Vista Crash

[sunny-dave]

The world's most useless version of windows has gone titsup in a big way on one of my laptops - total failure to boot & no repair/restore options working - not even from the original install/repair cd menu.

Haven't lost any of my user data (I'm a good boy and back-up my stuff) and all my application programs can be re-installed from disc and/or net if necessary.

I'm now faced with either reinstalling Vista from the original Dell disc - and then god knows how much updating to get to to 2012 - or upgrading to a spare (pukka, licensed) Win7 version.

But there is a lot of stuff on the lappie & reinstalling everything is going to be a big pain. However, all the application data and programs are still there (I had a poke around with an MS-Dos boot) - so I'd hope/prefer to get windows running as a reinstall/upgrade with my data & applications remaining usable wherever possible.

Any thoughts on which is the more likely of the options above not to wipe everything clean?

Any other repair ideas which you might try first?

Cheers

dave x

[sunny-dave]

Thanks methyl

I can still boot from CD or USB so I used a CD with an elderly version of MS-Dos to boot up.

I think the damage was actually done when Vista (for obscure reasons of its own) tried to run chkdsk on boot up, which has resulted in a boot process which stalls almost immediately after the Dell splashscreen, with a single cursor-like symbol at the top left of the screen, and no input being accepted.

The file structure on the laptop hard drive is still intact (in fact I then copied a few files off onto a USB stick to save some data which had changed since my most recent data security).

I can also boot from CD or USB with a windows installation (vista or 7) disk/stick - but that will only offer a 'clean re-install' not an 'upgrade and save user data' option.

I'll have a go with the windows defender scan from USB later today.

I also probably have an (elderly) copy of Norton Utilities in the cupboard - I'll have a look to see if it's bootable.

Cheers

dave

[sunny-dave]

Hmmm - some progress - windows defender says everything is OK.

Have used bootrec.exe to repair the mbr and boot sector.

Windows now gets as far as a flashing mouse arrow on the screen (just before the login screen I think) but then stalls and (eventually re-boots).

ScanOs (from bootrec) doesn't see my Vista installation - but the repair utility in WinRe does, and says it is OK.

Haven't got a recent enough Norton Disk - will continue to google around for solutions ...

[ChuckFickens]

You know, there does come a point that the amount of effort and time involved in fixing a problem is greater than that which would be spent simply re-installing, even if there is a lot to re-install. I'm all for fixing obscure problems just for the sake of it sometimes, but I'll also often just say sod it and start from scratch, you get the added benefit of a nice clean computer that will run better and you know it won't have any lingering problems.

[jno]

or you could make a virtue of necessity and hold one of those barn-raising parties like in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and get all the neighbours in, only instead of making a barn for you, they'd all get together to fix your laptop and you could pour them some of your homemade cider and you could all do some square dancing.

Or have you got something better planned for the weekend?

[sunny-dave]

Yep - I think that's about the size of it Chuck.

My only real worry is getting all my podcasts etc onto iTunes on the new load ...I have back-ups of the App Data files, but it's far too easy to screw it up and lose the lot off the iPod Touch too.

[sunny-dave]

Gave up - installed a clean Windows 7 - was surprised to find most of my user data had survived and was in 'windows.old' (as well as on my offline backup).

If only it had said that in the first place I'd have saved some time & faffing trying to rebuild the old Vista installation.