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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:12:15

Title: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:12:15
My laptop will not start up, has run its diagnostic check and nothing >:( >:( >:( just keeps on trying. Vista.
Any ideas please, not a tech on computers.
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2009, 22:13:45
at what point is it failing?
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:16:21
It will not start from scratch. have just caught it going through and pressed F2 but have no idea what to do, if anything in this.
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2009, 22:17:21
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It will not start from scratch. have just caught it going through and pressed F2 but have no idea what to do, if anything in this.
No, what point does it stop or not get past.
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:19:42
Difficult to say, it seems to go through all the bits, even gets to welcome but then just starts going through the start up again
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: miggcddave on 19 May 2009, 22:19:48
may be a virus mate  :-/
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2009, 22:21:47
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Difficult to say, it seems to go through all the bits, even gets to welcome but then just starts going through the start up again
Is it getting to the bit where the green bar starts to go across (assuming vista)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:22:44
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Difficult to say, it seems to go through all the bits, even gets to welcome but then just starts going through the start up again
Is it getting to the bit where the green bar starts to go across (assuming vista)

yes
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2009, 22:23:58
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Difficult to say, it seems to go through all the bits, even gets to welcome but then just starts going through the start up again
Is it getting to the bit where the green bar starts to go across (assuming vista)

yes
Getting as far as the bluey/greeny screen with the Windoes is starting up msg?
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:25:03
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Difficult to say, it seems to go through all the bits, even gets to welcome but then just starts going through the start up again
Is it getting to the bit where the green bar starts to go across (assuming vista)

yes
Getting as far as the bluey/greeny screen with the Windoes is starting up msg?

yes, but then goes off and starts again
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2009, 22:26:12
Does it start in Safe Mode?
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:27:11
Sorry, what is safe mode
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2009, 22:30:17
press F8 just past the BIOS/POST screen, select Safe Mode
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:36:06
No, same problem :'(
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2009, 22:39:11
Ouch, you're in the realms of recovery console then, not so easy to properly repair remotely. Got any local friends reasonable with 'puters? Failing that, it will be a rebuild :(
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: kpassmore1974 on 19 May 2009, 22:42:09
Try reformatting it  :y
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:43:49
Thanks TB, will take it in tomorrow to a repair place. Thanks for your help. :y
Using daughters Notebook, bloomin small ::) ::)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 19 May 2009, 22:44:10
If it's failing to start in Safe Mode, you are not on your way to going down the recovery route just yet.

Do you have a Windows Vista DVD to hand?
If so, it's relatively easy to sort.

If you don't, I can provide you with one (quite legally) and you can fix from that.
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:44:41
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Try reformatting it  :y

What does that mean......??
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: tmx on 19 May 2009, 22:49:39
dont reformat it just yet Vamps youll loose the lot

theres a few options

1. as Killerwatt has said use the Windows Advanced System Recovery Console

or

2. try using your laptops inbuilt restore package youll have to sniff around the options list but on some of them you can rebuild the machine whilst keeping all your old data

to start the inbuilt recovery its usually on the bios screen and is usually F10 but sometimes its F11  or F12
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 22:54:59
All quite complicated. Went back on to F8 and tried option that said something like start from last sucessfull start, or something like that. Looks like it has fired up OK, just going to try it now.
Would it be a good idea to log off and then start it up again to see?
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 23:02:24
Running AVG at the moment, see what happens ::) :-[ :'(
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: tmx on 19 May 2009, 23:04:25
ahh a nice simple fix then :y
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 23:09:04
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ahh a nice simple fix then :y

Panic over, I hope, now i really must back up all my photos and  other stuff :-[  was more worried about this then going an getting another computer ::) ::)  TB did warn me ages ago to keep things backed up... :'( :-[ :-[ :'(
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: miggcddave on 19 May 2009, 23:10:35
well done vamps good bit of IT work ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 19 May 2009, 23:13:50
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2. try using your laptops inbuilt restore package youll have to sniff around the options list but on some of them you can rebuild the machine whilst keeping all your old data
I'd love to know what computers you have encountered that let you keep your existing data when running the inbuilt recovery process, because as soon as you invoke that, you flatten it back to day one (at least, every single one I have worked on does that).

