in normal mode (or maybe safe mode):
run msinfo32
is system name, country settings, time zone... all looks fine as it was?
in maintenance center.. is windows firewall enabled? Is windows update enabled?
right click computer->properties. Scroll down.. is windows activated?
All these things are part of Out of the Box Experience (OOBE for short). That fase hasn't been run.... I hope it still knows what settings originally were.
Last edited by Kaktussoft; 07 Aug 2012 at 16:10.
Don't know, I'll try to boot normally now.
If normal boot boots fine.... great! Otherwise:
If normal boot fails, boot in safe mode. Then enable clean boot.
Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup
In step 1 point 3 you can revert back to "normal startup"
Does even clean boot fail?
Hi I'm sorry,
I sent you 2 quick posts, why did you not get them?
Booted normally, did the checks you said.
msinfo32 - info all correct
update - not activated
windows - not activated (3 days)
opened outlook - working fine
screen res and perspective is still blurred, fat, wide and squashed but can sort
Went to google chrome icon in start menu folder - attached to taskbar fine, but wouldn't load - think I can sort that.
It is now 97% back.
Richard
HI Kaktussoft,
This is absolutely brilliant!! Fantastic.
I'm really 98% there, thank you so much, for your time, your patience, your wisdom. Unbelievably insight.
The system does boot slowly, should I still try to repair?
I use Advanced System Care and I can use it to do deep clean, which corrects a lot of things.
I'm worried about the activation, as I've no idea where my key is. This laptop has a key I think under the battery, but it doesn't relate to this version of windows, which is a version my brother gave me donkeys years ago (he's got some sort of MS installers package which gives him licences to a few copies).
Not sure what to do now, if you have any more suggestions great. If not, you have been amazing, and I cannot thank you enough.
Richard
p.s. I'll forget all about the sysprep, it's way beyond me.
By the way screen res is good now, after downloading 2 intel graphics updates.
Richard
put windows updates to download automatically.. at least to the setting you wish.
Activate your windows copy.
windows firewall enable it it (if you want)
google chrome can be uninstalled and installed.
post screenshot of device management. Any exclamation marks there?
By the way, can I get it to boot straight into windows 7? Should I go into bios startup and select that way?
It seems to start with a windows 8 boot platform, all the graphics during startup are windows 8 indications, then comes the blue screen which is definitely w8 with the big squares, then I select windows 7 recovery square.
A bit long winded, i'll guess that you know how to fix that in a second.
Richard
I use Advanced System Care and I can use it to do deep clean, which corrects a lot of things.
=>don't use it yet. I don't know that software. At least create a manual "restore point" prior to using that software!
Post screenshit of device management please
Quote