Re: Dell Vostro 1710 start up problem
UnsteadyKen
> Does anyone know where I can download a free Vista recovery disk for the
> above laptop computer? My daughter's laptop won't boot up. I've tried this
> and that, pressed F8 and F12 etc but can't get into recovery mode. When the
> laptop starts the screen says this:
>
> Windows failed to start, ... If windoes files have been damaged or
> configured incorrectly start up repair can help.
>
I had been looking for a vista boot disk for ages, but there doesn't
appear to be anything easily available, the only thing I could ever
find was this:
http://goo.gl/jeLL
which may help to get it working however...
This involves downloading a 120MB ISO disk image using a torrent
client. It is on a very slow server, so I never bothered to download
it. I've just had another look at it and it estimates it will take
about 8 hours to download.
If you are comfy with ISO's and torrent clients then it would be worth
a try.
I take it that your daughter did not get a Vista disk with the pc and
didn't make a recovery disk with the Dell utility?
If she does have the Vista or recovery disks then she could reinstall
Vista by going into the BIOS setup using the F2 key on boot and setting
the laptop to boot from the DVD drive and then following the prompts.
I've seen this sort of error before and it is usually caused by a
missing vital system file and a reinstall of the OS is usually needed
to cure it.
--
Ken O'Meara
http://www.btinternet.com/~unsteadyken/
UnsteadyKen
> Maybe my daughter should ring Dell and see if they can advise but I don't
> hold out much hopes for that.
Me neither.
The only thing I can suggest is if you are near a PC world store
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/
They keep a stock of the various Windows OS disks and should be able to
do a reinstall if the sticker with the serial etc,to prove it is
genuine is on the computer. They may even be able to save the contents
of the "My Documents" folder and other personal data.
I got this done for a friend at my local store in Kettering, it took a
few hours and cost ￜ30 or ￜ40.
Of course if you can get hold of a Vista disk from anywhere, then you
could boot from that and attempt the repair.
It's daft that you don't get the OS disk with a new computer, I mean
how much do they save and it causes so much grief when things go wrong.
I'm in the same boat with this laptop, fingers crossed an weekly
backups.
Faolan
> Does anyone know where I can download a free Vista recovery disk for the
> above laptop computer?
You can't download them, you have to acquire the disks from Dell or a
friendly techie, as you've got the key for the OS on the base of the
machine and the DVD media works for all versions of Vista (and
architecture x86 and x64 for non-oem iirc). The Vostro if I remember
comes with several disks the ones you need are the green and blue one
for the OS and the Drivers. All Dell machines come with these, and you
can buy them again from Dell themselves.
I've had to do a few re-installs on these machines for Dell, it's a
fairly painless process.
Pete C
"AriesVal" <v...@invalidcopelands.plus.com> wrote in message
news:7rgemj...@mid.individual.net...
> to
> look for the disks that came with the laptop but she's not the most
> organised of person mainly because she's a mother of four and a busy
> farmer's wife ! If she cannot find them then she'll purchase them again
> from Dell. I'm so grateful for your help :)
> --
Rather than buy recovery discs from Dell, why not buy a full version
outright. Just Google for 'buy Vista' :)
--
Pete C
London. UK.
https://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/
Faolan
> Just Google for 'buy Vista' :)
Better still buy Windows 7 ;)
Better all round!
Faolan
Pete C
I was gonna say that...... erm, honest? ;)
How ya doin mate?
Pete C
> have Win7 on both my laptops and I like it very much.
I've bought it, just need to find pennies to upgrade system first.
Faolan
> How ya doin mate?
Honestly? Badly...
Things have been rather pear shaped for the last year! There might be
light at the end of the tunnel though over the coming months with
photographic projects.
Smokey
"Faolan" <celtic...@notmail.com> wrote in message
news:ktGdndCM0bg9587W...@brightview.co.uk...
Just been on your BluePrint site it's interesting stuff Faolan, well done
--
�m�k��
Cats have purr-sonality =^..^=
Rabbit
>
>> How ya doin mate?
>
> Honestly? Badly...
Sorry to hear that
>
> Things have been rather pear shaped for the last year! There might be
> light at the end of the tunnel though over the coming months with
> photographic projects.
Hope that turns out well for you.
--
Sandra
People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did, but
People will never forget how you made them feel.
Faolan
> Lots of Faolans but don't know if any of them are you?
I use CelticShadows for it ;)
Sorry if I confused you! You did have me at one point as you was/are
still on my list.
Faolan
> Just been on your BluePrint site it's interesting stuff Faolan, well done
Thanks, it's a bit wet behind the ears but I have a lot of content
planned for over the next year to add to the site. I keep getting asked
questions so it's mainly to give something for people to look at it!
Faolan
> Hope that turns out well for you.
It can't get much worse to be honest, so anything will be an improvement.
I don't think you got my e-mail or that you've not had time to reply.
Either way sorry for not turning up last time, the person I was staying
with had a bereavement so I ended up helping out.
Rabbit
The last one I got was on 17th November which I replied to with my mobile
number. I just thought you were more busy than expected when this was, sorry
to hear what did occur.
Michaelangelo
>
> I'm not at all sure yet Pete if there is something more sinister
> wrong with the machine. First step is for my daughter to find those
> disks. The last person to use her machine was her 13 year old
> daughter who I haven't had a word with yet, but I will have to go
> carefully as I don't want her to feel so quilty that she won't want
> to divulge any info to me for fear of being told off. But I do know
> she ruined her own computer by downloading all kinds of silly games
> and rubbish so I do wonder ?
My solution: Sell the 13 year old daughter and use the proceeds to buy
new disks. :)
--
Michaelangelo
Self-catering, holiday accommodation in the Scottish Highlands, for
disabled people
www.woodhead-cottage.co.uk