Help Please!..laptop Nay Working...

[familyman]

Teresa has just given me a link..can i use anything on this site?

 

http://www.bootdisk.com/

 

OK...dont know if it will help..but i am in setup..i pressed F2....

depends how much they will charge for boot disc-also this sounds a bit dodgy -key changers are always a sign of counterfiet software!

[gregers]

well it seems to have a repair install if you scroll down,so cant see why it cant help somethings better then sod all :(

 

ok,go to windows update and type in boot disk it then brings up a whole list of things you might be able to try.

[mumof4]

Thanks..will give it a try...

 

Maz

xx

[Guest gooner52]

how did you get on maz

 

all sorted ;)

[mumof4]

No..nothing i do works...and shes in a strop as it aint fixed...wont accept that its her fault..trying to blame the younguns :blink:

[NikpV]

No..nothing i do works...and shes in a strop as it aint fixed...wont accept that its her fault..trying to blame the younguns :blink:

 

 

so how does she feel about breaking the discs or is that someone else?? You could do with a new set from acer :blink:

[Guest gooner52]

have you tried the microsoft site

 

and my 2 eldest are the same

 

broke there tiny pc about month back.the daughter blamed my son :blink:

 

so i gave them my sony viao,as i only use the laptop now!!!

 

but they are still moaning :blink:

[Guest Cepheus]

only thing i can find on the net is for creating bootable floppy disks. not sure if it will work if you burn the file(s) to a cd though? Might be worth a try?

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994

 

Failing that, you might find what you need here:

 

http://support.acer-euro.com/

[mumof4]

Thanks paul..will have a gander. :blink:

[mumof4]

Right..have a slight problem..my daughter in her wisdom has pulled off the XP license sticker that was on the back of the laptop. :wub:

 

With no set up disk..nothing else..how the hell can i take it anywhere to get it fixed....as how can i prove that it is a legit XP that was on it?..im stumped..

 

will have a look at all the links again.

[malcolm.dobell]

Dear Maz

 

You should try using Google to help you by copying and pasting your error message:

 

 

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\windows\system32\config\system

 

 

I have done this and there are a number of entries most of which appear to be highly complex, but it looks to me that it's telling you that there a registry file that's corrupt. If you can find a way of getting into Safe Mode even at the command prompt - one of the options offered if you press F8 whilst starting then you can try System Restore. Instructions for using System Restore from the command prompt are here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

 

If you aren't familiar with System Restore, it can "magically" reset all the system files to an earlier time when you know it was working. see here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/h...temrestore.mspx

 

If you manage to get into the computer, make sure it's virus free and free of adware cr*p. There a free interrogation tool in here: http://safety.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah

 

Good luck

 

Malcolm

[Guest wolfie]

I think I paid

[mumof4]

Dear Maz

 

You should try using Google to help you by copying and pasting your error message:

 

 

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\windows\system32\config\system

 

 

I have done this and there are a number of entries most of which appear to be highly complex, but it looks to me that it's telling you that there a registry file that's corrupt. If you can find a way of getting into Safe Mode even at the command prompt - one of the options offered if you press F8 whilst starting then you can try System Restore. Instructions for using System Restore from the command prompt are here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

 

If you aren't familiar with System Restore, it can "magically" reset all the system files to an earlier time when you know it was working. see here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/h...temrestore.mspx

 

If you manage to get into the computer, make sure it's virus free and free of adware cr*p. There a free interrogation tool in here: http://safety.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah

 

Good luck

 

Malcolm

 

 

it wont start in safe mode..the same error message comes up..

 

I think I paid

[malcolm.dobell]

Oh dear, you are in a pickle

 

Is it under warranty? Is there a help line that's not outrageously expensive? I don't know Acer; I have an Evesham and they're very helpful, but whoever they work for human beings are usually good at providing useful help in situations like this.

 

Making a copy of the operating system from your computer in a form that can be used on another is not for the faint hearted. If one is XP Home and the other XP Professional I'd be full of trepidation!!!

 

However, you could try this....http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545, but I frightened myself just reading it! And you need a Win XP disc

[Guest Cepheus]

Maz, you're going to have a real job trying to sort this yourself if you can't get into safe mode nor the Bios settings.

 

If I were you, I'd follow one of the following options:

 

1. Phone the Acer premium rate helpline to see if they can suggest anything

2. Phone around tomorrow to local PC repair places to see what they recommend.

3. Phone Santa and ask him for a new laptop.

4. Phone Childline and warn them that your daughter may need their help after you have wrapped the laptop round her head!!!

