Pc help needed

[Arnold Layne]

I have a laptop, and it won't go into windows, tried safe mode the lot, the last time I stuck the recovery disc in when this happened it reinstalled windows and I lost eveything, there's some stuff on there I really don't want to loose, so if anyone can help be much appreciated, and maybe some free porn in it for you

Cheers

A.L

[Red vee]

I did the recovery disc thingy recently and kept all my data etc. I guess you'vetried the system restore option?

[bigdave]

and what is the actual problem, what happens?

[sparky]

I suggest you pull out the hard drive and put it as a slave in your desktop (which I'm assuming you used to send this post) and copy off the data files you want to keep. 2.5" to 3.5" adapter leads are available.

As to restore with a Microsoft issued Windows CD there is an option to restore Windows but keep the data and if possible programs.
However I know someone who has an HP system with restore discs that will only restore the machine back to how it was supplied.

I got around this with the Windows CD from my machine with the HP machine key but think that was lucky.
Often if the right disc is not used the key will be rejected.

Too late again but this highlights what I am always saying -
'BACK UP YOUR DATA'

Blank CD's are only 15p each and DVD's 25p each.
If your laptop doesn't have a writer invest in an external USB one either off eBay or new.

[Arnold Layne]

No I posted this using another desktop pc, when I put the recovery disc in it starts to re install windows, and dosen't give me any other options.
When I get the options "start windows normally" "safe mode" etc, any one I use I get a blue screen and a brief flash of a message "dumping physical memory" before it restarts

[Cenobitez]

Arnold, find someone with a windows cd, and reinstall it, but MAKE SURE you choose a different install folder, thats the easiest way.

[DaveDeep]

This happend to me so what I did was allow the installion to continue until it offered the choice of intalling Windows or doing a repair installaltion so I repaired my installation and hey presto! Discs are cheap so anything you cannot do without backup another good alternative is an external Hard drive they are cheap as chips. The external HD approach is the one I use so generally I have 1 copy on my laptop, 1 on my Desk top and one on the external.

DD

[Arnold Layne]

Thanks guys, much appreciated, I'll give it a shot, and the promise of a dvd still stands, cheers.

[Jacques]

This has happed to a friend of mine a 'System Repair' sorted it, he seems to think that corrupt video drivers were causing the problem:

Not for the faint hearted though

[sparky]

Indeed with a CD straight from Microsoft you will get the repair option, and as suggested the option to install Windows to a different folder.
However with a badged CD from HP and some others you will not - and it can be too late to stop a complete restore to the configuration as supplied.