Visat won't load, error messages - kids laptop, HELP!

[Tripper11]

My kids laptop(running Vista) won't load windows.
I was doing routine maintenance on it, cleaning temp files, running malwayre etc.
It was being quite clunky. I figured it needed a good going over.

Anway as I was doing some of these things I got a message saying the CD/DVD drive Silencer or something had stopped working and click this to get new one and install. Which I did.
After I did this, still while running malware, I got a message in the lower right task bar saying some files had been corrupted and to run scan/check disk

I was waiting until my malware scan was done t do this when everything came to a grinding halt.

I tried task manager and rebooting and when the computer came back up I got this following message:
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause."
It says to insert windows disc, but I didn't get one with my computer. It says to contact system administrator or omputer manufacturer for assistance,

I also tried booting in safe mode and it went back to the message I got above.

Also, I don't have the Vista disk. It came pre-loaded.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[struggle4progress]

1. Some preinstallations might allow a reset to factory default installation

You might check the manual to see if there's a way to do that with this machine

[canetoad]

2. I hesitate to say up sh*t creek...

but your only hope may be to borrow a Vista disc and do a crash course in using the recovery console.

Then if you get it fixed, take note of this:

a)It's worth Googling before you click on any so called automatic repairs. You would have found that Drive Silencer is not necessary for your computer to run. It is one of the many bits of junk that Toshiba provide with laptops.

b)There's a reason for not installing programs while other programs are running.

c)Pre-loaded laptops come with a recovery partition and generally a utility program to make backup system discs. Use it!

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. Your best option right now would be to use the recovery partition to reinstall the OS

I hate to say that, but trying to repair a Windows Vista install is a nightmare even for the serious nerds (like me). If you've got files on the laptop that you wanted, those may be lost.

If you have a local computer repair shop, they may be able to recover the OS, or least the files you need. But, that will cost money and time.

[struggle4progress]

4. There are some utilities that might enable you to recover some files

before reinstalling the system, for example

http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

[pokerfan]

5. How to use Ubuntu Linux to rescue Windows

I recently had to do this for a member of the family and it worked great. We didn't even have to use the terminal. We simply booted the CD and used Nautilus (think Windows Explorer) to transfer the contents of his Windows Documents and Settings folder to an external hard drive:



It's always good to have a LiveCD handy even if you never install Linux. It really should be part of your tool box.

Using Ubuntu Linux to Rescue Windows
Eric Geier
Monday, March 22, 2010 03:53:24 PM

Did Windows crash beyond repair? If so, you probably want to get your files off of the drive before you erase everything and reinstall Windows. This tutorial will help you do exactly that.

We're going to use Ubuntu's LiveCD mode. Ubuntu is a popular Linux distribution that's a free and open source alternative to Windows. The LiveCD mode lets you boot into and use the operating system (OS) without installing anything on the computer. You should be able to view your files and copy them to another drive, backup to discs, or transfer via a network. Now let's get started!

1. http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/7014/1/">Getting Ubuntu, Finding Your Windows Files

2. http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/7014/2/">Cleansing Windows Files

[Tripper11]

7. Thanks Pokerfan...I'm going to try this

I just had one of this mini light bulb moments, I figure since I toasted the damned thing anyway, I might just try Ubuntu and see how I like it.
Good opportunity to learn something new.
As for my kid, as long as he can get online and do things, whatever.

[pokerfan]

8. You might as well

Couple of things.

1. One of the first things you will want to do after installing Ubuntu is download the 'restricted extras' package which gives you the ability to play MP3, DVD and flash content. You will find it in the software center along with about twenty thousand other free, open source apps.



2. A good reference to download is Keir Thomas' http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html">Ubuntu Pocket Guide.

Have fun!

[Tripper11]

6. Thanks for the replies everyone.

Firstly there weren't a lot of files on the computer so I am not really worried about losing anything.
Currently I am trying a recovery/repair disc.
But I now have other choices too.
The bad thing is it just toasted on me, the good thing is, I am learning to do something new and wonderful with Windows! :sarcasm:

I've also been getting some help over at http://forums.pcpitstop.com/

[ConsAreLiars]

9. Give some thought to installing Linux Mint as a dual boot option on your and your kids' machines.

Linux is the "power to the people" OS and the Mint version makes that option easily accessible to non-geeks, with a friendly forum full of guru hand-holders in case of trouble or confusion. Not much use for gamers, if that's what they do, but the "power to the people" side is something you/they will only understand by giving it a try.

[pokerfan]

13. Nothing wrong with Mint

I rec'd Ubuntu because that's what I use and it continues to be the most popular distro out there. I basically see Mint as Ubuntu with the restricted extras already installed -- a major boon for a Live CD, I would also add.

It's certainly pretty:

[ConsAreLiars]

14. I tried Ubuntu first and never really got comfortable with it.

There were things I did not like but was too new to know how to change. Easy things not having anything to do with functionality. Color scheme, although I appreciate the symbolic relevance. Default fonts. Easy enough to "fix" but I was more interested in whether I could do all the various things I use the computer for.

