Laptop factory reset after windows update!!!!


  1. Posts : 246
    Windows 7 64 bit
       #1

    Laptop factory reset after windows update!!!!


    I'm not sure what has happened here. My daughter has a sony Vaio laptop that came with Home Premium installed. I upgraded it to Professional and it's been working fine for over a year. A few weeks ago it just wouldn't start so inserted the Professional installation discs and did a start up repair which seemed to do the trick. Last night she turned it off, but when she restarted this morning it was as if she had just received it as started up on Home Premium and looks like a factory reset.

    I went to system restore and last restore point at 9am this morning so again looks like a completely fresh pc and first restore point is the windows update. Is there any possibilty that both OSs are still present and for some reason it is launching the wrong one? I don't want to go through a full instalaltion etc if not needed. All the data is backed up, but going to take a while.

    I am of course concerned this is the second "incident" in a month so is the laptop going thorugh a major meltdown and likely to continue to struggle?

    Thanks for any advice

    Mike
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    If it was factory restored there would be none of her files remaining.

    Please post back a screenshot of the maximized Disk management drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu: Screen Shots
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 246
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi Greg. Hopefully this is what you asked for but wasn't sure about "with listings"? She says she just truned it off and on and never did anything like a factory reset.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Laptop factory reset after windows update!!!!-sophie-disk.jpg  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 246
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    just realised I hadnt maximised it
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Laptop factory reset after windows update!!!!-sophie-disk.jpg  
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 246
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Some more information. Originally I partitioned the drive and had a C: drive for OS and programs and D: drive for data. Looking at the drive map as Greg suggested I can see a lot of data on the D: drive. On checking I have found all of her data. So would seem the C: drive has been factory reset and not the whole laptop. I can see there is an option to do that in the recovery module, but this is not something one could do by accident.

    So it would seem I need to install Windows 7 Professional and then reinstall the programs. I woudl still love to know how this could happen???
      My Computer

  6.    #6

    Are you sure there's no Windows folder on D? It's possible with the used size it contains the Pro installation, which would be booted via System Reserved since Logical partitions cannot host boot files but can still have OS's installed upon them. In that case you should have had a Dual Boot menu but it's possible it didn't create one and later somehow reverted back to booting C.

    There is no need to install Professional to C. Just type "Anytime" in Start Search box and insert the Pro Product Key in Anytime Upgrade. In a few minutes it will unlock the additional features and activate to the higher version.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 246
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hi Greg . The laptop came with just a C: drive so I partitioned it to create a data partition. I then did the upgrade which presumably was on the C drive. There is no windows folder on the D drive. great that there is a quick way to upgrade. However all the programs are gone. Is there a logical explanation to how come one day it is all fine and the next day looks like a factory reset? I'm 100% sure my daughter wouldn't have done it by mistake as sure there must be several steps ot the process? Thansk for your help
      My Computer

  8.    #8

    I can't think of how this could happen except by running Factory Recovery. Is there anything at all populating Premium such as files or settings? Is it activated at Control Panel>System?

    Is it possible someone messed up Windows 7 and wanted to recover it without letting you know?
    Last edited by gregrocker; 23 Dec 2011 at 18:01.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 246
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Unofrtunately after I put the Pro activation code as you suggested I remembered I created a system image after the laptop was first set up. I tried to restore from the image as would give me all the programs and settings back, but it threw an error and had formatted the C: drive!!! so no evidence. You can never tell with a teenager, but she's pretty good at coming to me if she has a problem so doubt she would have tried something.

    Now runnnig chkdsk on the D partition that held the image and has foudn a few bad clusters. Hopefully I'll be able to restore from there. One of those life mysteries. Thanks for all your help
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:10.
Find Us