Laptop Won't Boot, can't get past Initial Windows Screen

gregrocker: I looked at using the maker's CD, but I have a problem in that regard: I have no idea what the make and model of my hard drive is. In the directions given for the link you provided, I'd have to have access to windows in order to find out.

Also, about what I said earlier- I did want to avoid reinstalling and losing my installed programs, but I'm really on my last legs here. I've spent a solid 2 weeks trying to fix this problem, and I guess... I just want it to be over. I'll lose a few programs, but if I can back up my important files and this problem finally goes away, it'll be worth it.

I do appreciate you listing ways to fix this though, thanks. :)

SlasherIT: Yep, I'm going to go back up my files now. I'll update if I can't figure anything out... hopefully this goes well!

I'm not sure if I did things right. At first there was a screen with some options, but then it booted up into the operating system. I know you said that I was supposed to do some other things first (Try Ubuntu), so I'm not sure if I've already done something wrong. I also can't seem to locate my flash drive on there, but I did find my files.

SlasherIT said:

Go onto Computer, you should find the USB there. But it will probably be listed as something else as Ubuntu is running off it...

I found something called system reserved. Do you think that might be it? I see a few files in there, but the ones that stand out to me are "boot" and "bootmgr"

If it's not that, then I'm not sure where else to find it...

Edit: I also found another one called cdrom. It actually has a syslinux folder in it. Not sure if I should use that one or the other.

There are some pictures I took of what I see, hope those help.

I only have the unbuntu boot on my flash drive, so you'd think it'd be easy for me to spot, but no such luck so far.

Found something called disk utility. I was able to find the usb through that, but it's different from if I was using Windows. It doesn't look like I could drag and drop into a space. Maybe it's just because I'm looking at it through disk utility... I will try some other things and update in a minute.