When I tried Mint, which is basically a customized variant of Ubuntu, the first thing that caught me was the "pretty." and possibly because of experimenting with Ubuntu first coupled with the way the desktop interface was configured, "it just worked." I had built a new box to replace the much older HP that I had been using, after my previous machine had died, and had been wavering between buying W7 or goining through a fresh XP install using the SP1 CD. Neither seemed desirable, And after a period of using one and then the other, I got the one Windows-only progam I needed working perfectly, a few proprietary programs that had Linux versions going, and found some favorites among the great number of Linux programs that are replacements, often friendlier, for other programs I had been using.

The designers of Mint had the goal of making Mint immediately usable by those only familiar with using Windows. I'd guess in 90-95% of the cases that goal is met, although I've seen that there can be challenges related to particular pieces of hardware that need some special configuration work. The forums seem pretty good at providing the needed help. Every hardware manufacturer has to be sure their stuff is m$ compatible and providing any additional software in might need to work; some, many actually, do this for Linux, but not all.

So, after a while using m$ OS seemed pointless. No gain, more pain.

But at the same time something else was happening. I actually began to really like the way Mint worked. Little things at first -- this is a bit different but it is better, more empowering to the user and easier, and then bigger things like the power and ease of using multiple workspaces and the Compiz eye-candy rotating cube to access them.

For the first time since I bought the good-used-car-priced Amiga 1000 (powerful mousing and cli combined, a never before even imagined graphics capability, talking, music, magic), I found myself working in an OS that was really awesome and fully empowering. Using WinDulls I felt like I was on the defensive, trying avoid trouble and follow the herd. With Linux, all versions, using which ever one gets you up the first step or three, the user is put in full control over everything. Learning what is needed to get control over what one one wants can be fairly easy or complex, but out of the box, Linux just feels like something that belongs to and is at the service of the user, rather than the reverse.

Every variant of Linux has the same underlying power and potential. Each individual who is curious enough will be able to try many distros ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distros ). Ubuntu worked for you, Mint for me, and many others for others. All this to say to any who read it, give a LiveCD or 3-7 a few tries. Find one that looks friendly and maybe try the dual boot install and play some more. There's a good chance you might find yourself having more fun than problems.

(edit one typo, although there may be more)

[pokerfan]

15. Yeah, it used to be a pain

But with the addition of the restricted extras package in Gutsy, I believe it was, makes adding a lot of that stuff (MP3, DVD, Flash, codecs, fonts) a snap. The default desktop is easy to change. After all it's a personal computer so I like to make it adapt to the way I like to things.

I think I'm going to download Mint for a friend of mine who's got dial-up where downloading that extra stuff would be a pain in the arse. In fact, I think Mint might replace Ubuntu as the version I carry with me all the time on my keychain. When demonstrating Linux to other people on their systems (try without installing) it's nice to have that extra stuff.



I might even change my install depending upon how things go with Lucid (10.04).

[ConsAreLiars]

16. Remastersys lets you create a customized redistributable LiveCD/DVD of a Linux system that has

all the updates and tweaks and added programs of the system it copies. There is probably a way to create a bootable USB drive image as well, This would be especially helpful for people on dial-up, since there are usually several MBytes of updates following the release of a new version. This is especially true for Mint, since the release lags behind the Ubuntu version while some testing, tweaking and pre-release RC1 testing is taking place. Remastersys http://www.geekconnection.org/remastersys/ works with all Ubuntu and Debian systems as well as Mint.

Using a thumb drive is a great idea. I gave kid#2 an external USB backup drive for his amazing photos, and preformatted a part of it for Linux, along with a Mint LiveCD, but I doubt he even tried to follow through. This was before I learned of Remastersys. Haven't tried it with anyone else, but it might be a good way to hand off an up to date working system to a friend.

[Tripper11]

10. Update - The Ubuntu way!

So with the help of my nephew I have downloaded and burned Ubuntu. I was able to(thank you Pokerfan) retrieve my kids files, mostly music, some videos he made and some of my files that weren't overly important but since I had the ability to retrieve them managed to do so.
Later on I will learn and sort out the partitioning in order to install it.
Then I will be able to configure accessing the internet, and get a few things set up so he can have it back.
I'm enjoying the learning process.
One step at a time....

Again, thanks for the help so far! And I'm always open to ideas and suggestions. I've already bookmarked a few pages to read and study.

[pokerfan]

12. Linux FTW!

Imagine an operating system that will always be free; no worrying about how much MS is going to gouge for that next Windows release or whether you should simply buy new hardware. No worrying about whether all those documents you created with the old system are going to be compatible.

I've been using it for about a year now and kick myself for not trying it sooner. I don't hate Microsoft. Microsoft (along with Lotus and Intel) gave us open hardware. Open software is simply the next logical step.

[RoyGBiv]

11. I like threads like this ...