe mode?"


Yes...it won't.

 

[richc46]

What you want to do next is up to you. I explained the consequences of reinstalling. I will help with any decision that you make.

 

[Koukol]

Thanks Richard...you're a God send.


OK, I started from scratch and erased everything.
I re-registered my PC and got the basics downloaded.
I haven't burnt and used the ISO disc yet.

However, the problem of the out-of-control touchpad/pointer is still there in full bloom.
I'm pretty sure my touchpad is toast as I can't move the cursor on my desktop without it making blue square shapes as though I'm copying things to paste.
It also still drags everything in the cursors path.

Tomorrow I think I'll buy a cheap external touchpad (or mouse) and see if things improve.
If they don't then that PC is toast and I'll return the touchpad.
I guess it's normal for a touchpad to fail after something like 6 years.


Question~When I create a recovery point...is there a way to keep it instead of having it automatically updated/changed to a more recent time?

 

[richc46]

I am having a problem answering. I do not understand what you did or what you want to do.

You said erased everything registered and downloaded the basics.
I do not understand any of that. If you do not have the DVD from the ISO yet. There is nothing that should be done.

This is what you are suppose to do
Burn the DVD.
Boot from the DVD
Follow the instructions on the screen
When done install the Anti Virus Very important
Do the updates
Install all the software that you want
Put in your documents, if you have any left
When done, if not done during install, you give your Key Number
That is all that has to be done.

I do not understand how you did anything if you do not have a DVD

I do not understand the question about the restore point. Everything in the past is gone. You have to start fresh as of tody.

 

[Koukol]

Richard, my HP has an option to set it back to day one (System Recovery)
This reboots my PC to the day it was bought.
Once it erases everything it automatically downloads a few programs like Internet Explorer, 30 days of Norton Antivirus and Java etc.
I then get a "welcome" page where I need to fill out and send to HP

So right now my PC is running with requests from Windows to update (this will happen for a few days)
(I know because I had to do this about a year ago.)

I guess this is unique to my PC which I didn't know


So my thinking was i would need the Vista ISO if this System Recovery didn't work.
And if the System Recovery DID work the ISO would speed up the updating.
To be Honest...I was a bit confused on why I needed it because I was going to lose everything anyway and I knew I had my System Recovery that would do the same.

About the System Restore Point...
I'm asking for the future.
A few months ago I made a restore point where I had hoped I would get an option to restore to that point but I wasn't given that option just before my trouble.
The oldest restore point I was given was 5 days ago when I had a windows download....I chose that and it failed kicking off this series of events.

Another question~Is there a trusted way to test my hard drive?
I'm concerned that it's fried and that's why the cursor has gone bonkers.

 

[richc46]

I will try to answer your questions
If you use the system recovery it may go back earlier than SP2. If it does you will have more updates to install than if you use the ISO that we gave you. The ISO is SP2. Originally, Vista was just Vista. Then there was SP1 and then SP2. To make it easier on yourself you want to start with SP2, so there are less updates. The choice is yours ofcourse.
I also ask why you would want to get involved with the Antivirus for a month and all that other stuff. If you use the ISO you can pick either Security Essentials, Panda or Avast all great Anti Virus and free. I use Avast.
If you already used the System Recovery, do the updates.

System Restore takes space. Once the space if full, they are deleted, oldest one first. Maybe that is what happened to you. When you are working again, we can adjust that space if you want.


You can check your hard drive with a check disc. If your drive is toast, the test will not complete. If there are a lot of problems, it may complete but it would give enough information for us to decide on the best course of action
Disk Check - Windows 7 Help Forums for Vista too
In step 4 check both boxes.

There are better ways such as Crystal Disc, but many have complained that these pieces of software contain virus and PUPS, which you do not want.

I am willing to give you all the help that you need. I only ask that if you do not understand something or have questions you let me know. It can be difficult communicating on line.
Rich

 

[Koukol]

"I only ask that if you do not understand something or have questions you let me know. It can be difficult communicating on line."


Richard, This whole experience has been a learning experience for me that I'm not sure I fully comprehend.
Since joining this forum I've learned more about my PC than I thought possible.

As I said I'm truly green when it comes to this stuff so my problems are hard to describe and the answers take time to sink in.
In other words...I'm flying by the seat of my pants here.

BTW~I will get rid of Norton once I download Panda, Microsoft Security Essentials and AntiMalwarebytes.

 

[richc46]

Malwarebytes is great, I have it too. Then you can only choose one from the other 3. I like Avast, but they are all good.

 

[Koukol]

I'll definitely download Avast...thanks for the recommendation.

I just got back from shopping and bought a Logitech t650 external touchpad.
I hope this will fix my cursor problem

 

[richc46]

I hope so too, but it may be the hard drive.

 

[Koukol]

OK, Good news!

My PC is back up and running. (for now)

It was incredibly tough to get the touch pad to work since I had to go online to Logitech and download drivers.
(My laptops cursor/touchpad is completely fried.)
So I had to buy a cheap mouse which did the trick.
I got the proper driver downloaded and discovered the touchpad was too difficult and painful with my Rheumatoid Arthritis
So now I traded the Logitech TP for a wireless mouse with a rolling ball on top (should be more comfortable with my RA)

Anyways, Should I delete and re-install the drivers for my fried touchpad and see what happens?
Or should I delete it... or just leave it be?

 

[richc46]

Believe me, I am really happy that this worked out for you. I think that you should leave things the way they are. If you are happy with the way it is working.
I will give you another hint, at no extra cost. Download the free Macrium Reflect. Buy a cheap external drive. Once a week make an image of your OS with Macrium and put it on the external drive. No matter what your software problem is it can be fixed by installing an image that is known to be good.