Windows 7: System Repair Faillure

Hi, i'm new here at SevenForums, and i have a little problem that is driving me crazy.



So, a friend of mine has an Asus K52J with Windows 7, last week when he was working it happeared a blue screen then i think he tried to repair it himself by using the System Repair and it didn't find any error and then he made a reboot. Now every time he turns the laptop on the SR starts working giving allways the same information. No errors but can't even start up windows.

What can i do to help me since i've allready tried a lot of things and nothing appears to work. I have a Bootable CD from ASUS but i think the CD-ROM isn't working because it makes a lot of noize and nothing happens too.

May i be able with my laptop to copy that bootable cd into an usb flash? or may i do something else? help me PLZ

Regards,
Rafa

Hello K0M and welcome mate the fact that the opto drive is making nasty noises would make me take it straight back for a warranty check.

An option is a factory default that is if you don't mind starting from scratch you can take the machine back to as it came out of the factory / shop / dealer etc

When you power up as soon as the Asus logo starts up hit the F9 key it will prompt you through the install process. Personally I just keep a rhythmical tapping up on the factory default key for whatever machine I do it on. Different brands different keys and as far as I am aware the F9 is the Asus one.

One thing is for sure once you have it up and running - make a rescue / back up disk!!

So warranty it doesn't have anymore. pressing F9 makes select the way i want use the computer if windows normally, MS-DOS, security mode, etc.. and even a memory check up but all of them don't work.
doesn't matter what i choose it allways appears me the system repair.

but first i would like to make a backup from the important files how can i do it, since my box to make the disk portable doesn't work on this HD? do i need to get a box to this disk? or can i connect the laptop to mine as if it was a pendrive?

thanks in advance for the help
K0M3T

Hello KOM no mate I wouldn't be trying that. I don't quite understand if you are trying to copy files from the Asus machine or your own machine.

Now I am assuming you want to save any important files from your own machine before you do anything to try and recover files from the old (Asus) machine?

Personally if it were me and I had a bootable disk with the OS for the Asus I would renew the optical drive in it and try that first.

But fist have you tried a safe mode boot on the Asus? To do that tao the F8 key as you power up it should load a long list of files then go into the safe mode screen. Try that first and let us know - in the meantime I will try and find info on renewing that opto drive. They are not expensive and as you are changing hardware in the machine you could go for an OEM OS which would also mean that you do not get any bloatware. it may also be an idea if the machine is worth it to upgrade the hard drive and RAM at the same time again not expensive - even the SSD's are coming down in price.

okay ill try to explain better than.

the asus machine isnt mine, it belongs to a friend that asked me to try solve the problem. what i understood your idea is the same as mine. format disk and then installing the OS but the problem is i need to save some files like photos and movies he has from his daughter and i can't get access to his hard drive. i've already tried the safe mode with net connection, with access to DOS and even normal safe mode but no matter what i choose the machine allways tries to open windows and then the system repair appears.

the thing is that i need to save the files and i have a board to change the disk to a portable one but it's for another types of disks. so i don't have access to any files. then i pressed the F4 and it appeared something like an explorer that shows some folder but files there are none.

i have the asus recover cd that came with the machine here but don't know why the cd/dvd reader doesn't work i tried even to boot directly from the cd and it just stays there like a "motocycle accelerating and then shutting off the engine".

So:
- need to recover files without being able to access the disk;
- need to make a disk recover without the cd reader working;

- believe that it's the files that are used to open windows that were damaged so i need to repair them but i don't have any idea how to make that if i don't have means to do it.

well i have a slimtype cd dvd reader from an old acer aspire (1410 i think) if its possible to connect it to the asus system i would be able to use the asus recovery cd but then the problem of saving those important files persists.

Right mate now I have a better idea - well done by the way I know it's hard to explain things like his I used to be like it myself before now.
Now what we need to do is to get that drive out and replace it with a new one - if you don't need the space of a large drive then a SSD is the way to go. As the optical drive is or sounds dead then it needs replacing and while you are at it check out the RAM and install more if you have only say 2 or 4 GB because now is a good time to do everything. All of these devices are relatively cheap to replace - well at least out here it is (I don't know just where you are and I am assuming that it might be expensive where you are because a friend in New Zealand has quoted prices that are just courageous) but at very least the HDD and the optical must go.
To change the hard drive this Youbetube vid shows how
How to replace the hard disk on the Asus A52J - YouTube
I am currently searching for the optical drive removal info

Then you need to install the OS from that disk if it is a full OS bootable disk? If not (just a rescue disk for Asus?) then what I would do is to find the activation code on the Microsoft sticker on the (usually) bottom of the machine it will look like the one in the pic and make a note of that code because that is the version activation number that is tied to that motherboard.

Then with your good machine make a bootable USB ISO (download) of the version of 7 shown on the sticker from here http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/ > make sure you pick the right version!! 32bit or 64bit and also the language. This will take some time to make depending on your download speed.

When done change the boot sequence in the (revamped) Asus machine BIOS (usually tapping DEL or INS key on power up) to boot from USB - save changes and exit. With the USB stick in it will start to install the 7 onto the new hard drive when it gets to the activation code you need to enter that number you noted - EXACTLY as it is on that sticker.

Once that is done to get at the files you want to keep there are a couple of ways of doing that.
But before you do that let me know if you can follow what I have put done here and that you are happy to have go at replacing those drives.

Problem Solved i tried and tried and then i manually have made an usb option boot then broke in the disk with Ubuntu and saved all the important files to my sister's removable HDD then i've downloaded a version of Windows 7 home premium and used my friend's key.

Thanks for all your help.
Cumps

Well done Cumps just keep an eye on that opto if it still noisy mate - I'd be replacing it anyway - you are going to need it at some stage of the game eh?

maybe if my friend wants to switch that drive ill probably go with him to help him and then i will change it. untill then ill finish my app.

thanks for your help

No probs mate you know where I am if you need any help and there are all the others too