image recovery help

[lostuser]

My wife has a Dell insperon 1545, it has worked great untill a few days ago. Now it will not start. When the laptop is turned on it get to the desk top back ground but thats it, and the pointer for the mouse is there, and will move but is noticably bigger. I have tried things that I have read on this forum like start in safe mode, wont work. Says unable to read memory. I ran a memory check it found no problems. I tried to start from last known good configuration, no luck. All configurations have critical update next to them, all the way back to 11/4/11 I thought I made a recovery disk but cant find it.

I have a hp laptop with windows 7 also, I have made a set of image recovery disks for it, can I use it on the Dell? Not sure what to do next any help would be greatly appreciated. If you have a suggestion please explain well. I am not that experianced troubleshooting a computer.

One more thing a couple day before this happened I opend an email from a friend of mine and the bell and whistles went off from the avg ant virus. It said the threat was stoped, and I deleted it. Turns out it wasn't from him. somehow a bunch of people in his contact list got one, but I'm the only one having this trouble that I know of.

 

[gregrocker]

You can not use another computer's Recovery Disks. As you have likely infection and were using inferior AVG bloatware, follow these steps to clean up and then repair your System:

If Safe Mode is not working, download, burn to CD or write to flash stick, boot and run a full scan with Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

Once the System is clean, boot into System Recovery Options via the F8 menu or disks as shown in tutorial, run Startup Repair repeatedly no matter what it reports. Post back results.

If this fails, try System Restore from Recovery Options list, then if that fails open a Command Line to run SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot

If these all fail you can copy out your data using your Windows 7 DVD or Repair CD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console or Paragon Rescue CD.
System Repair Disc - Create

Then run Factory Recovery from its partition or disks you made or order from Tech Support, or find a Windows 7 installation DVD to clean reinstall using Product Key on COA sticker: Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings
Clean Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[lostuser]

ok so I found my window 7 reinstallation cd. I put it in started from cd/dvd and all was going good. Selected language, accepted lic. terms. Chose custom install. had three drivers to choose from second one was highlighted. started install. Got to expanding files 42%, then a box pops up and says installations cant be found please make sure installations are avalible. Started over now it shows no drivers. Rescan still none. Started over totally and on start up I get cant find bootmgr. I have the drivers and utilities dvd

When i put it in i get to choices

1 run 32 bit dell diag.

Q Quit without an action (return to DOS)

choose 1

running memory test now hardware test next I guess.......

how can i reinstall drivers so i can reinstall windos 7?

where do i reinstall windows 7 to recovery or system?

Should i format for install?

Thanks for any help

 

[bigmck]

ok so I found my window 7 reinstallation cd. I put it in started from cd/dvd and all was going good. Selected language, accepted lic. terms. Chose custom install. had three drivers to choose from second one was highlighted. started install. Got to expanding files 42%, then a box pops up and says installations cant be found please make sure installations are avalible. Started over now it shows no drivers. Rescan still none. Started over totally and on start up I get cant find bootmgr. I have the drivers and utilities dvd

When i put it in i get to choices

1 run 32 bit dell diag.

Q Quit without an action (return to DOS)

choose 1

running memory test now hardware test next I guess.......

how can i reinstall drivers so i can reinstall windos 7?

where do i reinstall windows 7 to recovery or system?

Should i format for install?

Thanks for any help

You need to install it on your C: drive. Use this tutorial to guide you through. Make a copy of it before you start. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html . Start your PC with the Win 7 disk in the drive. Make sure you have your bios set for the DVD drive to boot first. If not sure about that, please ask. Let us know how it goes. == Your Win 7 disk should have all the drivers you need. If not it will search the internet after installation for the ones needed.

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds like you're not booting the DVD correctly. Put it in the tray, reboot computer, tap the Dell F12 key repeatedly to trigger the one-time BIOS Boot Menu, select DVD drive, Press Any Key to boot DVD when prompted.

Follow these steps to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[lostuser]

Thanks for the responses this is where I stand......

Ok, this is not making any sense. When I boot from cd/dvd now it starts:

press any key to boot from cd/dvd

windows is loading files (takes a minute or two)

then "Starting Windows" on screen

then the windows icon comes in

then I get a black screen with a larger mouse pointer. I left it that way when I went to work and it was still that way when I got home.

Think I may have to take it somewhere.

 

[gregrocker]

Is this the Reinstallation DVD which came with this computer? Is it scratched or dirty, as this problem is often the fault of the installer.

Try burning this official Win7 ISO to DVD or write to flash stick to try install again: http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso Windows 7 Home Premium x64 English
Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

If this fails, try wiping the HD: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Can you run Dell Diagnostics from its partition using the key shown on first boot screen?

 

[mjf]

You generally have 2 reinstallation options with Dell.
(1) Factory Restore using a recovery partition or (factory) restore DVDs supplied or made by yourself when you purchased the PC.
(2) A clean install of Windows provided you ordered that DVD option from Dell.

Which one are you attempting?
In the case case of (2) your HDD may need to be prepared (format/partitioned) for a clean install.

 

[lostuser]

@ gregrocker the dvd doesn't appear to be scratched. I will try your suggestion.

@mjf I am using the reinstallation dvd that came with the computer. I started it up yesterday and all seemed fine. I got the install screen, then selected my language agreed to terms all of that. It asked me where to install i think and gave me three options the first was listed as reserved, the second as recovery the third as OS. I think I chose the second, it started throught the install and at 42% of files expanded it quit. Know it wont let me back to start over. I just get the black screen.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you saying you deliberately installed onto the Recovery Partition?

Try wiping the HD with Diskpart Clean command then boot the DVD to try install again:
SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[lostuser]

I am unable to get to a command prompt screen. All I gret know is a black screen with pointer. I have tried booting from reinstallation disk, I have tried f8, safe mode with prompt, and f8 repair my computer, to get to advanced racovery options where I could select command prompt. Is there any other way to enter command prompt.

I have down loaded this Official ISO Downloads and soon as I get to town to get more dvds I will burn it and try this. What do recommend flash stick or dvd?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[gregrocker]

Either, probably stick since you can't boot a disk so far.

 

[lostuser]

I have a 8 gb stick and thought I was ready to go. When I opened the dvd/usb download tool and select the file from my downloads folder it says it it's not a valid iso file. please select a valid iso file and try again. What am I not doing right?

 

[gregrocker]

Did you download the complete ISO from link given? Check size.

If so then try Universal USB Installer with Win7 in dropdown menu.

 

[siberian7]

help please, I used this iso of win7 when restore and redoing my hard drive. the computer has been running perfect but now it says I only have 2 days to enter an activation key or I will lose features of windows? any advice?

 

[gregrocker]

help please, I used this iso of win7 when restore and redoing my hard drive. the computer has been running perfect but now it says I only have 2 days to enter an activation key or I will lose features of windows? any advice?

How is it activated? Did you use the key on COA sticker which came with the computer? If not where did you buy Win7?

Go to Control Panel>System and insert the key again, use phone activation if necessary.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

any advice?

Yes.

Activate Windows.

Type activate into the start button search box and investigate the choices.

 

[theog]

where do I get the key? is it on the sticker on the tower? thats all I have at this point

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?


For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
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