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All quite complicated. Went back on to F8 and tried option that said something like start from last sucessfull start, or something like that. Looks like it has fired up OK, just going to try it now.
You mean "Last known good configuration"....and if it has started from that, I'd be backing any personal crap up right now as you have had a lucky escape.
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 19 May 2009, 23:14:30
You'd better call the Sledge Hammer  ;D
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 19 May 2009, 23:16:27
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Panic over, I hope, now i really must back up all my photos and  other stuff :-[  was more worried about this then going an getting another computer ::) ::)  TB did warn me ages ago to keep things backed up... :'( :-[ :-[ :'(
Now you know why I run a "crappy" and "way overpriced for home use" NAS box ;)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 23:17:49
Thanks for all the help and advice, well most of it anyway :D :D  OOF strikes again........ :y
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Gareth Lewis on 19 May 2009, 23:20:28
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ahh a nice simple fix then :y

Panic over, I hope, now i really must back up all my photos and  other stuff :-[  was more worried about this then going an getting another computer ::) ::)  TB did warn me ages ago to keep things backed up... :'( :-[ :-[ :'(

Vamps

If you need somewhere to temporarily back up your files to (in case you have another problem) we have a couple of dedicated servers you could store them on until you get sorted with an external hard drive or similar.

pm me if you would like to and I'll give you the FTP addresses (and instructions on how to do it if necessary).

Gareth :) :)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: tmx on 19 May 2009, 23:24:22
Inbuilt recovery consoles that let you keep all your data:

All DSG Brands (Advent Packard Bell eMachines Gateway)

HP Compaq too

any computer sold by pcworld that has the useless techguys recovery console although you need to use a usb drive for this)

i reckon to be fair the packard bell console is the best of the bunch you can even do a few naughty things with it

im still using DAT tapes for my backups anyone remember these babies?

i know of a rather large blue chip organisation thats still using reel 2 reel too for backing up billing & config info
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 19 May 2009, 23:27:23
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If you need somewhere to temporarily back up your files to (in case you have another problem) we have a couple of dedicated servers you could store them on until you get sorted with an external hard drive or similar.
Any chance you have 6TB spare for me to temporarily store my crap on?  ;D

PS
I only have a 2Mbit upload, so it may take 290 days or so for the upload to complete  :D
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 23:28:42
AVG still running, found 2 faults Fake anti spy  'AntispwareApp' x 2 in program files :(
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Gareth Lewis on 19 May 2009, 23:29:43
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If you need somewhere to temporarily back up your files to (in case you have another problem) we have a couple of dedicated servers you could store them on until you get sorted with an external hard drive or similar.
Any chance you have 6TB spare for me to temporarily store my crap on?  ;D

PS
I only have a 2Mbit upload, so it may take 290 days or so for the upload to complete  :D

No problem - would you like me to quote you a price ? ;) ;)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: tmx on 19 May 2009, 23:30:51
LOL

i cant host nomore as i dont have a proper internet connection :( :( :(

bloody H3G and there crap proxy
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 19 May 2009, 23:34:35
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Quote
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If you need somewhere to temporarily back up your files to (in case you have another problem) we have a couple of dedicated servers you could store them on until you get sorted with an external hard drive or similar.
Any chance you have 6TB spare for me to temporarily store my crap on?  ;D

PS
I only have a 2Mbit upload, so it may take 290 days or so for the upload to complete  :D

No problem - would you like me to quote you a price ? ;) ;)
Why not.....let's see if it's cheaper than what I give Redbus (LINX) at the moment for unlimited bandwidth on a 100Mbit pipe straight out in to the big wide world ;)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: zirk on 19 May 2009, 23:37:08
If the fault comes back again, I would also check you dont have an intermittant RAM problem?
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 23:49:36
Well, back on mine :y Daughters 'notebook' too small for me, I can type properly so this one finger typing is a pain to me and I kept hitting the wrong keys, sober :P
I am not going to switch this off tonight, just close the lid, seems to put it into a sleep mode. Don't have a lot of stuff on it that I would worry about loosing, will back up onto a disk my photos and other stuff tomorrow, just in case.

Still just the 2 faults according to AVG which is still running, only other problem recently is laptop seems to be running slowly, maybe I should take it in for a 'Service' by a professional ::)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: tmx on 19 May 2009, 23:52:07
dont take it to PC World they acclaim to be pros but arent they also acclaim to be AMD & Intel trained but intel & amd do not give any training on pc repair!
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 19 May 2009, 23:57:05
(http://www.natadsltest2.clara.co.uk/img/aol.jpg)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Gareth Lewis on 19 May 2009, 23:57:09
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If you need somewhere to temporarily back up your files to (in case you have another problem) we have a couple of dedicated servers you could store them on until you get sorted with an external hard drive or similar.
Any chance you have 6TB spare for me to temporarily store my crap on?  ;D

PS
I only have a 2Mbit upload, so it may take 290 days or so for the upload to complete  :D

No problem - would you like me to quote you a price ? ;) ;)
Why not.....let's see if it's cheaper than what I give Redbus (LINX) at the moment for unlimited bandwidth on a 100Mbit pipe straight out in to the big wide world ;)

 ;D ;D ;D It won't be - that is who we use!!
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 19 May 2009, 23:57:31
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dont take it to PC World they acclaim to be pros but arent they also acclaim to be AMD & Intel trained but intel & amd do not give any training on pc repair!

