Vista - Startup repair not working

I'm in Scotland with my Canadian bought Acer laptop, less then a year old.
Vista Basic was preinstalled.

I had problems with Norton AntiVirus. After following there suggestions of
updating and clearing the disc files, I was to boot in safe mode and scan the
disc. On booting to safe mode, I encountered the Startup Repair program. It
seemed to repair something the first time around. When it restarted and I
tried to boot into safe mode, Startup Repair started again and could not fix
the problem. I've tried a few times. Norton Support suggested that my
operating system files may be corrupted. Under the advanced options I can get
into the Recovery tool menu. System restore and Complete PC restore both do
not work. Following some other support I found I tried, in the command
prompt, bootrec /fixboot and /fixbmr. Both completed successfully, but
didn't seem to change my situation.
As I am in Scotland I do not have access to the backup disc I made. I do
still have the hidden partition, but I'm not sure how to access it. I'm also
curious if I will lose my information if/when I fix the computer.

Sorry for the long post, Thanks for any help.

"Styx" <Styx@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2899932B-E82E-4E31-A2B7-E057C15D86EC@xxxxxxPress Alt-F10 during POST and it will take you into the recovery partition.
Follow the instructions and it will take your system back to factory
defaults. This also means yes, you will lose all data on the system
partition. So if you have any there back it up first.

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Thanks for the reply. At which point is POST? Right at the start when I turn
the computer on? So I would not be able to use the hidden partition as the
boot disk for vista to repair any damaged files? It's just that I would
obviously want to try anything else before wiping the HD since I'm abroad and
would lose everything.

Thanks

"DarkSentinel" wrote:

"Styx" <Styx@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:04AA42E1-E034-4015-8903-DB4F9E3EF86D@xxxxxxYes, the POST is the "Power On Self Test". No, the recovery partition on
Acers only restore to factory default. Does the laptop have a second
partition you can uses to back up data? Or you can use DVD if the lappie has
a burner.

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Yes my laptop has 2 partitions. Does that mean that if/when I use the hidden
partition to reset everything back to the factory settings, I would only lose
what I have on the c drive? The d drive would stay as is? Teh laptop also has
a burner. You think that I would have access to the information on the c
drive before I reset to the factory settings?

Thanks

"DarkSentinel" wrote:

"Styx" <Styx@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ACAE8403-D3D3-4EE1-A31C-FD36B6F47E06@xxxxxxExactly. D: drive will stay intact, and only the C: drive will be wiped and
restored back to it's original state. IF you can actually get into safe
mode, you should able to transfer the files. If not, and you have access to
another system you may be able to build a boot media CD from something like
Acronis Disk Director. Not sure if that will work as I have never had the
occasion to need it. Maybe someone with more experience with that can answer
that particular question. If neither of those options are workable, then no,
the data won't be recoverable. A lot of us keep data files on a separate
partition for just this eventuality.

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I do seem to have access to the c: and d: drives, as well as I guess the
hidden x: drive, through the dos option in the advanced options.

When I boot after hitting Alt-F10, I come to a screen which doesn't end up
helping me as is. Here is a break down of what it says.

Edit Windows boot options for: Microsoft Windows Vista
Path: \windows\system32\winload.exe
Partition: 2
Hard disk: b6959135
[ /noexecute=optin

Enter=submit esc=cancel

When I hit enter I end up going back to the system repair screen without any
change.

Thanks

"DarkSentinel" wrote:

"Styx" <Styx@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1115686D-5B66-4371-AA4C-4476F55B2A03@xxxxxxSorry to take so long to respond. Ok, if you have access to the drives you
should be able to move the files. As for the message you are receiving,
sounds like you are waiting too long in the boot cycle. That message is from
the Vista boot loader. So it's actually starting to load Vista. As soon as
you power it on, hit Alt-F10 and hold it, and see if that works. You might
also try Crtl-F10 as well. They MAY have changed the keystroke on later
models. My Acer uses Alt-F10, so that is what I am going by.

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Well my d: isn't empty enough to transfer all my data files from the c:. If
I could get my usb, or dvd burner to work I could transfer it easily.

I've tried alt, control, and shift F10 right after I hit the power button.
I get the Acer start screen, then the black screen, then the windows loading
bar. Actually I think on one, or two of those I get that text screen with
edit boot option thing that I posted previous with the noexecute=optin.

Thanks,

Styx

"DarkSentinel" wrote:

"Styx" <Styx@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3C20CE59-B92E-4CF0-A6C2-478D59FC4A68@xxxxxxOk. Got a problem, but it's no insurmountable. You didn't mention what model
laptop you have. Give me the model, and I'll research a bit more, and see
what we can come up with.

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