Laptop Stuck in a start up loop!!

[LUFCRay]

My sons laptop (Acer 5551) had a windows update over night about 3-4 days ago and since then it won't get past "Setup is starting sevices" it comes up with a box saying "Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation". I have tried restarting in safe mode and the same message keeps coming up, any ideas? I am not a nerd so be gentle on me

Thanks Ray

 

[SmurofNeves]

Hi Ray,& welcome to the Forums..

Do you have the original installation disk?

 

[LUFCRay]

No installation disk as I believe it is on a partition. I have tried the installation disk for my Desktop but I couldn't get the thing to read it, for some reason.

 

[SmurofNeves]

Have you tried booting in other safemode options? Like with commandline

 

[LUFCRay]

Have you tried booting in other safemode options? Like with commandline

Yes I have but to no avail it just gets so far and comes up with the same message as above, it is really frustrating.

 

[SmurofNeves]

I see no other way,you'll have to locate a win7 disk to do the repair.

Or someone else might have a opinion... Hang around.

I think you should look at your boot options in the BIOS to configure the CD-ROM to boot first,then use the Installation disk you have for the repair.

Is this disk of your desktop the same OS..?

 

[LUFCRay]

I have tried again, just to make sure and it had a similar message but says it cannot complete the installation in safe mode, to install Windows restart the computer, I press the OK button and I am back to square 1.....NIGHTMARE!!!

 

[LUFCRay]

I see no other way,you'll have to locate a win7 disk to do the repair.

Or someone else might have a opinion... Hang around.

Cheers Buddy, I have an installation disk for my desktop will that be of any use?

 

[LUFCRay]

I have a Windows7 disk that came with my desktop will that be of any use?

 

[LUFCRay]

I see no other way,you'll have to locate a win7 disk to do the repair.

Or someone else might have a opinion... Hang around.

I think you should look at your boot options in the BIOS to configure the CD-ROM to boot first,then use the Installation disk you have for the repair.

Is this disk of your desktop the same OS..?

Yes it is the same OS
I tried it yesterday and it didn't try reading the disk for some reason, I will try again and get back to you.

 

[Nigsy]

I see no other way,you'll have to locate a win7 disk to do the repair.

Or someone else might have a opinion... Hang around.

I think you should look at your boot options in the BIOS to configure the CD-ROM to boot first,then use the Installation disk you have for the repair.

Is this disk of your desktop the same OS..?

Yes it is the same OS
I tried it yesterday and it didn't try reading the disk for some reason, I will try again and get back to you.

Boot into BIOS and select your DVD drive as the primary boot location.

Save and exit. It should now boot stright to the windows disc.

Then have a look here to go through the repair procedure:

How to Repair Windows 7 Installation

 

[LUFCRay]

Managed to get the disk to read got as far as repair start up and restart and guess what?? yes it came up with the same box......Doh!!
Trying again but this time I am going to install a clean version on a different partition to see if that works....wish me luck, this may take a while. Will report on progress if and when it finishes.

 

[johnnya]

Hi LUFCRay and welcome to the Forum. Just a word of caution, if you are going to restore to another partition, take care to not wipe out the Factory Restore Partition.
If you created the Factory Restore DVD's when you first received this new system, you still can restore the system to it's Factory condition. See PAGE 13 of your ACER manual. Keep in mind, that all your data and setting will be lost using this method.
As an aside, if you did not create these Recovery DVD's, and if the Recovery Partition is still intact, you can still recover the system to Factory condition from the Recovery Partition - see PAGE 45 of your ACER user manual.

I hope this helps
Regards
JohnnyA

 

[LUFCRay]

Hi LUFCRay and welcome to the Forum. Just a word of caution, if you are going to restore to another partition, take care to not wipe out the Factory Restore Partition.
If you created the Factory Restore DVD's when you first received this new system, you still can restore the system to it's Factory condition. See PAGE 13 of your ACER manual. Keep in mind, that all your data and setting will be lost using this method.
As an aside, if you did not create these Recovery DVD's, and if the Recovery Partition is still intact, you can still recover the system to Factory condition from the Recovery Partition - see PAGE 45 of your ACER user manual.

I hope this helps
Regards
JohnnyA

Cheers for the heads up. I have managed to get Windows7 installed now and the old version has been placed in a file as windows.old. At the moment I am trying to save valuable files before I try going any further. I daren't turn it off in case it reverts back to how it was earlier. Fingers crossed for when I turn it off. Seems to be ok so far except I am now having trouble getting the correct drivers as unable to access the internet via the laptop yet.

 

[johnnya]

Good for you for at least getting it to boot up. If I were you, I would save all my DATA off and then do a Factory Reinstall using one of the methods I mentioned earlier. This way you get a clean system and all the proper Drivers will install also.
Let us know how you make out.
Cheers
JohnnyA

 

[Nigsy]

Good for you for at least getting it to boot up. If I were you, I would save all my DATA off and then do a Factory Reinstall using one of the methods I mentioned earlier. This way you get a clean system and all the proper Drivers will install also.
Let us know how you make out.
Cheers
JohnnyA

Good advice - Make sure you save all data externally if you are going to use the factory restore partition - don't want to loose everything now!!

 

[LUFCRay]

Good for you for at least getting it to boot up. If I were you, I would save all my DATA off and then do a Factory Reinstall using one of the methods I mentioned earlier. This way you get a clean system and all the proper Drivers will install also.
Let us know how you make out.
Cheers
JohnnyA

Good advice - Make sure you save all data externally if you are going to use the factory restore partition - don't want to loose everything now!!

I am working on that at this very moment, cheers for ALL the good advice chaps.

My son is a lot happier now

It may cost him the price of a new external hard drive and a beer for me but it has got to be cheaper than taking it to a repairers.....I salute you all and I owe you all a beer too.

 

[johnnya]

Make mine a Guiness please. lol. Also if you care to hit the our rep scales that would also be appreciated.

It's been good working with you.

Cheers
JohnnyA

 

[gregrocker]

Have you tried activating using the Product Key on the COA sticker? It should work as long as you reinstalled the same version.

In the future, you need to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to repair boot issues. Startup Repair should also automate System Restore but it should still be tried separately from the System Recovery Options

You can also copy out your files using DVD with this method since windows.old cannot be counted upon as a backup method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

If you'll post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map with listings, we can look over your HD to make sure it is correctly configured.

 

[LUFCRay]

Have you tried activating using the Product Key on the COA sticker? It should work as long as you reinstalled the same version.

In the future, you need to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to repair boot issues. Startup Repair should also automate System Restore but it should still be tried separately from the System Recovery Options

You can also copy out your files using DVD with this method since windows.old cannot be counted upon as a backup method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

If you'll post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map with listings, we can look over your HD to make sure it is correctly configured.

Will do when I can get enough time to play with it again. Cheers