Major System Crisis

[maxwells]

Thanks so much Richard Silly question, but should I change the boot up 1st option back to hard drive as it is currently on CD from when I booted Unbuntu?

 

[niemiro]

Thanks so much Richard Silly question, but should I change the boot up 1st option back to hard drive as it is currently on CD from when I booted Unbuntu?

You can if you want. If you know that you will not boot from a CD again for a little while, then do so, though leaving it like this will not cause any harm (I always have CD/DVD on top (along with USB), because I regularly do things!), it is a point of marginal (very marginal) speed loss.

 

[maxwells]

Cheers Richard, I have left it on the CD drive. When I press F9 I get 6 options, they are:
2 options relating to Unbuntu
2 options relating to Memory Test
2 options for Windows (the first is Windows Vista (loader) (on/dev/sda1), the 2nd option is Windows Recovery Environment (loader) (on/dev/sda2))

Sorry to keep coming back to you with little things, but I am loathe to press anything without either of you giving me your express ok.
Cheers
Vickii

 

[niemiro]

Cheers Richard, I have left it on the CD drive. When I press F9 I get 6 options, they are:
2 options relating to Unbuntu
2 options relating to Memory Test
2 options for Windows (the first is Windows Vista (loader) (on/dev/sda1), the 2nd option is Windows Recovery Environment (loader) (on/dev/sda2))

Sorry to keep coming back to you with little things, but I am loathe to press anything without either of you giving me your express ok.
Cheers
Vickii

Hello Vickii,

Do not worry about coming back to us, it is far better that we don't make a mistake! How old is this laptop (roughly - how many years old), and have you ever reformatted before, or fiddled with the partitions? Long shot, did a second Recovery partition show up in Computer when your laptop was working? << Note that sometimes it is hidden, so it not showing up is not always a bad thing.

Thanks!

Richard

 

[maxwells]

The laptop is about 18 months old. I never knew it had partitions & have never seen any reference to one. I've haven't done anything with regards to reformatting.
Cheers

 

[richc46]

If you did not get a restore DVD, there should be a partiton that allows you to restore to factory specs. It may have been deleted, due to something that happen in the past. Rich was right, though, it should be F9.

 

[maxwells]

I've tried again a couple of times, but it is still giving the 2 Windows options as above.

 

[richc46]

Vickii

I do not know what to say, I read Richards post on f9 and it is correct and yet, you say that it does not work. It could have become corrupted or deleted, if it was ever there. I think that it was there at one point, since most computer manufactureres give you a way to restore, either by DVD or by Factory restore. If you can not access factory restore, you may be able to contact the mfg of your computer and try to get (for cost) a DVD that will allow you to install.

Depending on the age and specific model the restore procedue may differ, read about these possiblities
http://www.fixya.com/support/t2084593-factory_restore_asus_laptop

 

[maxwells]

Thank you Richard, is there any point in selecting Option #1 Windows Vista (loader)?

 

[richc46]

Did you either back up or get everything off the hard drive that you want?

 

[maxwells]

Good morning Richard, yes I have got everything off the hard drive that I need. Is it possible to run the internet through Unbuntu (the manufacturuer of my laptop said they will take about 6 weeks to look at it).
Cheers

 

[richc46]

Morning

Sorry for the delay, but we have time differences to contend with in addition to everything else. Although, I have no actual experience with Ubuntu, it can be used to access the internet. It is an open source (free) Operation System. I think that this link will give you most of the information that you need.
https://help.ubuntu.com/7.04/internet/C/index.html

This will give more general information about the OS.
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/features

 

[maxwells]

Hi Richards, thanks for the links, but I can't find anything for the ZTE USB stick I use to connect to the internet through T-Mobile UK.

I have also been in touch with the company I purchased the laptop from & also the manufacturer, both deny they are able to provide a restore disk. The manufacturer advised that Ubuntu would have deleted the partition, even though I did try to tell her that the problem with the restore was happening prior to Ubuntu being installed. The cheapest option they have given me is purchasing the full operating system again (no discount offered haha). I read on a forum that someone, who had both a PC & laptop with the same Windows operating system, was advised to copy the operating system from one & install it on the other & that there was no problem with certificates as both licenses are owned by the same person. I have no idea with these things so look forward to your guidance.
Thanks again guys...you are priceless!

 

[richc46]

If you have a key, you can borrow a DVD to install; but you must have a key number. The key will be found on your computer if the OS came preinstalled. Look at the bottom, sides etc. It is a combination of letters and numbers. Regardless of what you have read this is the law. One key, you can have the OS on one computer at a time, period.

The number looks something like this xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-xxxx. With both numbers and letters.

 

[maxwells]

Thanks Richard, I have the key on the underside of the laptop

 

[maxwells]

Oops forgot to say I also have a key on my PC as that was also pre-installed, don't know if it helps I have 2 keys but only 1 OS

 

[richc46]

Only one is the key, the other is probably a product code. If one has the letters OEM, thats it.

 

[maxwells]

Yep that's the one (I have one on each machine), I shall start hunting down the disk. Thanks so much

 

[richc46]

Be careful with the DVD, it has to be the same edition, Home Premium, Basic, Business etc. It does not have to be the same platform, bit 64 or 32, but if 64 make sure your machince can handle it.

The only potential problem that I forsee is that since your OS came with the computer, you may need a special key number that ties in with the mfg of the computer. We can cross that bridge when we come to it.

 

[maxwells]

Ok cool I will ensure it is Vista basic 32bit May take a few days...
Cheers
Vickii