Full System Restore

The only way to do it then is to buy a copy of whatever windows version she's running and install it, but it is recommended that you buy Windows XP because it's the easiest to find.
 
lethalAE86typeR
She's on XP, sorry for posting in the wrong forum, but theres more traffic here.
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The people that look at the computer forum every day might not come here to look every day.

Buy an OS CD as everybody else said, or see if the PC will let you make recovery disks.
 
What state is the computer in? Why does she think she needs to restore it (something quite bad must have happened)? Why does she think she needs to restore it (where did she get the idea to restore it)? What exactly do you and her mean by restoring it? Do you want to completely wipe the computer and start again, or just repair the operating system?

And yes ironically you're more likely to get an answer posting in the less populated Computer forum than the more populated Rumble Strip purely because in the Computer forum you're more likely to find people who know you're talking about. That's why there is a Computer forum.
 
lethalAE86typeR
My friend is having some trouble restoring her pc. I dont know how to restore it, can someone help?
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You need to give A LOT more information than this. Like:

- Operating system
- Availability of media
- Availability of internet connection
- Brand of PC (may be useful)

But most importantly you need to let us know FROM WHAT you're restoring the computer. I.e. what event triggered the decision to reformat?
 
Yes, brand of PC can be pretty useful. I know for a fact that newer compaqs have seperate partitions on their hard drives for restoring the computer. And the cool thing is, you dont lose your music/photos/documents etc. unfortunately it does uninstall any program on your machine that wasn't there the day it was used.
 
This is an old thread but Instead of making a new one I will use this one because it has to do with the exact same thing. Like the person who created this thread...Im also Restoring my system to original specs, I got both the CD's that came with the PC and i got about 5 pages on how to do it. And I have tried several times to do it and it has not worked. Here's what I have to do...

1. Turn on Computer
2. Insert the Restore CD #1 into the optical drive (D:) before your computer boots up.
3. Restoration procedures will be started.
4. When the Microsoft Windows Startup Menu appears, type the number 1 and press enter.

Now I do "1" and "2" but I have an external CDRW Drive and I think that might be the problem. When I turn on the computer the screen that comes on is a big E and it stays there for less than a few secs and then the "Microsoft Windows XP" logo comes on with the little blue lines...I place the disk in and wait, but nothing happens. Is this only for internal drives??
 
Try putting in the disc before/while it is shutting down. Maybe you need to boot from the CD or something? See if you can boot from it by pressing F12 (it may be different on your PC) before you get to the XP logo. I have no idea if it will work or not, but it is worth a shot.
 
Ebiggs
Try putting in the disc before/while it is shutting down. Maybe you need to boot from the CD or something? See if you can boot from it by pressing F12 (it may be different on your PC) before you get to the XP logo. I have no idea if it will work or not, but it is worth a shot.
Click to expand...

well thanks for the info, but it didnt work. I wonder if there's a way to make windows boot onto the D drive, so the CD would load up and run....Hmmm
 
How is your drive attached? Is it usb? I think the problem is that your drive is only recognized in Windows as it needs drivers loaded. When you try and boot from it, the drivers haven't been loaded at that point so the PC can't see the external CDRW drive, in order to run the Windows CD that's in it.
 
This may be too complicated but the boot sequence might be the wrong way round. You need to go into the BIOS (setup) and make sure it checks the CD before booting from the hard disk.
 
DQ
This may be too complicated but the boot sequence might be the wrong way round. You need to go into the BIOS (setup) and make sure it checks the CD before booting from the hard disk.
Click to expand...

That would do the same thing that I suggested though I think. Isn't that just changing the boot order?
 
so how would I make it do that?? oh and how do I go into the bios? when the PC starts there arent any options to start in bios. :(
 
Ok so I got the drive to start off the CD drive, I re-installed the CD drive built into the PC and it was all good. The restoration process began and was installing when all of a sudden..bam an error occured. So now not only do I have no OS, but the PC wont even boot up from the black and the white underslash blinking. While the restoring is in process, it stops. And I get the following message.

"Output A:/GHOSTERR.TXT?" and when this happens the process shows that itsw on this file: "2778 HWXKOR.DLL"
 
Silverzone
Yes, brand of PC can be pretty useful. I know for a fact that newer compaqs have seperate partitions on their hard drives for restoring the computer. And the cool thing is, you dont lose your music/photos/documents etc. unfortunately it does uninstall any program on your machine that wasn't there the day it was used.
Click to expand...

