Restoration impossible?

tm711 · Mar 8, 2011

My laptop kept restarting itself before windows could load. I was forced to reinstall Windows XP professional for refurbished PCs from the disk that came with my computer. Now I have no Internet and all of my folders have been wiped out. I did not realize that it would erase everything. Is there any chance I can restore my stuff? Also, how do I get the Internet back up and running? I have time warner wireless.

Just Playin · Mar 8, 2011

Go to your laptop manufacturer's website and download the drivers for it.

tm711 · Mar 9, 2011

How do I do that? Do I download the drivers on a rewritable CD or something else? Sorry I am rather computer illiterate. Is my stuff permanently gone? There were some things of sentimental value on there.

tm711 · Mar 10, 2011

Other info:
My computer is a HP compaq nc6120 with windows XP pro. I have no internet and I do not know how to get it back up and running. I tried to download the drivers on to a CD-RW from another computer and it would not download. I don't know where to begin.

sach2 · Mar 10, 2011

Hi,

I'm not good at selecting drivers but you should have been able to download them from this page to the other computer's hard drive. Then you would need to copy them to CD or to a USB thumb drive.

How did you attempt to do it and what was the problem with downloading?

plodr · Mar 11, 2011

It is too late now but keep this in mind for future reference. The LAST thing you want to do is reinstall. Yes, that generally formats the hard drive and you lose everything.

The first thing you try is to tap F8 at startup and see if the computer will work in safe mode. Sometimes you can repair what is wrong by operating in safe mode. You also change the setting from reboot on error to not reboot on error. This will give you a BSOD and an error in words and also numbers. Those two bits of information can help figure out what might be wrong.
Another thing to try is to click whatever function key gives you a boot menu. One of the options is last known good configuration. This sometimes undoes whatever software is causing the computer to reboot. Since every computer is different, it is impossible for me to tell you what to tap. You will see the message "press ## for boot menu" when the computer first comes on. ## is the specific key or keys that will get that computer into a boot menu.

This is the page of drivers for your Compaq nc6120, running XP Pro
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...esId=447346&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=1093

Download the Network drivers. Don't put them on a CD-RW. Your laptop has a problem reading from that. Get a USB stick. Borrow one from a friend if you don't have one. You need to know which piece of hardware is in the computer so you install the correct driver.
A program like Everest should tell you that are you might be able to open the Device manager and see what model of NIC card you have.

tm711 · Mar 12, 2011

I used a USB stick and downloaded alot of drivers. I have the internet and most things look back to normal. I am however missing Microsoft word and possbillly someother things. I downloaded Everest but I don't know how to use it. Is there a tutorial somewhere?

hrlow2 · Mar 12, 2011

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Recuva_Portable_d5514.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Glary_Undelete_d6166.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/FreeUndelete_d4407.html

Maybe one of these could help.
Worth giving a shot.

plodr · Mar 12, 2011

Everest is pretty self-explanatory.
Here's a screen shot
http://www.lonestardigital.com/native_resolution.htm
You click something in the left pane and the right pane gives you all the information.
So if you do not know what one of your devices, click the + sign in the front and click on the specific item to see the info in the right pane.

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Restoration impossible?

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