Hi all and can anyone help?

[kernel gadaffi]

Hi all, I'm new on the block and would like to say hi, the name is Alan but was nicknamed kernel gadaffi in 1980 and it's stuck.

Now, my daughters laptop threw a wobbler today and even after a system restore and a partial reinstall it still won't behave, it's now decided to only give me two users and both for some reason ask for a password to allow me to do anything, there are no passwords installed on the machine and I cannot even use the UAC without it asking for one, it's Window 7 32 bit with 3gb of ram, I cannot even down load magic jelly bean to allow me to recover the product key and the original disks are corrupt, has anyone got an idea of what to do?


Sorted

 

[boohbah]

hi alan and welcome to sevenforums,
sounds a bit of a tricky one you have there,it sounds like a job for gregrocker, i will send him a link to this thread

 

[whs]

That looks like the job of a virus. First order of the day is to backup all user files to an external drive - just copy/paste them. The you might want to scan those files. The most thorough job is done here: https://www.virustotal.com/ But you can also use a local scanner like SuperAntiSpyware or Malwarebytes which you could run from a USB stick created on another system..

Then you are probably best off to reinstall the system.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Thanks for the suggestions folks, but like I mentioned, UAC won't let me do anything and I cannot do a full install as I do not have the product key number

 

[whs]

If that is an OEM installed OS, the product key that is currently on the OS won't help you. That is a generic key that they use for mass installation. The key that counts is the one that is on the COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

But if you install from the recovery partition, you need no key anyhow.

 

[seavixen32]

Isn't there a product key on the laptop's COA sticker on the underside of the case?

If there isn't have a look in the battery compartment - it'll sometimes be there.

But as WHS says, if you re-install from the recovery partition you won't need a product key.

I take it also that you don't have any recovery discs?

Love your user name - very clever.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

I have 3 recovery discs and 1 with apps and drivers on, will I need the product key during the installation?

 

[whs]

Did you find it on the COA sticker.

 

[seavixen32]

If you have recovery discs you won't need a product key, but why the reticence when we ask if you can find one?

 

[gregrocker]

You won't need Product Key to reinstall from the Recovery DIsks, but I would first trying running Recovery from boot using it's partition which is a more stable method. If you post back your Make/Model we can link you to the steps. Then save the disks as back up.

You also have the option to get a superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
Everything is in the blue link. The key used for this is on the COA sticker which looks like this and should be affixed to machine:



But first would you like to try to disinfect and start Win7? Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Forums

Report back the results. Note that one step shows how to copy out stranded files.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

I've put my glasses on:sarc: and found a number on the bottom, but it's not the xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx one, there is one thats xxxxx-oem-xxxxxxx-xxxxx.

 

[gregrocker]

That is the Product ID. Next to it should be the Product Key. Does it look like the sticker in my post above?

I've given you some other options to consider, as well, so read carefully and post back any questions.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

If you have recovery discs you won't need a product key, but why the reticence when we ask if you can find one?

I apologise if anyone thinks I'm trying to pull a fast one, I thought all the disks relating to the machine we have were in one file, I looked in my sons laptop bag just in case and found them in there, so once again, my apologies.

Update, the laptop was supplied to my son as a package with 7 installed along with Office 2007 and a lot of other stuff, so everything in on the discs and not supplied via a third party.

 

[seavixen32]

Just to clarify, the product ID that Greg mentioned tells Microsoft whether you have an OEM operating system or retail operating system if you have to contact them for support - they'll ask you to quote the product ID - if it's an OEM system they normally won't offer support as that should be provided by the OEM vendor.

 

[gregrocker]

Update, the laptop was supplied to my son as a package with 7 installed along with Office 2007 and a lot of other stuff, so everything in on the discs and not supplied via a third party.

Is there an applications disk containing these needed programs, or separate installers for Office and the other preinstalled software he wants? If not you may want to run Factory Recovery. But I would still try running it first from it's partition at boot and save the disks for backup. If you'll provide the make/model as requested we'll show you how.

Have you made any attempts to repair the OS using the steps in the link for that which I supplied?

 

[seavixen32]

Greg is right in that a factory restore from the recovery partition will be a lot quicker than using the recovery discs.

 

[gregrocker]

It is also more stable to run Recovery from partition at boot, and gives you a backup method if you have the disks. If you start with the disks and they fail, you have no backup since the partition will have been wiped.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

There is no back up partition on the machine, the C drive has everything on it and nothing else, following the information given and I'm very thankful for, I still cannot do anything as the UAC keeps kicking in, I might just leave it for tonight and start again tomorrow with a clear head.

Thank you for all the help.

Cheers

Alan

 

[gregrocker]

The steps to either disinfect/repair or reinstall are all done from boot where UAC doesn't apply.

Did you read the steps for each?
Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Forums
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

In your original post you said there was a partial reinstall. What do you mean by that?
Can you boot into Win7 at all? Does it lock you out at Log In screen? Any error messages?

 

[whs]

There is no back up partition on the machine, the C drive has everything on it and nothing else, following the information given and I'm very thankful for, I still cannot do anything as the UAC keeps kicking in, I might just leave it for tonight and start again tomorrow with a clear head.

Thank you for all the help.

Cheers

Alan

Did you look in Disk Management. It may be a hidden partition with no drive letter.