No chance of that mate, there are a couple of independant places.  The main home PC is waiting to go in for repair/checking, been waiting months cos I bought a second hand complete system for £60.oo, does the biz, so keeps the boys happy :y
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 19 May 2009, 23:58:23
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Quote
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If you need somewhere to temporarily back up your files to (in case you have another problem) we have a couple of dedicated servers you could store them on until you get sorted with an external hard drive or similar.
Any chance you have 6TB spare for me to temporarily store my crap on?  ;D

PS
I only have a 2Mbit upload, so it may take 290 days or so for the upload to complete  :D

No problem - would you like me to quote you a price ? ;) ;)
Why not.....let's see if it's cheaper than what I give Redbus (LINX) at the moment for unlimited bandwidth on a 100Mbit pipe straight out in to the big wide world ;)

 ;D ;D ;D It won't be - that is who we use!!
The only way you are cheaper is if you are being paid to keep it on the 7th floor ;)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 19 May 2009, 23:59:29
Sledge Hammer Vamps that will sort it  :y
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 20 May 2009, 00:19:07
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Sledge Hammer Vamps that will sort it  :y

I may be, I have had many a moment, over the years when I have been tempted to throw the computer out of the window. Crashed and had to use F8 to start it again, however removed something that AVG brought up so will wait and see ::) ::)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: KillerWatt on 20 May 2009, 00:23:27
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however removed something that AVG brought up so will wait and see ::) ::)
AVG has been a bit of a resource hog (as well as grossly over zealous) since v8 IMO.
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 20 May 2009, 00:24:34
Give a crack with the Sledge go on... whats up? you daren't dare ya? go on you know you want to! let that built up anger out on that annoying laptop that is laughing at you....... ::)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 20 May 2009, 00:40:25
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Give a crack with the Sledge go on... whats up? you daren't dare ya? go on you know you want to! let that built up anger out on that annoying laptop that is laughing at you....... ::)

I am using it :P :P :P  But it is not happy, needs a service :-*
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Gubz on 20 May 2009, 13:01:50
i find Advast more useful then AVG an its free as wel :y also spybot is good for getting rid of unwanted spyware. here are two sites you can use for free
www.bitdefender.com
www.ewido.net

also is it Vista or XP? an did you get the operating software?
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 20 May 2009, 21:17:27
Windows Vista.
Currently updating/reinstalling windows,  found a disk to upgrade so giving it a go. :)
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Gubz on 21 May 2009, 09:19:41
you no if you boot from the CD and select repair(r), the select the harddrive you want to repair usually 1, the write in chkdsk/p after that has finished write in chkdsk/r and that should repair any files that got destroyed.
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: TheBoy on 21 May 2009, 19:01:56
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Why not.....let's see if it's cheaper than what I give Redbus (LINX) at the moment for unlimited bandwidth on a 100Mbit pipe straight out in to the big wide world ;)
I have a spare unused (hot spare) server with a 1Gb connection and a shit load of disk space, located in TH ::). Shame its being decommissioned in a few weeks - its proven very useful in the past  :'(.  Was talk of putting some new kit in to replace this with 10Gb NICs, but I think its more likely that the nntp service will be pulled, or certainly drop the binaries...
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Jimbob on 21 May 2009, 19:42:23
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Why not.....let's see if it's cheaper than what I give Redbus (LINX) at the moment for unlimited bandwidth on a 100Mbit pipe straight out in to the big wide world ;)
I have a spare unused (hot spare) server with a 1Gb connection and a shit load of disk space, located in TH ::). Shame its being decommissioned in a few weeks - its proven very useful in the past  :'(.  Was talk of putting some new kit in to replace this with 10Gb NICs, but I think its more likely that the nntp service will be pulled, or certainly drop the binaries...


Sounds familiar  >:(

Still Unlimited astrawebnews account for £7.60 a month for life, moving up to a years retention.  Happy days  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Laptop Help Please
Post by: Vamps on 21 May 2009, 21:54:58
Did the update, 2 choices, one saving files and one not.  I chose to save the files :o :o Took a few hours to do it but now seems to be working fine............ :y :y :y

Thanks for the help and advice, some of it I could understand :-[ :-[ :-[