Windows won't start (vista)

Discussion in 'Software' started by deathcubek, Dec 8, 2008.

  1. deathcubek

    deathcubek Private E-2

    Hey guys. Looking for some help here.

    My windows won't start up at all. Not in safe mode or anything else.
    Comp was crashing and running slow for the last few days.

    I tried the repair and restore wizard a bunch of times to no avail.

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks in advance for your replies.
     
  2. scpanda

    scpanda Guest

    according to your situation, i suggest you backup your important data first and then reinstall operating system. you could use some of the data recovery software to backup you data. i have used data recovery wizard and it worked.
     
  3. deathcubek

    deathcubek Private E-2

    Thanks so much for your reply.

    Is there a way I can back up my comp when I can't boot windows?

    Also I have no DVD's or disks that came with my computer.
    It's an Acer.
    Will they mail me the disks I need?
     
  4. The Shadow

    The Shadow Specialist

    A basic requirement for every post concerning a computer problem is that you tell us all the relevant information about your computer.
    Like, Make, model, OS, laptop or Desktop, CPU?, ram? etc.

    Then we don't have to sit here playing 20 Questions.;)

    With a desktop PC, it's easy to remove the HD and slave it to another computer to do data recovery. Not so simple with a laptop PC.
    Because, special adapters are required to slave a laptop HD to a desktop PC.

    I've taken a HD from a computer that won't boot, slaved it to my own desktop PC and run chkdsk /r on it and totally fixed it.

    When that doesn't work, I can at least copy all the data files off of that HD and burn them to DVD's for permanent storage..... before reformatting the HD and reinstalling the OS.

    Using a program like "Ghost" to make backups of your HD on a regular schedule totally eliminates problems like you're now having.

    Good luck and Happy Holidays!

    Shadow :cool
     
  5. deathcubek

    deathcubek Private E-2

    Shadow, thanks for the reply and info.

    My comp is an acer aspire 1610 desktop.

    Do you think slaving the drive and repairing it will work?
    Is that my best option? If so, will I need any extra parts to hook it up to another desktop?
     
  6. The Shadow

    The Shadow Specialist

    I've been a computer tech for so many years that I forget what it's like to not have extra long cables, adapters, etc. to do what I need to do.;)

    If you have another desktop PC and the drive is the same type as the one you need to recover, then all you need is to find the second HD connector on the IDE data cable, set your second drive to SLAVE with the jumpers on the back of the drive and find an unused power cable to power up the drive.
    All this must be done with ALL power removed from your computer.

    On some HD's in some computers, the drive has to be jumpered to be the "Master with Slave" drive when a slave drive is connected.
    Any decent repair shop can do this so much easier than the average user and they will know about all these little caveats (pitfalls).

    A drive connected as a temporary slave does not need to be installed INTO the computer. It can hang out the side of the PC with no problem, as long as it's getting data and power.

    [​IMG]

    In this picture, I'm cloning one drive from another. The two drives were connected much easier by just sitting them both, next to the computer.
    I'm using the standard IDE data cable, but I'm using a "Y" power cable extender, easily seen in this photo.

    Yes, there are Two-Fan coolers affixed to both drives. But they are just standard IDE drives.
    (after loosing three HD's to Heat Stroke in one year, I never install a HD today without a cooler attached)

    Many times, it's easier and much safer to just take your ailing PC to a reputable repair shop (NOT the GEEK Squad) than to try to fix it at home and risk loosing everything on your HD.

    Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
    Shadow :cool
     
  7. banny_1982

    banny_1982 Private E-2

    Just a word of advice: Always partition your hard drive when you get a computer, no matter how small the hard drive is. NEVER use drive C:/ for storing anything except windows and program files. NEVER USE C:\ my document or my pictures or such. Always save your documents and valuable stuff on a separate partition. Leave partiton C:\ just big enough for windows and program files to fit, for a regualr user 15-20 gisgs is more than enough this gives you plenty of spare for virtual memory. Software crashes occur infinite timesmore often than hardware ones so if you follow theese tips the worst thing you will loose is some savegames :p, and you won't have to recover any data, just do a fresh clean install of windows and you're back in business in 30 mins tops. And as far as hooking your hdd to another pc it's really no biggie just unplug his dvd drive and hook your hdd up setting it to slave mode by the diagram on the back. if it won't show just keep switching them jumpers you'll get it eventually.
     
  8. deathcubek

    deathcubek Private E-2

    Hey Shadow, thanks again for your time and info.
    I might try that if I can't get my hands on a recovery disk.

    Thanks so much.
     
  9. deathcubek

    deathcubek Private E-2

    Thanks banny. Those are great tips.
    Hopefully these work for me.
     

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