my laptop has a BSOD. I need help on repairing it

[KayRigg]

I have a Gateway netbook and it crashed a few weeks ago, it gets as far as the Windows screen with the balls that turns into the Windows logo. Then it flashes the BSOD and it restarts the computer. I have ran the Startup Recovery. But I cannot restore it because I didn't have any restore points. I have been at it a lot, now it wont boot the Startup Recovery because it freezes. I have also read other thread saying I should run the computer in safe mode and run commands in the command prompt. But it begins to run the drivers, then it flashes the blue screen and restart the computer all over again. I don't have any CDs, DVDs or flash drives that can boot the laptop. I am Not sure if this can even be fixed. At this point I am clueless and I don't what to do. Can you guys give me any tips ?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Kay and welcome now try running this it will scan the machine from power up and is and runs independent from Windows just in case you have picked up something nasty
Download Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10 you will of course need to make the bootable disk on another machine.

If it comes to a reinstall then we can let you know how to recover data from the drive by using another bootable disk - if necessary

 

[KayRigg]

Thank you for replying. But after running the program more than once, the scan didn't find any threats or viruses. Is there anything else I can try or will I have to buy a new hard drive ?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Alright Kay now have you got all the data backed up?? because it does look like it might have to be a reinstall
As you cannot boot this machine you could have a go at retrieving absolutely essential data using a Ubuntu OS bootable disk or stick see this


BOOTABLE UBUNTU

Make a bootable Ubuntu disk http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Set the BIOS to boot from the optical when the machine boots it will show you a screen with TRY or INSTALL >select TRY.You can of course remove the hard driveand any other drives when doing this as if the optical alone is the only drive left in the machine then the BIOS will only find the optical to boot from.

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.

N.B. Just for interest you can scan for viruses with the bootable Ubuntu as well - read this article it details the process really well and there is a list at the end that gives other scanners besides Avast

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14434/scan-a-windows-pc-for-viruses-from-a-ubuntu-live-cd/

(to read type (or easier) - copy / paste this address into the address bar and hit Enter). It is fairly involved if you have never used Ubuntu or done this before but it is worth the patience to do.
The latter part is out of interest and you can stick to the first part of my ditty. Of course you will need another machine to make the disk or stick but I am guessing you will know that