Dratted computer is in trouble ...

[Mara]

Thanks for mentioning the security programs, Seth - I've got AVG, WinPatrol, MalwareBytes, SuperAntispyware (all in zip form and pre-scanned for bugs) placed in one of those little hard-drives, ready to go when my computer put back as good as new...and shall remember to activate all of them prior to heading to the internet to download latest version of FireFox, etc.

 

Have all your instructions written out and will start doing them in just a moment, so thanks again!

 

And RandyL, thank you so very much for your great help!! The computer kept throwing up a pesky wee window from Acrobat Plug-In saying "This operation is not allowed" when I got back to the VAIO site - but it finally worked and I wrote out everything step by step.

 

Now I'm all set! Thank you, thank you and, although I'm not a religious persons, I think of each of you with your immense kindness and patience as 'little angels walking this earth' - gentle smile.

[Mara]

It worked, it worked!! Huge happy smile! (Had to use the F10 way but it worked!)

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[RandyL]

Hi Mara;

For the benefit of other members can you please explain what reinstall method worked for you?

 

I assume the reinstall was from the hard drive and not the disks since you mentioned F10 but I'm not sure.

 

We really would like to know too since we may encounter this problem again. Thanks.

[Mara]

This is what worked ...

 

I know that if I hadn't had the wonderful help here, my poor computer would have been doomed - truly! (Towards the end, just before the 'Recovery process' I couldn't even return to the VAIO site to double-check I'd written instructions off correctly for using the 8 discs, simply because the 'Windows Explorer window closed everything nearly instantly!).

 

I apologize for such a quick 'Yipee!!' note last night and below is the steps followed:

 

1. Turn off your computer (not Restart, but actually off, using 'Start>-Turn off Computer' ... using 'Restart' didn't work for me when doing the below)

 

2. Restart your computer (perhaps wait 3 minutes first as when I didn't, I didn't have any success with the below).

 

3. The instant the VAIO logo appears on the computer's screen, briefly press the F10 key on computer keyboard. (And, if this doesn't work the first time, don't panic - gentle smile - just repeat above steps and this time hit the F10 key hard and often while the VAIO logo is on screen!).

 

4. The VAIO Recovery Wizard will appear on screen ... with a warning about loosing everything within one's computer if you continue...

 

5. Click "I understand" (in my case, this is the first time to see this section - which would explain why the 'next' key would never highlight for me before using this above method).

 

6. Click "Next"

 

For those that have never done this before, the total 'Recovery of C: Drive', don't worry when the screen goes totally black on occassion - it will come back showing which stage it's working on (there are 4 steps it goes through) - and it took about an hour from start to the 'Welcome to Windows' arriving on the screen.

 

And although the Task Bar may start shooting up 'Balloons' asking for updates, etc, I totally ignored them. Figured there would be time enough later to do that and didn't want to risk any action while the process was being done - eep!

 

7. Create a 'Restore Point' now, while computer is lovely and clean! (Thanks for the reminder DSTM!).

 

8. Transfer the 'zipped' Antivirus and AntiMalware software from disc or 'mini hard drive' into your computer - and install.

 

9. Use Start>Restart Computer. While it's shutting down, Microsoft Windows will start updating your computer automatically and then restart.

 

10. Now, update both Antivirus and AntiMalware programs!

 

I'm sure the remainder of the steps involved with reconnecting with the internet and Importing one's bookmarks and email address book, etc, is covered elsewhere within the site, but do have a couple wee hints:

 

a) Before starting the Recovery process of C: Drive, don't just either burn all your important files to CD or transfer onto a mini-harddrive, double check that everything you can't 'live without' has actually survived the transfer!

 

For instance, it was only after the process and when transferring that I realized I'd made an error somewhere along the way. Used FireFox Browser but when 'Exporting' Bookmarks and saving file, I didn't realize it only saved my really old ones from Netscape which had transferred into FireFox bookmarks when I switch computers.

 

And worse, my own 'Personal' file from documents didn't transfer! Darn!

 

b) Never ever start the process of backing everything up to disc or mini-harddrive when you're tired or distracted! Never! Was so so so sure I had everything but alas, completely forgot all my music and video files - eep!

 

Today will be spent downloading and installing all my favourite programs but again, without all the help here, I would have been 'doomed' - gentle smile.

 

My sincere thanks and gentle hugs to all who were so wonderful to help me!

[RandyL]

Thankyou for your very detailed reply Mara. I'm sure it will benefit others.

 

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