Solved i cant start up my computer!

[tumbl3w33d]

i have a dell laptop with win7 ultimate installed. yesterday it was working fine. but then i happen to open up webcam(with which i was having troble with earlier), and my comp just restarted and froze on the windows is starting screen. i tried restarting then i got the option to do start up repair, which couldnt repair anything. i tried repairing with my bootcle cd, no response. I cant do system restore, as it says i dont have a previous chek point. i cant use safemode. what to do? Help me.

 

[gregrocker]

It sounds like a bad driver or software for the webcam, which would normally be remedied by System Restore from System Recovery Options on DVD or Repair CD.

If Startup Repair cannot repair it after several tries, then I'd start over and this time get it perfect following the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. In particular test the webcam driver delivered by WIndows Updates which always sets a restore point - this tells me you didn't even run your Windows Updates which is how drivers are delivered in Win7.

Read the steps closely in the tutorial because Win7 is not installed like XP, as the first driver-complete OS.

 

[tumbl3w33d]

isnt there anyother way than reinstalling the OS?

 

[gregrocker]

Not if you don't have a System Restore point, which you would had you installed correctly in the first place receiving your drivers from Windows Updates which sets a Restore point before every set of Updates.

Are you interested in getting it correct this time? If so read tutorial, ask back any questions.

Everything that can be done to start unbootable Win7 is in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start but if your install was ruined by faulty webcam driver/software then normally a restore point is relied upon, and you say you don't have one. Try again from System Recovery Options .

 

[cytherian]

Just an aside--have you tried booting up into safe mode? This will disable all 3rd party drivers so that you won't have any interference (like from your webcam driver). You can get to this option by pressing the F8 button repeatedly right after power up (press it like once per second or slightly faster, so that you catch the menu). Then select SAFE MODE with Networking enabled. If you can get into that interface, uninstall the webcam device, then see if you can boot up normally.

But, if this doesn't work, then I'd follow on with Greg's recommendation.

 

[tumbl3w33d]

system recovery is of no use, Greg. and yes Cytherian, safemode was my second option...but i cant get in. i even tried the directory service repair to no success. lol to think that it hasnt even been a month since i purchased the laptop. and i dont even have a backup of the drivers. i'll have to do a huge load of downloading. can you give me an idea of what i have to download? i have this crazy idea, cant we install a second OS in next drive without formating the main drive?

 

[gregrocker]

I was referring to System Recovery Options which if you click the blue link you will see is are the Windows repair options accessed either by tapping the F8 key at boot, from the booted Win7 DVD provided in Step 5 of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start, or System Repair CD. Are you saying you cannot access these any way?

I thought you had reinstalled which is why you have Ultimate on a PC which ships with Home Premium. So I didn't reference Dell Windows 7 PC Restore since its link is lost once you reinstall, being on the same System Recovery options accessed via F8. You can check to see if it's still there if this was not a reinstall but instead shipped with Ultimate. Running System Restore might be easiest since it sets everything back to factory condition.

If you call Dell which you're entitled to do since a year's tech support is included, they would likely send you a clean copy Dell Reinstallation DVD to do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The same DVD ISO and tool to burn to DVD or write to flash stick is in Steps 1 and 2 of the tutorial.

It also explains that Win7 doesn't require downloading a bunch of drivers as it is driver-complete in the installer and quickly updated via optional Windows Updates. Wait until after all Updates are done to import any missing in Device Manager from the Dell Support Downloads page for your tag number.

 

[tumbl3w33d]

seems i dont have a COA...and dell help is out of question and as everyother option is out. should i reinstall whatever os i have? and how do i make a backup of the drive?

 

[gregrocker]

Did you buy the PC without an OS? If not what OS came with it? It must have a COA sticker if it was sold with an OS.

If Win7 Ultimate didn't come with the PC then where did you get it? How is it activated?

 

[tumbl3w33d]

i bought the pc with the os. it came pre installed with win7 ultimate. i was thinking the os was genuine. but i cant find the sticker. so lol seems lyk the jokes on me.

 

[mitchell65]

Where did you buy the PC?

 

[tumbl3w33d]

i bought it in a shop. lol lets not go into details about that. its a mess. thank you all for the help.

 

[AddRAM]

If you bought it in a shop, it has to be sold with a COA. And you could use it to reinstall windows. It sounds like you don not want to admit the whole story, but here you are asking for help. We are more then happy to help you, but you have to answer any questions when asked.

With that said.

Does the laptop have a COA on it and can you read it ?

If you`d rather not answer, well that`s ok too.

 

[tumbl3w33d]

yes i bought the pc in a shop. Yes it came with a pre installed os. but no my pc doesnt have a COA. Thats the whole story.

 

[mitchell65]

yes i bought the pc in a shop. Yes it came with a pre installed os. but no my pc doesnt have a COA. Thats the whole story.

Was it sold to you as a new PC or Second hand. Was there a warranty issued with it?

 

[crazynlazyguy]

Sounds like the license may not be valid without a COA.

You could always use jelly bean to find your Windows CD key.

However, I would talk to the place you bought it from and if they don't resolve it then I'd report then for selling illegal Windows.

If they are business partners with Microsoft then reporting them might end that relationship. lol

 

[AddRAM]

Or Speccy.

Or Tuneup Utilities.

http://www.piriform.com/speccy

http://www.tune-up.com/?x-rest=&gclid=COac57-LlbQCFcyf4AodUw0AaA

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

 

[AddRAM]

If you bought it from a shop, why is that a mess. Tell them to fix it or give you your money back. End of story.

 

[DavidE]

Did you look under the battery for the COA?

 

[mitchell65]

Or Speccy.

Or Tuneup Utilities.

Speccy - System Information - Free Download

TuneUp Utilities 2013 | Speed Up and Optimize Your PC

KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean

But the OP cannot boot up his PC so he can't download and run anything!