 

I'd go with number 4 as it'll be cheaper and probably make you feel better :wub:

[gregers]

iirc there isnt much difference between the 2 apart from being able to network(what ever that means)with xp pro,plus a few more things no doubt,but really wouldnt cocern you or your daughter.

when you had major probs with your computer how did you manage to get it sorted out without your windows disk?

does the laptop go on line?coz if not i see no reason why you cant load your version onto hers,

if you have the friday ad up at your neck of the woods look under computers theres usually someone selling the disks fairly cheaply.

[mumof4]

everything i need is already on the pc...i have a recovery partition i believe...everything is already built in..her laptop doesnt..she doesnt use it to connect to the internet as i wont allow it..only on my pc she can as that way i can keep an eye on her.

 

Maz, you're going to have a real job trying to sort this yourself if you can't get into safe mode nor the Bios settings.

 

If I were you, I'd follow one of the following options:

 

1. Phone the Acer premium rate helpline to see if they can suggest anything

2. Phone around tomorrow to local PC repair places to see what they recommend.

3. Phone Santa and ask him for a new laptop.

4. Phone Childline and warn them that your daughter may need their help after you have wrapped the laptop round her head!!!

 

I'd go with number 4 as it'll be cheaper and probably make you feel better :P

 

1.I will give it a go.

2.Goint to take it to tesco tomoz and just see what they say..her dad has the receipt and is sending it to me.

3.her dad has refused!...i sooo wanted to tell him i told you so but i was good and didnt!

4.She has finally realised this eve that i can-not fix it and she now cant play her games..has spent most of the eve saying sorry and she doesnt know what she has done. :lol:

 

besides...after id spoken to her dad to find out how he set it up..he had set it so she had admin rights :P ..so...no idea really whats happened..

 

have told her that i will try and get it fixed, but..these things happen..she really was upset.....as was i..but hey...amount of times mines died a death but ive brought it back to life with help...i just dont know with this lappy as it is beyond me. :wub:

 

from what i have read on the microsoft site..it is an oem lappy....and i have to consult with the manufacturer

[Guest Cepheus]

If you plead and beg hard enough you should be able to get replacement OEM system restore discs from Acer. I've had 2 sets from PC World so far for my desktop after losing the original ones when we moved house.

 

Only problem though is that you can't access the bios settings to change it so it boots up from CD ROM first before looking for the necessary boot up files on the C drive :) Unless it was originally set up like this, but most aren't to prevent mallicious warez being inadvertantly shoved onto your PC via the CD drive.

 

Your best bet is to get in touch with Acer and see what scrounging and grovelling will get you!

[mumof4]

Grovell??????Me?????????....that word aint in my dictionary :)

 

Well..i'll try... :lol:

[mumof4]

This morning i rang acer..they won't touch the Laptop without the winxp license number...Went to Tesco..and neither will they even with a receipt.The Bloke at tesco directed me to a small pc shop where the guy there has an idea that might work...No promises though ..as with no number and the bios locked down ...hes not sure.

He said that it may need a new winxp on it.Just waiting on his call now to see.

Juat a waiting game now...

 

Thanks everyone for the advice and links...will let you know how it goes..

 

Maz

[NikpV]

how old was this lappy?

[mumof4]

7 months old........The main problem..is that she pulled the winxp license sticker off. :D

[NikpV]

can't see how this would affect anything specially if the hard drive is starting to fail(quite a reasonable cause of your problem) on such a new machine even if you have no documentation acer should be able to match a key to thir s/n for the machine. If you have the receipt for tesco I can't see them fobbing you off unless you mentioned the sticky - there are many people who would not understand its significance (if it has one-will depend on other factors)

[mumof4]

First thing the guy at tesco did was turn it over to look for the sticker..all that is left is one corner and a strip type thing that you get in notes...he said that without that there was not a lot they could do..When i rang acer..they said that unless i can provide them with a license number they cant help..as they said the set up disc/xp disc is serial coded to the xp on the laptop..

[NikpV]

First thing the guy at tesco did was turn it over to look for the sticker..all that is left is one corner and a strip type thing that you get in notes...he said that without that there was not a lot they could do..When i rang acer..they said that unless i can provide them with a license number they cant help..as they said the set up disc/xp disc is serial coded to the xp on the laptop..

 

 

so ask acer what the xp license was for a laptop s/n of ..........