Computer re-boot question.

[koehn,jim]

I have a laptop that crashed big time. Does anyone know what reboot disc I should buy. The computer says it needs a boot disc and I do not have one, I have the program disc but I need to get to dos. Thanks for your help.

[ohland]

I have a laptop that crashed big time. Does anyone know what reboot disc I should buy. The computer says it needs a boot disc and I do not have one, I have the program disc but I need to get to dos. Thanks for your help.

Er, what O/S are you running? What brand of computer?

It isn't that I'm trying to be the No Help Whatsoever Desk, but when a computer says it needs a boot disk, that might mean:

CMOS settings lost or corrupted (Low or discharged CMOS battery?)
MBR was munched by a crash, virus, Windows, or just bad luck.
Windows tried to apply a system update... and failed.
System was told to use the wrong partition. Like multiboot with Linux and Windows.

If it was a somewhat recent Windows O/S, it might have the option to do a recovery boot. Get back to us and tell us about it....

[koehn,jim]

Its a gateway laptop running windows 7 I should have included that info.

[RED333]

Hard drive failure.
If that is what has happened it is now a boolit target.
A computer shop just might be able to help.
Make a boot disk from the computer you are on.

[JSnover]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can't just go out and buy a boot disc. It usually comes with the computer when you buy it but you might be able to get one made if you know enough about your machine and it's software.

[obssd1958]

I'm working on a Gateway desktop right now, that would not boot into Windows. It's running Windows HATE (8.0)...
I was able to get it to boot up again by using the "reset" option. This did result in losing all personal preferences and files, but wasn't a big deal on this particular PC.

Try the following, if you aren't getting the option to "reset" when you try to boot:

http://gateway-us.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2631/session/L3RpbWUvMTQwODYzNjAwMS9zaWQvM3BocGxwKmw%3D

Hope this helps...

[MtGun44]

Computers do not come with boot disks anymore, but you are asked to
make one when the machine is working properly for some of them. Most
now have a built in self repair capability - not perfect by any means, but I
have had it work multiple times on a failing Vista machine.

The reset function is very likely to work because there is a significant portion
of the OS duplicated on a separate area of the hard drive, intended for just
this situation. Be advised that if you get it back, be careful to back up all
the important data ASAP, you may have just a temporary glitch, but it may
be the first sniff of a failing hard drive.

Bill

[Josh Smith]

Your boot partition on your disk is gone.

You'll need to have the data saved from that disk, which can often be done by computer shops specializing in data recovery. You'll need a new hard drive, and a reinstallation of Windows.

A good computer shop can make this pretty transparent for you. It is a lot of work and impossible if you don't know what you're doing.

Josh

[crowbuster]

must be in the air. Ours went south last nite as well. Took it to the man. I expect the worst.

[koehn,jim]

obssd1958 (http://obssd1958) Thanks for the link I will try it and see if they can send me a boot disc, Thanks to everyone that responded.

[bangerjim]

You should always make a boot disk for the computer. Most will ask you if you want to. That is the unique info in the 'boot' section of the HD.

Also, your BIOS must be set up to actually boot from your CD drive! If not, you ARE REALLY dead in the water.

This is why I hate laptops & notebooks. With a NORMAL desktop computer, you can install a new HD and WIN and make your old drive "D" drive to get all the data off it.

iPad.......no HD! On all the time. I just gotta remember to charge it ever week or so.

Your best bet is to take it to a computer repair person. And be willing to pay just about as much as you would for a new fancier better faster one!

Backup.....backup....backup. That way you have all your valuable data and files (not installed progarms) on a USB 1G drive so you can upload all of it to your NEW computer! I find those 1G USB3 drives for $49 regularaly locally around me.

banger