Unable to start laptop through any method

[masplin]

My Vaio laptop refuses to start up and gives me a choice of start-up repair. Leaving this running for several hours it eventually gets to system restore. When I try and restore to an earlier point I get an error 0x80071a91. I cannot start in safe mode as loads the files and then does nothing. Can I assume the system is completely knackered and my only choice now is a repair install from the installation disc which will wipe the HD?

Thansk for any advice.

 

[quickdraw2011]

Are you getting a (BSOD) blue screen of death, at any time?

IF not, follow these instructions.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/win7-windows-7-mbr,10036.html

On Vaio, if you need to change the boot order to the DVD drive. Reboot and start taping the ESC key to enter setup options.

You will need a Windows 7 System Recovery Disc

 

[masplin]

no BSOD. It worked yesterday and then when I booted up last night it just went into start-up repair. Start-up repairs fails and in the log the only thing that has failed is "system file integrity check and repair". Can't get into safe mode and the restore option fails with the above error. All sounds pretty bad. Vaios don't come with any discs but have found one I labelled Win7 Boot so I'm hoping this will get me somewhere.

 

[quickdraw2011]

Does the HDD make any clicking noises?

Are there any beep sounds?

If you'd like we can run an extended scan on the HDD first. This is to check for problems with the drive, However, this test will take about 2.5 hours for a 1TB size HDD to complete. Let me know where you'd like to start first.

This Windows 7 Boot disc. Shortly after buying the computer, did windows prompt you to create a Recovery disc? If so, this is most likely the one you made which you are calling boot dics? If this is so, then you'll need to load it into the optical drive then reboot the machine. If the machine starts running the disc, just follow the prompts. If it does not, we will need to change the machines boot order. So, that it will boot first from the optical drive. This is were you'll need to start taping the ESC as the machine starts. This will take you into setup options. In here you will need to change the boot order, so the DVD drive becomes the first device to start, or boot. I can go into this in more detail if the machine does not run from the disc right off.

I'll be shutting down soon, but someone else here on the site can further assist you. Prehaps, they may want to try another approach.

Quickdraw

 

[masplin]

There is some clicking from the HD when it starts up, no beeps. Yup got it booted form the disc ok and went in repair install where it found the Win7 installation fine. However seems to just be running startup repair again which has bene going for about 30 minutes so assume I will get a similar non-result at the end. This is actually my daughters laptop so I have no idea how it has been behaving althoguh she did admit to seeing the start-up repir beofre, but it worked so she didn't mention it.

If this doesn't work I guess I will have the option to completely reinstall the OS from the disc? I don't believe there is anything valuable on here as she used dropbox for all her work.

 

[quickdraw2011]

Good call on her part using dropbox. OK, if the machine automatically went back to repair. Your still booting off the HDD. You'll need to do the ESC key at reboot. If you are not taken into a setup window. Let me know. Your machine may require you to tap on the F2 key instead.

 

[masplin]

i think it booted from the disc as it brought up the "press any key to boot from DVD". I kileld the start-up repair and rebooted and doing the same again. Get a grey bar along the bottom "windows is loading files" so pretty sure this is off the disc? Then I get the install window. I clicked "repair computer" instead of "install now". This loads up system recovery options showing a windows 7 installation. When I click next I go into start-up repair. I'll leave it runnnig until it gets to some conclusion, but given the time I'm not optimistc.

 

[seavixen32]

Hello masplin.

You may need to run a startup repair three times, although I have to say things don't look promising.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

You might want to consider a clean install, as this extensive tutorial explains.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

You might want to check this Sony guide: https://www.docs.sony.com/Release/VGNT300series_Recoveryguide.pdf

It's in PDF format so you'll need something like Adobe Reader to decipher it.
Other than that you may want to try a restore to factory state if you have a set of Vaio recovery discs.

 

[quickdraw2011]

Great! If it's running the disc. Instead of choosing repair, start it again and choose to reinstall, format, what ever they say in those terms. I'm not on my Windows 7 rig. I'm on my XP rig. So, don't remember the exact terms they use. Anyway, I told another member about you. Because I'm pulling the plug. Pass my bed time. Maybe he'll stop by to help out. If not we will have to continue about 10 hours from now. But, someone else also may comment. Good night. Hope the disc takes you into the system recovery.

 

[quickdraw2011]

Hello masplin.

You may need to run a startup repair three times, although I have to say things don't look promising.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

You might want to consider a clean install, as this extensive tutorial explains.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

Other than that you may want to try a restore to factory state if you have a set of Vaio recovery discs.

Thanks, for the assit. Good night all.

 

[masplin]

Thanks quickdraw. I'm going to let system repair run to a conclusion as think that might let me get to a dos prompt and i can look at the partitions as per the 3 repair link. I don't seem to have created any factory recovery discs so will resort to a clean install if all else fails. Thanks for the tips. Mike

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome.

At this stage I'd say you're looking at a clean install, but it does make sense to let the system repair run its course.

If a startup repair and an attempted clean install don't do the job it'll be time to consider whether you need a new hard drive. Is your computer still covered by a Sony warranty?

 

[masplin]

Oh dear. Tried to do a clean install and found it crashed with error 0x80070002 "windows cannot install etc". Heard quite bit of grating and one peep. When I tried again the "where do you want to install windows" box is blank i.e no partitions showing. It says "no drives found click load drivers to provide mass storage information" but where do I find a driver for the HD? Does this mean the HD has failed, despite the start-up repair report saying it was fine? Anything i can do to check the HD?

 

[masplin]

Rebooted and trying an intall from a microsoft boxed disc instead of the boot disc I made from the Vaio. At least the partitions have reappeared in the installation process. Waiting to see if it crashes again as currently expanding files.

 

[masplin]

Failed miserably with lots of horrible noises. Have ordered a new HDD as think it has had it's chips.

 

[SIW2]

Sounds like it.

Lucky there was no valuable data on there.

 

[masplin]

And how she has come home and admitted to dropping it at school yesterday!!!

 

[seavixen32]

Now she tells you! It would have saved you a lot of bother if you'd been told yesterday.

Post back if you need further help with fitting the new hard drive.