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I will never buy a computer again without a back-up disk from the factory. If the factory disk does delete everthing there is no problem because I don't have anything important to lose. I did burn a back-up disk of my files at one time and also burned a computer restored software disk which won't work for some reason.
If the operating system will not come up, i would purchase a drive converter, and get the data off yourself. There is no guarantee that the repair with the cd will work. That's because the restore registry entry could be corrupted. And in that case, there is no hope but to use the drive converter to get the data off.
I will never buy a computer again without a back-up disk from the factory. If the factory disk does delete everthing there is no problem because I don't have anything important to lose. I did burn a back-up disk of my files at one time and also burned a computer restored software disk which won't work for some reason.
Before everyone flames me for going off-topic and/or trying to convert someone to linux, let me offer something that may be a way to save useable data from the hard drive before you restore. You can download a Ubuntu installation that will run from a CD, so that you can boot up your computer without having to use the hard drive at all. You can then try to access the hard drive to see if you can find and backup your data using a flash drive before you wipe the hard drive and restore the Windows OS.
Of course, if it's easier for you to remove the hard drive and install it into another computer, by all means do that. But if you don't know how to do this using a drive converter, and/or you're hesitant to spend the money on a drive converter, you might try the ubuntu option, since the download is free, and it will only require you to use a CD-R. And you run the whole thing from the CD - you don't have to have a working hard drive for this to work.
Never mind, I see that you're not worried about saving any data.
OR, if the computer you are using to post here has Vista, create a back-up disk.
Start the computer from a boot disk. Obviously you are using someone else's computer or another household computer to post on here. Once you get the computer started with a boot disk, save all your files to disk, then worry about trying to fixing your computer.
What is a boot disk? A boot disk will allow you to boot off of a diskette instead of your hard drive. This diskette can be used to fix issues that may arise during the lifetime of your computer and/or to help load older MS-DOS games. Keep in mind this diskette is completely different than a Restore CD or Disc that may have been included with your computer. Tip: After you have created a boot diskette, it is highly recommended that you write-protect the diskette to prevent possible computer virus infection and to help the diskette from being erased. (source: http://www.computerhope.com/boot.htm)
John, you've gotten a lot of good advice here. If you use a Vista boot disk or a Ubunto bootable CD, you'll at least find out if your hard disk is readable without spending any money. Then you can decide the best way for you to get it running again.
Thank you all for the information. I have a laptop and my problem computer is a desktop. Desktop is over three years old. I could buy another hard drive but I would have to buy another operating system. I only use my desktop for the internet and nothing else.
I may be spoiled by the fact I have a copy of it. So forget the link. So yeah the live cd would be best.
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