Laptop fails to start

[Tommo]

Hello all.

I've had my Medion laptop about 3 years and last night after installing an update shut down and failed to boot. This was worrying as I couldn't even boot it in safe mode.

The message "Windows failed to start, insert the installation CD" or something roughly along those lines.

Few questions I want to ask are:

1) How can I solve this? Vista was pre-installed and I have no installation CD
2) Is there anyway I can save my files? I've about 15000 photos in it that I really don't want to lose. I lose everything 18 months ago and couldn't bear to lose it all again.



Thanks

 

[Lorien]

Hi Tommo,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

You will need access to a computer able to create CDs since that's how we'll gain access to your system as you can't using normal boot or safe boot.

First, lets's address saving your data. The following should help you get access to the system so you can backup the data to wherever you backup your information (except to CD/DVD's as that will be in use by the program that provides access). I recommend an external USB hard drive (they are rather inexpensive these days and it's good to have to do periodic backups and for other storage needs). Here's the procedure: Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek.

With that resolved, let's see about fixing or at least diagnosing the problem with your laptop.

Do you know when this problem began? Try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates. Use the recovery disk if the system prompt doesn’t work. The recovery disk works a bit different from the above procedures but if you follow the prompts from the System Restore menu option with the above information you should be able to restore with no problems.

If the System Restore doesn't work, do a Startup Repair by booting to the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (or one you can borrow from ANYONE) or from a Recovery Disk with recovery options included on it. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html. To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence. To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup. Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit. Put the CD in the drive and reboot. When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.

If you don't have either disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD (perhaps made on a different computer).

Go to Command Prompt on the disk. Then let's check some of your system files:

If using the disk, cd to C:\Windows\System32. Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228. Try to attach the report (you may need to copy it to a flash drive before it will permit you to attach it) here so we can see if they can be repaired with good copies from the installation disk or other system files (unless there are too many).

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will want to schedule itself to run at the next restart. Answer yes and then reboot to run the program. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause.

Let's test your hard drive and RAM for hardware problems:
To test your hard drive, try HD Diagnostic (http://www.carrona.org/hddiag.html) or this test: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp (http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287). If it fails the tests, replace it. If it passes the tests, then there's probably nothing wrong with it.

You can also test your RAM at http://www.memtest.org/. Here are additional instructions that may help: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html. If it fails, test each chip individually to find those that are bad and replace them. If it passes, RAM is probably OK.

At this point, please post back with results of your efforts. Perhaps the problem will be resolved - that would be great. If not, we'll analyze the results and your feedback to see what steps are best to try next.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

 

[Tommo]

Apparently it is a corrupt system file, system repair didn't work. What is my next step? I have got all valuable files off using Ubuntu.

 

[Lorien]

Hi Tommo,

Are you saying system repair didn't work or do you mean startup repair? If startup repair, then try all the other listed options and provide feedback on what happens in each case (or doesn't happen) and reports or files when requested. The fact that startup repair doesn't work doesn't mean that your system files are corrupt beyond redemption or maybe at all (it could be other things and some of the procedures listed may repair damaged system files sometimes). The other procedures though may help determine that. They will provide more information, may resolve the problem (or identify the problem), and help us determine the next steps after that.

If you really mean system repair (and how did you do this if you don't have a Vista installation disk?) and it didn't solve the problem but you have all your valuable files, then the next step would be a clean install or a restore to factory original conditions (depending on how your computer is configured and what you have available to do this). Do you have a Recovery Partition that can be accessed to do the recovery? Did you make or do you have manufacturer Recovery Disks? Do you know anyone with a Vista Installation Disk of the same bit-size you can borrow (version doesn't matter)?

Please post the Make and model of your computer so I can research it more on the web and give you better advice.

Thanks and good luck!

 

[Shadowjk]

If you do have an Installation Disk please do a Repair Install After you have taken all the Files off the HDD Affected

See http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Hope This Helps,
Josh