[Solved] NLS Data missing ... Acer Aspire 5742 374G32Mnkk ... Windows 7 Home Prem OA

[Ray1000]

There seems to be quite a bit on the internet about this problem and I probably should do some reading before asking ... but if you don't mind too much ... is there a quick fix ... the laptop belongs to a neighbours child and she doesn't have any discs with it.

 

Thank you

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Ray, having no disks may be a problem if you cannot find a recovery partition on the drive, have you looked if there is one?

 

The fault from what I have learned on a quick look round, does seem to be a corruption of the Windows operating system so a copy of it is needed in one form or another.

 

Fortunately there may be a rescue path if it is needed, though not familiar with it so after taking note of this thread from KenB and downloading the correct version of Windows 7.

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/14964-Re-Install-Win-7-on-OEM-Legal-Download

 

Follow instructions for burning a disk and hopefully Ken will be able to help further, as a rescue or system repair by this method is something I am not familiar with, though I think it should be possible.

 

if needing a free ISO image burner http://infrarecorder.org/ Is a good small and free program to use.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi,

 

Before you try the Digital River download ( it is legal ) try this:

 

Switch on and constantly tap F8 about once per second.

This will take you to the Advanced Boot Options.

There should be an option "Repair your Computer" ..........if there is ....give this a try.

 

Alternatively ....

Acer usually have a recovery partition.

Switch on ...... hold CTRL down and tap F10

 

NOTE:

Using the recovery partition or the Digital River solution will wipe all content off the hard drive.

The recovery method will revert the computer to exactly how it was when first bought - including all of the bloatware ( Anti-Virus free trial etc etc )

You will lose all installed software - saved files - photos etc.

 

It may be possible to access these if you take the hard drive out and connect it to another machine using an external enclosure or hard drive to USB adapter. ( both are quite cheap to buy )

[Ray1000]

Thank you Nev and Ken,

 

F10 says [/NOEXECUTE=OPTIN]

Nothing to choose and it only responds to ENTER taking it back to the NLS data message.

 

F8 ...

It wont start in safe mode

All of the other options take it back to the NLS data message

 

I do have an enclosure for the hard drive but I don't think there is anything of great value on the machine.

 

Should I start the Digital River process?

 

Ray

[Ray1000]

Disc done ... boot order changed to USB CDROM ... inserted DVD into laptop ... re-started ... just goes to NLS data message.

 

In between it did manage to run the memory check which ended with no faults found

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

Download "Seatools for DOS" from here:

click here

( click on Downloads in the link )

 

Burn it to a CD then use it to check out your hard drive.

 

If the hard drive passes we will need to take it out and connect it to another machine to run a couple more checks.

Unless you have a drive that can be used as a replacement ?

[Ray1000]

Thank you Ken,

 

I'll let you know how I go on.

 

Ray

[Ray1000]

Right Ken ... made the disc and checked it on the desktop ... but no response from the ACER

 

I didn't mention it before but they brought two laptops round with similar problems ... the other one being a tatty, older, Sony Vaio PCG 7144M on Vista ... I tried the Seatools for DOS disc in and it did a short scan, saying there was a HD problem ... suggested a long scan, but when the long scan starts it stops shortly afterwards saying it was user aborted.

 

All of which proves the disc would work if the ACER knew it was there.

 

The message on the Sony Vaio by the ay is ... A Disc read error occurred.

 

 

Ray

[Ray1000]

At 20.52 Monday ... connected removed HD to desk top via SATA/USB ... all the details are showing, it just opened as you would expect ... what to do now?

[Ray1000]

There's nothing showing in My Docs or My Pictures ... not even the sample pictures ... odd!

 

A lot of the folders in "view" are showing as empty ... Windows in the meantime shows as being over 6GB

Edited March 11, 2013 by Ray1000

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

If you have the drive out and connected to another machine ....

 

Click on Computer and make a note of the drive letter for the drive.

Let's assume "X"

 

Then Start .....type in .....cmd ......right click on cmd.exe that will show up top left if using Vista or Win 7.

( if using XP cmd will be fine )

Now hit ENTER

 

At the command prompt type in chkdsk X: /r /f ............ENTER ............[ note the spaces ]

X is the drive letter of your problem hard drive.

 

After the scan you can try the hard drive in the problem machine again and see if there is any difference.

[Ray1000]

Thank you Ken, I'm constantly amazed at your knowledge.

 

The chkdsk looked promising as it repaired some files and replaced some bad sectors but had the same response when returned to the faulty laptop.

 

Would not respond to the Windows 7 or the DOS disc ... shows the NLS data missing message.

 

 

I have the boot order correct.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

I still suspect that hard drive.

