New
#11
forget those:
Boot from your Win 7 DVD.
Karl, I agree, a Windows 7 disc is the best choice if the user can get it to run. I am a little concerned about the command prompt method of backing up files, though. For the average user, this is a bit intimidating and some important files may be missed. Greg's tutorial that I linked to earlier, Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot, contains links that lead to a method for backing up data that is a little more user friendly. For convenience, I will link directly to the user friendly backup method here: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console
I first tried turning off the power & unplugging everything & holding the power button for 30 secs & that didn't work.
I then tried downloading some rescue CD's using the links you provided. The PC won't read them. The only CD/DVD that it will read is the Win 7 disc, and it doesn't work --- I tried leaving it running in the repair mode all night and nothign happened --- I still see the simply the default Win 7 blue background on the screen and nothing else except the mouse pointer/cursor.
Is there any other way to access a rescue program other than a CD/DVD? What about an external drive? She has an external drive I could hook up to my PC & download a bootable program there, then select that drive to boot from if that would work.
I can get in the BIOS setup & when I look under System Info, the IDE Master shows "Not Detected", which I assume means it isn't detecting the hard drive.
I assume this is a laptop? I wonder if you have an intermittent hard disk connection... The first thing to check is whether the hard disk is physically connected to the motherboard properly. To do so:
- Shut down and turn off the computer
- Remove the AC Adapter
- Remove the battery
- Hold down the power button for 15-30 seconds to close the circuit and drain any residual power
- Remove the panel on the underside of the laptop where the hard disk is housed
- Remove and re-insert the hard disk by sliding it away from the connector and then gently but firmly pressing it back into the connector (no screws should need to be removed to do this step)
- Replace the panel on the underside of the laptop to cover the hard disk
- Replace the battery
- Replace the AC Adapter
- Turn on the computer and see how it responds
Post back once these steps have been implemented whether the system is able to boot. Sometimes these problems can occur due to a loose connection.
Press F8 again. do you see this?
as described on Advanced Boot Options
Do you see "repair your computer"?