Solved Cannot Boot From Recovery CD

[newenglandmom2]

OK, found the Firefox bookmarks and copied to USB. Later today will try to boot from regular windows. Thanks!

 

[SIW2]

Let us know how it goes.

 

[newenglandmom2]

Booting to regular Windows resulted only in a blue screen. So I shut down, used F12 to enter the Diagnostics screen and ran that. Everything passed, except for Error Code 2000-0142, self-test unsuccessful, Status 79." I know all that means hard drive failure. From what I'm reading, about all I can do now is try to reseat the HD, in case there's a bad connection. Don't have a lot of faith I could do that correctly.

 

[newenglandmom2]

At least I retrieved all my files, thanks to you!

 

[SIW2]

It is probably safest for you to replace the Hard Drive.

You could consider an SSD which is faster than a spinner, but more expensive.

There should be a factory.wim on the recovery partition. If you can copy that somewhere, you can install onto the new HD/SSD from that.

 

[SIW2]

You can extract the windlg.exe file from this zip onto your usb drive. Boot up the OS, and run the windlg.exe. It will test your HD.
View attachment WinDlg.zip

 

[newenglandmom2]

Thanks---ran chkdsk again and this time it did new things...deleted corrupt files and inserted attributes. But still ended up with 240 KB bad sectors, and blue screen when I tried to boot normally. Tomorrow I will try to test the HD with the file you linked to, soon as I get some time. Merci...

 

[Megahertz07]

Your disk is dying. You must replace your HDD. As SiW suggested, buy a SSD.
I have one of this PNY CS1311 2.5 SSD7CS1311-240-RB - Newegg.com
So far so good.

factory.wim is a disk image to restore the computer as it came from Dell. If you can copy factory.wim on the recovery partition to an external disk then you can easily apply it to the new disk (thanks to SIW marvelous tools)

 

[newenglandmom2]

I did the WinDig test...HD failed the quick test. If I go ahead with getting a new HD, could I easily install it? And how can I ensure it's compatible? Also, how long will Microsoft update Windows 7? Of course I would rather not have to buy a new computer, but if I'm just facing more problems, perhaps it's time...?

 

[SIW2]

It isn't difficult to put an HD into a laptop usually.

2.5" drives are made for laptops. $45 for a wd blue 500gb spinner.
Laptop Hard Drives, Notebook Hard Drives - Newegg.com


If you want an ssd they are faster, lighter, use less battery power and cost a bit more. You might find it makes quite a difference to your lappy.
example:
PNY CS1311 2.5 SSD7CS1311-240-RB - Newegg.com


Win7 will continue to receive updates till 2020.

You can do a free upgrade to win 10, if/when you want.

 

[newenglandmom2]

Before I try to copy factory.rim from the Recovery drive (C), I wonder if I should try to delete some user profiles that I know caused trouble. A year ago, I came to this forum and got a lot of help creating a new user profile that worked, but several old ones are still listed under Users. When I try to delete them, a message warns that deleting certain system files might mess up Windows. I just wonder if some of the bad sectors might be there, and it might be worth a try... At any rate, I wouldn't want to load all the useless stuff onto a new SSD. If that makes sense...

 

[Megahertz07]

As your disk is dying, it doesn't matter what you have on your current installation. You will have to do a re installation.
Copy factory.rim from the Recovery drive ASAP.

 

[SIW2]

Megahertz is correct. Copy factory.wim to a safe location. Your existing HD isn't worth fiddling with.

 

[newenglandmom2]

ok, i am copying factory.wim (C \dell Image), 3.8 GB to a flash drive. fyi, I found this in the Recovery (C) drive. I will order the SSD linked to today. Thanks, as always.

 

[SIW2]

Replacing the HD isn't too difficult, it is a bit fiddly. If you know someone who has done it before, it will take tham about 10 mins with a small screwdriver. Is there a local pc tech guy you could ask?

 

[newenglandmom2]

I have ordered the SSD linked above. Will let you know when it arrives...think I might need some help at that point. Here's hoping...

Many thanks.

 

[General Erton]

Maybe u have the boot setting disabled so I will show you how to enable again but this works just if u have disabled that because even I had that disabled.So first u should go to your Menu by pressing esc or other dependet on your computer so it should display a screen of option but any screen.

This is my emachines screen!
Then u should go to main menu or a similar one like this

Then go to f12 boot menu and tap enter so it should be like this :

Then go down and enable that and at the end it should look like this

Then save changes and reboot your computer and then tap F12 so you will go to boot zone....If this helped let me know.

 

[newenglandmom2]

Thanks for trying, but that doesn't help me. There is no F12 Boot Menu (enabled or disabled) in my Setup. the Boot Tab in Setup has only the order in which the computer boots (hard drive, usb, CD, etc). Right now, I can boot only with the OS tools that SIW2 provided. Everything else leads to blank blue screen.

 

[newenglandmom2]

HI--my new SSD drive should arrive today or tomorrow. A local computer repair shop quoted $40 to install it. They also want to load an operating system (for additional fee), so before I decide, what would be involved in transferring the factory.wim I copied to my flash drive? I also have the Dell reinstallation disck for Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit, if that would be easier.

Thanks...getting there!

 

[Megahertz07]

You have learned a lot since your fist post, didn't you? You're almost there. Why to give up now?
To change a HDD with a SSD takes no more than 5 minutes. All you need is a small Philips screw drive.
To install the OS takes longer to be well done and they probably charge much more.

The service manual page 23
http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-15-intel-n5010_service%20manual_en-us.pdf