Really? That's interesting. My compaq doesn't, but my mum's acer does.
 
daan
No, scooby is using it now as his problem is similar.
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yea Im still using this thread, I dont like starting new threads if there's already one on the same subject that Im in. And now I have a PC that will not complete the "Restoration" process. It starts off fine, the CD begins to install, and at a half way point I get the message I put earlier. :(
 
scoobyonline200
Ok so I got the drive to start off the CD drive, I re-installed the CD drive built into the PC and it was all good. The restoration process began and was installing when all of a sudden..bam an error occured. So now not only do I have no OS, but the PC wont even boot up from the black and the white underslash blinking. While the restoring is in process, it stops. And I get the following message.

"Output A:/GHOSTERR.TXT?" and when this happens the process shows that itsw on this file: "2778 HWXKOR.DLL"
Click to expand...

Guessing, sounds like it's trying to write an error log to the floppy, which might be useful. If you have a floppy drive (many current machines don't) put a blank disk in when the restore process starts.

Your description of a big 'e' on the screen makes me think of e-machines, which have never impressed me. Not even a little.

An external USB drive can be booted from, depending on the BIOS settings and capability, but probably not restored from.

This might be as simple as a read error on the restore media. Is it all scratched up, maybe visible holes (even tiny ones) you can see through? Is it a burned disc or factory? I say it like it's simple, but if you can't read the restore media, you're kinda screwed, unless you can get replacement media from the manufacturer, either online or ordered by phone.
 
wfooshee
Guessing, sounds like it's trying to write an error log to the floppy, which might be useful. If you have a floppy drive (many current machines don't) put a blank disk in when the restore process starts.

Your description of a big 'e' on the screen makes me think of e-machines, which have never impressed me. Not even a little.

An external USB drive can be booted from, depending on the BIOS settings and capability, but probably not restored from.

This might be as simple as a read error on the restore media. Is it all scratched up, maybe visible holes (even tiny ones) you can see through? Is it a burned disc or factory? I say it like it's simple, but if you can't read the restore media, you're kinda screwed, unless you can get replacement media from the manufacturer, either online or ordered by phone.
Click to expand...

Well I see what you mean. We got an e-machines because it was cheap and ...well I guess we got what we paid for. (it was $250.00). I'll keep messing with it and the CD we got with the PC is clean, no scratches.
 
Well first off, I want to say that Fry's Electronics at Manhatan Beach, CA is the worst Service place ever. $69.99 just for a troubleshoot is too much, and 2nd they try to get more money off of you for simple fixes. In my opinion, they shouldnt charge you if they arent able to fix it. Anywho here's the reason...

I took it in to get fixed, for some reason my PC wont complete a "Windows Restore" from the Restore CD that came with it. As in my first post the problem occured at a certain point during the installation and fails to continue after that. So being that I like fry's, I took it in for service. They told me they'll do a troubleshoot to see whats wrong, and it would cost $69.99. A little steep but I shrugged it off and went ahead with it. I really need this PC so I didnt 2nd think it right there and paid the fee. Well 5 days passed and I get a call. They tell me that the problem is with the CD drive and that everything else is ok. So they say they can re-install windows for me and I said ok. Well during the conversation I asked about a new drive but never said or gave the OK to install a new one. I get there and it turns out he installed a new one and they gave me a fee of $119.00!!! I just paid 69.00 just to tell me whats wrong, and now I got to pay 119 for a drive I dont need? I got 2 used ones at home from previous PC's and I got a USB External drive as well. Well they decided to remove the drive and they gave me back the PC. I get home, and nothing is fixed! what happened to the windows reinstall?? Fry's electronics service is the worst. And I'll never go back for any sort of work. Now this have tainted any hope for me. I would take it to best buy or circuit city, but I bet they charge the same and for nothing. Now Im sitting here with a good PC that doesnt work. I got it to run with the other Drives, and it beings to Re-Install...but the same problem occurs and I dont know what to do. :( Anyone know of any good place to take a PC for repairs around the Los Angeles Area?? Even if its a 30 minute drive or whatever but I really need help. :(
 
Sphinx
Scooby,
http://www.bootdisk.info/forum/index.php?showtopic=37&st=0

I'm not sure if you've read this but it's worth a shot. Make sure you read all of it as there are a number of solutions flying around in there and will enable you to understand the problem better.
Click to expand...


thanks alot, apperantly I'm not the only one with the problem. I think I'll use that site for help on this issue being that there are others with the same issue as I am having so I guess we can close this thread, unless it can be used again. Which I hope wont be me. At any rate, thanks alot for the info and help..its been really great! oh and you guys were by far WAY better than fry's. ;)
 

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