Laptop

[Caran]

OH is in Spain, he decided to "tidy up" his laptop, he went on add/remove programmes, removed a lot of 2hacker type2 programmes he had installed to watch sport, then decided to remove anything he didn't know what was what. Unfortunately he has killed his laptop!! Can't even switch it on, he's devastated, has 10 days to go, is a bit wary of going into a Spanish IT shop as if anything goes wrong he has no come back once back home, any ideas folks, thanks

[squarebear]

Sounds like a rebuild, although I doubt he removed anything that would stop the power coming on. Was he removing things via add/remove programs or just going through his folders pressing delete?

[VHG]

I am always surprised that people who are not up to speed on computers think it is OK to just go around deleting programs "they dont think they need".

Many programs are used "under the covers" by Windows (or other programs) and while you may not think they are needed, in most cases they are.

Unless he has made a note of all the programs he has deleted this may be difficult to sort out.

Even a Spanish IT person may have trouble recovering from this.

Most, if not all, the programs he deleted are probably downloadable from the web, but he has to know what programs they are to download them.

I think he may be stuffed till he has come home.

At least he has learned a valuable lesson. If you dont know what you are doing dont muck around with your computer.

[Old_Geezer]

Or at least make the recovery disks and back everything up first.
In the past I think I learnt more from making mistakes and hitting panic mode than I ever did stumbling along and just so happening to get it right. :-)

[TTG]

When he connects to mains, is there anything to indicate on the laptop that power is going to it? If just on battery (i.e. does not connect to mains whilst in Spain) it needs recharging.

Please advise on make and model of laptop for further advise from other abers.

[Caran]

Can't remember what make of laptop he has got. He did it all through add/remove programmes. He was also on mains electric so it did not need recharging. I think he has reconciled himself to waiting untill he gets home to do anything to be on the safe side.