Unable to start laptop through any method

My Vaio laptop refuses to start up and gives me a choice of start-up repair. Leaving this running for several hours it eventually gets to system restore. When I try and restore to an earlier point I get an error 0x80071a91. I cannot start in safe mode as loads the files and then does nothing. Can I assume the system is completely knackered and my only choice now is a repair install from the installation disc which will wipe the HD?

Thansk for any advice.

no BSOD. It worked yesterday and then when I booted up last night it just went into start-up repair. Start-up repairs fails and in the log the only thing that has failed is "system file integrity check and repair". Can't get into safe mode and the restore option fails with the above error. All sounds pretty bad. Vaios don't come with any discs but have found one I labelled Win7 Boot so I'm hoping this will get me somewhere.

Does the HDD make any clicking noises?

Are there any beep sounds?

If you'd like we can run an extended scan on the HDD first. This is to check for problems with the drive, However, this test will take about 2.5 hours for a 1TB size HDD to complete. Let me know where you'd like to start first.

This Windows 7 Boot disc. Shortly after buying the computer, did windows prompt you to create a Recovery disc? If so, this is most likely the one you made which you are calling boot dics? If this is so, then you'll need to load it into the optical drive then reboot the machine. If the machine starts running the disc, just follow the prompts. If it does not, we will need to change the machines boot order. So, that it will boot first from the optical drive. This is were you'll need to start taping the ESC as the machine starts. This will take you into setup options. In here you will need to change the boot order, so the DVD drive becomes the first device to start, or boot. I can go into this in more detail if the machine does not run from the disc right off.

I'll be shutting down soon, but someone else here on the site can further assist you. Prehaps, they may want to try another approach.

Quickdraw

There is some clicking from the HD when it starts up, no beeps. Yup got it booted form the disc ok and went in repair install where it found the Win7 installation fine. However seems to just be running startup repair again which has bene going for about 30 minutes so assume I will get a similar non-result at the end. This is actually my daughters laptop so I have no idea how it has been behaving althoguh she did admit to seeing the start-up repir beofre, but it worked so she didn't mention it.

If this doesn't work I guess I will have the option to completely reinstall the OS from the disc? I don't believe there is anything valuable on here as she used dropbox for all her work.

Good call on her part using dropbox. OK, if the machine automatically went back to repair. Your still booting off the HDD. You'll need to do the ESC key at reboot. If you are not taken into a setup window. Let me know. Your machine may require you to tap on the F2 key instead.

i think it booted from the disc as it brought up the "press any key to boot from DVD". I kileld the start-up repair and rebooted and doing the same again. Get a grey bar along the bottom "windows is loading files" so pretty sure this is off the disc? Then I get the install window. I clicked "repair computer" instead of "install now". This loads up system recovery options showing a windows 7 installation. When I click next I go into start-up repair. I'll leave it runnnig until it gets to some conclusion, but given the time I'm not optimistc.

Hello masplin.

You may need to run a startup repair three times, although I have to say things don't look promising.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

You might want to consider a clean install, as this extensive tutorial explains.

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

You might want to check this Sony guide: https://www.docs.sony.com/Release/VG...overyguide.pdf

It's in PDF format so you'll need something like Adobe Reader to decipher it.
Other than that you may want to try a restore to factory state if you have a set of Vaio recovery discs.

seavixen32 said:

Hello masplin.

You may need to run a startup repair three times, although I have to say things don't look promising.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

You might want to consider a clean install, as this extensive tutorial explains.

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Other than that you may want to try a restore to factory state if you have a set of Vaio recovery discs.

Thanks, for the assit. Good night all.