Laptop won't load

[Chelsea]

I have a median akoya e5211. My computer just turned off and now I can't get onto it all. I get the menu for F2, F3 and F12 and then it asks me to start windows normally, safe mode etc. And now anytime I click any it starts loading then goes straight back to the first menu. I tried using my recovery disc to repair the computer but after an hour of waiting- nothing happened. Please help. I have 1 other disc labelled application & support that I haven't used. Please help.

[KenB]

Hi Chelsea and welcome to ExTS

 

It doesn't sound hopeful if I am honest.

 

When you get to the Startup Options ( Safe Mode etc ) is there an option to "Repair this Computer"

 

I tried using my recovery disc to repair the computer

The recovery disk will put your system back to the way it was when you first got it out of the box.

All files and data gone !!

Luckily it didn't work - we may be able to access your data for you.

 

Let me know if the Repair option is there and if you have anything on the disk that needs recovering.

 

When you first switch on ..... there should be on screen something that says "press *** to enter Setup"

This is usually F2 or DEL

I want you to try this ( you have to be quick ) and have a look in the BIOS for "Boot Menu" "Boot Order" or something similar.

Once you find it ....

Is the DVD CDROM the first in the boot order ?

 

[ it needs to be if you are going to boot off the recovery disk ]

[Chelsea]

I looked in the boot priority order and it says USB FDC as #1 and USB CD ROM is #5. The repair computer options comes up when I use the disc. I tried that and after restarting computer, the same happens.

[KenB]

Hi again

 

USB FDC as #1 and USB CD ROM is #5

FDC is Floppy Disk Controller - do you have floppy disks or is it a CD?

 

USB CDROM - is your CD Drive inside the case or is it an external one on a cable attached to the USB port ?

 

Can you give me a list of the Boot Options in order please ? - 1st downwards

 

Do you have anything on the drive that you need ?

[Chelsea]

I have CD.

 

Inside the case.

 

The order goes as such: 1. USB FDC 2. IDE CD: Optiarc DVD RE AD-7580A- (P 3. IDE HDD: Hitachi HTS543232L9A300- (S 4. USB KEY: 5. USB CDROM: 6. USB HDD: 7. PCI BEV: Realtek Boot Agent

[KenB]

Hi Chelsea

 

If you go back to the Boot Order the IDE CD Optiarc DVD should be 1st.

 

If you click on the USB FDC on the page ( usually right side ) it will tell you how to move it

Usually with the + / - keys could be up / down arrow.

 

Move the USB FDC down the order to near the bottom.

 

You will need to Save and Exit ( usually F10 )

 

This will not solve your problem - but at least the DVD drive is where it should be. :)

 

Do you need to access the drive to reclaim any files / data ?

[Chelsea]

I did what you said; thank you for the instructions. There's no files I need to reclaim; I don't think I'm bothered about losing files. However I do have a game installed to my computer which I lost the disc too which I'd rather not lose.

[KenB]

I do have a game installed to my computer which I lost the disc too which I'd rather not lose.

I am sorry - that will not be able to be recovered - assuming we will need to re-install that is :)

 

OK.

 

I suspect that your problem lies with the hard drive itself.

To test this I suggest that you download Linux Mint.

This is a complete Operating System - not Windows - that we can use to test my theory.

 

Go here and download Mint to your Desktop.

click here

 

Click on one of the Mirror Sites near to home.

You will need a blank CD ready to put in the drive of your computer.

 

Once you have downloaded the file - click on it and it will automatically go through the burning process and install itself onto the CD.

 

If you put this CD in the drive of the problem computer and switch on it will boot up off this.

Warning

 

DO NOT select the install option. We don't want to install it on your system ( not that it would matter in your case )

We want to run it from the CD itself.

 

Once it boots up this will tell us that the rest of your system is OK and the problem is the hard drive itself.

 

It may be possible to see what is on your drive from here.

Note:

Mint is not Windows - they are 2 different Operating Systems - so navigating around will be different.

 

Let me know how you get on - or if you need more information.