 

Download Seatools ( Windows ) click here

There is a PDF guide on the page. Click on "Downloads" from the link.

This version installs onto the system.

 

Connect up your problem hard drive to the good computer.

 

Seatools will identify all connected drives and you will need to put a check in the box against the problem one.

 

Run Seatools and let us know the results please :)

[Ray1000]

Something amiss with this one Ken,

 

Starting the Seatools for Windows brings up a new box saying searching for drives ...but it goes on for several minutes with the CPU running at 100% and seemingly doing nothing. There as no choice of language as it says in the PDF the search starts directly from the desktop icon.

 

There was a need to download Net Framework 4 before it would load.

 

I'll turn the machine off and try again.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

Try unplugging the problem drive and see if the Seagate software runs normally now.

It should detect the internal system hard drive.

[Ray1000]

Hi Ken,

 

No it doesn't seem to be compatible with my desktop ... it wouldn't work with the faulty drive unplugged from the USB.

 

Thinking it might be something to do with it being downloaded before the required Net Framework 4 I removed the program and downloaded it again.

 

It is the full 28MB and the box says ... SCSI Scanning for supported drives.

 

Nothing happens even after 15 minutes and there is no exit button ... used Control Alt Del to close it.

 

The CPU was on 99% all the time it was running.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

Attach the problem hard drive to the second computer again.

If the hard drive is recognised in "Computer" make a note of the drive letter. ( Let's say X )

 

Then Start ....type in ....cmd ......right click on cmd.exe that appears top left of screen > Run as Administrator

At the prompt type:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=X:\ /offwindir=X:\windows .................where X is the drive letter of your drive.

[note the spacings]

 

Again - you can try this a couple of times.

=============

 

Regarding using the Digital River option ........... we will leave this as a last resort.

[Ray1000]

Have I got the spaces correct Ken ... this is what happens ... is there something else I need to do?

 

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj161/JRD81/Ken-1.jpg

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

You have the spacing correct.

 

The problem is that you are using an XP machine.

The system files will be different.

 

I assumed that you would be using a more recent OS. - sorry.

 

===============

 

OK - let's try another tack.

 

Download Ubuntu from here

click here

 

Select 32 bit.

 

Burn it to a CD.

 

Put it in your CDROM drive and switch on.

The Ubuntu OS will begin the install process.

 

You will be given an option to install or run from the CD.

DO NOT select install.

You want to run it from the CD.

 

See if Ubuntu will boot up.

 

If it does then the hardware - motherboard etc is probably OK and the problem is with the hard drive.

 

You could have the hard drive installed before trying the Ubuntu CD and when Ubuntu boots up you could take a look at the hard drive to see if you can see any of your files / photos etc.

 

Let me know how you get on with this.

[Ray1000]

Thank you for that Ken,

 

I'll have a look later ...

 

Could I just ask about the following logic ... I'm sure there will be something amiss ...

 

Is it practical to connect the HD from the laptop to my desktop via USB as before, and completely re-format the H drive ... as though I were going to use it in a case for external storage purposes ... then replace the empty HD into the laptop and boot it up with the downloaded Windows 7 disc?

 

Presumably the success depends on whether it is a physical problem on the HD or an information problem?

 

And if it turned out to be a physical problem on the HD it would want renewing anyway.

 

Memo ... when it is coupled via USB it does respond and open up as it should.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

Your logic is quite sound.

 

Presumably the success depends on whether it is a physical problem on the HD or an information problem?

That is what I was trying to determine by using Ubuntu - i.e. using the re-install as a last resort.

 

If you want to go down that route - no problem at all.

Give it a go.

 

I think Nev pointed you to the tutorial that I posted ( see post #2 )

 

You must be sure that the OS that you are installing is exactly the same as the one that the Product Code relates to - otherwise it will not validate.

[Ray1000]

Thanks Ken,

 

Having re-read the posts I can now see you had it in mind to leave the re-format till last.

 

You must be sure that the OS that you are installing is exactly the same as the one that the Product Code relates to.

 

On the Laptop it says ... Windows 7 Home Prem OA X16 96072

 

From the web site I downloaded ... Windows 7 Home Premium SP1-U ISO English x86: X17 58996

 

It seemed to be the nearest and I think the one you had used.

 

Ray

[KenB]

That looks like the one.

 

Are you going to give it a go ?

[Ray1000]

Yes I will Ken,

 

More particularly as the Ubuntu failed to do anything, although it could be my fault ... I haven't quite got the hang of burning images ... I seem to do something different each time!

 

Ray

[KenB]

I am just on my way out - I am away for a couple of days.

Will pick this up when I get back.