Laptop won't boot to Window

Hi

My friend's laptop currently cannot boot whenever I start it up. It only show the Logo screen and the message "Prepare to boot..". After that, the screen blinks then goes dark and returns to the Logo screen. It keeps rotating like that.

I tried to use my USB boot to repair the window but it said that my version is different from her (I'm using Ultimate 64x) and my friend does not know which version of Win 7 she is using. I unplugged the battery too but it doesn't help at all.

Anyone has an idea how to deal with this issue?

P/S: I still can access the BIOS menu and Boot menu

Sincerely,
Quan

whs said:

There should be a product key on the COA sticker on the back of the laptop,. That is the exact system that you have to install and activate with that key.

I checked but her laptop doesn't have any COA sticker at all

ICIT2LOL said:

Hello mate how did this machine come - as a factory installed OEM or have it been installed from a disk?

Now I am a bit unsure of why it is messaging Preparing to boot as well. Just while I am thinking of it has the machine been dropped spilt on or otherwise damaged lately. Also it sounds very much like a hardware problem and I am thinking a hard drive failing.

Some details of the machine would be if only a model number please.

It is an IdeaPad U460. It did not come with installed OEM according to my friend.

I tried using Repair function from my Boot USB such as System restore, Repair Startup and scan boot by CC but no successful at all. I'm thinking it might be some problem with the BIOS, not the Windows. BTW, my friend told me that it happened when she put the system in Hibernation, later she opened it but the screen was dark so she used the forcefully shutdown by pushing the power button.

ICIT2LOL said:

Hello mate well according to this it came with Windows 7 - it had to come with something to work IdeaPad U460 Specs & Latest News | Lenovo | The Verge Now hopefully the data is all backed up because if not then what I am going to suggest will lose all of it.

Now most pre installed machine on the hard drive there is a factory restore / recovery partition. Now if this is used it will reset the machine to how it came as new. This means installing all the programs etc etc

So let us know what you want to do. I do ahve a little dity you might be able to recover data before you do the factory thing.

Is there anyway else cause my friend did not back up her data yet?

Also, if it does have the OS built-in then there should be COA sticker too

ICIT2LOL said:

Yes well that is true if it came with Windows 7 - but that doesn't mean someone has not removed that sticker.

Now you can try this
BOOTABLE UBUNTU
Make a bootable Ubuntu disk Download Ubuntu Desktop | Download | Ubuntu
Set the BIOS to boot from the optical when the machine boots it will show you a screen with TRY or INSTALL > select TRY not INSTALL
When it is finished - it takes very little time you will get a screen like in the pic .
Open the drive you want > User and dig down until you get to the data / settings you may be able to copy / paste the material you want to an external source or other installed drive doing this.
I am not sure if it will but I have recovered tons of data etc using this method both on "dead" or just plain drives that you cannot get data from using Windows.
or this
Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS

Both run in a non Windows system and you just need to save the data to an external drive or sticks. The programs you may find in Downloads if you saved them before installing them otherwise you will have to re download them and install.

Anyway you should be able to find out what version of Windows was installed at least.

Thank you, I followed your advice and successfully recover the data and installed Windows. The laptop is ok now, I will mark this one as solved. :)