So what happened

[telectrix]

basically, what i think i need to do is to repair the OS without reformatting the hd.

 

[shanky887614]

basically, what i think i need to do is to repair the OS without reformatting the hd.

What version of windows is it?

A reinstall would probably work better and no need to delete everything

Personally I really detest computer repair shops with a passion.

Most are out to rip people off, its only an hour or so to reinstall windows and set everything up but they charge a lot for what they do

 

[telectrix]

vista 32 bit, but not got a disc. i do have the licence key though. i saw this on ebay. is it worth a punt?

Windows Vista 32/64-Bit Re-Install Disc + Restore and Repair any Vista PC Laptop | eBay

 

[Octopus]

it's way beyond easy fixes, dilb. it's looking like the OS is corrupted. it does everything right with the exception of seeing a printer, even after re-installing drivers, installing another printer, 3 days in repair shop having scans and malware removal,

FFS you could have bought a new one cheaper!

 

[telectrix]

it cost £50. it's not that they charge for the whole time it' sthere, as for a lot of the time it's running scans, so he may have 5 pc's on the go, but only need to touch each one every hour or so.

 

[shanky887614]

vista 32 bit, but not got a disc. i do have the licence key though. i saw this on ebay. is it worth a punt?

Windows Vista 32/64-Bit Re-Install Disc + Restore and Repair any Vista PC Laptop | eBay

no, don't bother with vista its bloated either get windows 7 or 8 preferably 7.

a repair disk isnt worth the buying, better to make one

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...ws-vista/4ed7e54e-997f-4977-9a79-0b7a7fdee149

 

[telectrix]

went there. 1 was $19.99 neo summat . other place i tried, i got lost after the bit where it said download.

 

[telectrix]

what about an upgrade to win7? pc eng. wants £100 all-in to install.

 

[shanky887614]

what about an upgrade to win7? pc eng. wants £100 all-in to install.

£45 on amazon atm

 

[telectrix]

but amazon do fake bs7671. how do you know it's not some crap that will destroy the laptop?

 

[shanky887614]

but amazon do fake bs7671. how do you know it's not some crap that will destroy the laptop?

if your not convinced buy it from dabs.com or scan

Scan is more pricy

 

[Geordie Spark]

just about everything. certs, financial stuff,tech. stuff. photos. most is backed up on memory sticks. soon update the back-up. got my eye on a acer r7 at the right price at the mo.

I usually create another partition on the hard drive and point the "My Documents" to it.

That way all my data is stored there so when Windows goes ---- up I can reformat the partition that only has Windows on it leaving the data untouched on the second partition.

 

[shanky887614]

I usually create another partition on the hard drive and point the "My Documents" to it.

That way all my data is stored there so when Windows goes ---- up I can reformat the partition that only has Windows on it leaving the data untouched on the second partition.

I used to do that but im paranoid.

I got windows on an ssd, data on a hdd.

A backup hdd inside pc

And a 3tb usb3 external for backups on windows and all data

 

[GMES]

I usually create another partition on the hard drive and point the "My Documents" to it.

That way all my data is stored there so when Windows goes ---- up I can reformat the partition that only has Windows on it leaving the data untouched on the second partition.

Get you !!!!

 

[shanky887614]

Get you !!!!

Don't worry we will get you over your technophobia XD

 

[telectrix]

so why do i get a ping if i click on anything in tghe start menu? can't even turn the bugger off.

 

[shanky887614]

so why do i get a ping if i click on anything in tghe start menu? can't even turn the bugger off.

No idea, a bit strange

 

[Marvo]

Sounds like your windoze installation is approaching the end. Back up absolutely everything to portable devices Tel and check the back-ups are fine on another PC ie virus scan them and make sure they're readable. Plan for the worst before it's too late.

If you've got a licence key you can reinstall from any windoze disk that's the same operating system and the same edition. You should be able to enter your key during the install.

 

[shanky887614]

Sounds like your windoze installation is approaching the end. Back up absolutely everything to portable devices Tel and check the back-ups are fine on another PC ie virus scan them and make sure they're readable. Plan for the worst before it's too late.

If you've got a licence key you can reinstall from any windoze disk that's the same operating system and the same edition.

If you havent all ready buy an external hdd to backup to.

I have to correct you there marvo.

As long as its the same architecture e.g. an x86 or x64 disk and the right version e.g. win7.

You can install any from the disk by deleting a certain file

Its eI.cfg on win7 to install from basic to ultimate from the one disk

 

[tidyboiler]

I couldn't get on either, thought I'd been banned for one cotton-pickin minute!!! :dita:

 

[GMES]

Don't worry we will get you over your technophobia XD

Hey don't worry about me, I have got a windows 8 touchscreen laptop, a windows 8 19" laptop, Ipad, ipad 4 retina display, ps3 and a
3d smart tv. dont talk to me about technophobia.

 

[shanky887614]

I couldn't get on either, thought I'd been banned for one cotton-pickin minute!!! :dita:

I thought that at first as well

 

[Marvo]

If you havent all ready buy an external hdd to backup to.

I have to correct you there marvo.

As long as its the same architecture e.g. an x86 or x64 disk and the right version e.g. win7.

You can install any from the disk by deleting a certain file

Its eI.cfg on win7 to install from basic to ultimate from the one disk

Doesn't the actual licence key you own determine which version is installed ie home, student, ultimate etc?

 

[shanky887614]

Doesn't the actual licence key you own determine which version is installed ie home, student, ultimate etc?

What I mean is the install disk is the same.

If you delete the ei.cfg file it will ask you what version you want to install.

Naturally your key will only work on one version

 

[telectrix]

hmm. update. resarted in safe mode doe the scan, shanky suggested. said nothing bad found. now i can access start menu.

 

[Marvo]

Don't let it lull you into a false sense of security, back up absolutely everything.

 

[shanky887614]

Don't let it lull you into a false sense of security, back up absolutely everything.

I would follow marvo's advice and backup anything important immediately.

Ive had a goosed motherboard before that kept causing problems etc. Software faults are not too bad but hardware faults can be a pain in the arse to faultfind if you dont have spare parts to try to narrow it down

 

[tidyboiler]

I usually create another partition on the hard drive and point the "My Documents" to it.

That way all my data is stored there so when Windows goes ---- up I can reformat the partition that only has Windows on it leaving the data untouched on the second partition.

Smartarse!!! :dita:

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Yep I'm with Dillb, I don't ask for a lot as long as I can access EF and Redtube, I'm sorted ---- the rest of the world and it's problems.

are you?

how long`s that been going on for then?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

basically, what i think i need to do is to repair the OS without reformatting the hd.

you could try some dylithium cristals....