Member Avatar for WOOKIE_pizza

Aloha!
When I woke up this morning... Vista would not load. :icon_eek:

1. It automatically goes into the Startup Repair mode, and that has no effect.
2. The System restore does not restore back to a point earlier in time.
3. Within the System Recovery Options, there is no option to open a command prompt.

- I would love to view/copy my files from C: drive to an external hard drive.
- I do not have the original OS disk(s).

Is there a way that I can get Windows to open?
Or, is there a way to open a command prompt and save my files remaining on C:?
Or, is there a way to do this from BIOS?
Or, is there a way to run an OS from a boot disk, yet view/copy my files from C:?

Oh, woe is me. TIA for any insight whatsoever.
Cheers,
~D

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Mirciulikkk

Dani AI

Generated

Brief expert addendum and next steps for anyone landing on this thread later: when Vista falls into a Startup Repair loop and the recovery environment does not expose a command prompt, the first goal is to protect your data. As discovered with a live rescue session, booting a rescue environment and copying files to external media is the safest first move. The rest below explains practical followups, common pitfalls, and how to repair Windows once your files are safe.

Data-rescue checklist (safe order)

  • Boot a rescue environment (live Linux or WinPE) from CD/USB and mount the Windows volume read-only at first to avoid accidental writes.
  • Copy the entire C:\Users tree, Outlook/Thunderbird mail stores, browser profiles, documents, desktop files and any license/activation keys you need. If a file is permission-protected, copy it using the rescue environment’s root/admin account or attach the drive to another PC.
  • Important: encrypted files (EFS) or BitLocker volumes will remain unreadable unless you have the user certificate/private key or the BitLocker recovery key.

Repair workflow after backup

  • Create or borrow a legitimate Windows repair medium if you do not have one (a System Repair Disc can be made from another Vista PC via Control Panel -> Backup and Restore -> Create a system repair disc). Boot that media and use the Recovery Environment to repair the boot structures and then run file-system and system-file integrity checks. This mirrors the approach described, but do repairs only after your data is backed up.

Cautions and final tips

  • If the drive is clicking or SMART shows errors, image the disk to a second drive first and stop attempting repairs yourself. A USB-SATA adapter or external enclosure is often the fastest way to attach the disk to another computer for copying. Once recovered, keep a small repair disc/USB and regular image/backups to avoid repeat panic.

Recommended Answers

All 12 Replies

Member Avatar for Apollo_0

I'll see if I can help you on this, but I could do with additional details.

1. Have you tried to boot-up in safe mode, if so what error message did you get?

2. When using System Restore, again, did you receive an error message when it failed?

3. Do you leave your computer on overnight and is windows update scheduled to update and install updates automatically?

Member Avatar for WOOKIE_pizza

Mahalo!
Thanks for your help.

The answer to retrieving files thought gone with the wind lies with KNOPPIX.

After some research, and helpful tips, I went to:

It worked like a charm! :-)

To answer the above questions:
1. Safe mode wouldn't boot unfortunately, and would give no error msg.
2. Same with Sys Restore, just saying that it could not restore.
3. Sometimes, and yes it was set to that.

Basically, I could not get Windows or a cmd prompt to open. I downloaded KNOPPIX and ran it from a boot CD, after config in BIOS to boot from CD.

Amazing!

Member Avatar for Apollo_0

Fantasdtic, glad you got it sorted, thanks for the update.

Member Avatar for ferret_90

Knoppix wins another battle! Huzzah!

Member Avatar for delfina89

wait, so yes, ill do the lifehacker thing but how did you get the actual problem fixed?

Edited by delfina89 because: n/a
Member Avatar for Akira Takano

My advice to you, young friend, would be to go to http://www.ubuntu.com/ and download the ubuntu 10.4 .iso file from a friends computer. burn this to a cd, and insert it into your cd drive and reboot...

next after selecting "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer", let it load, and then all you have to do is go to your drive, and rip all the files you want to keep.

you can also install this live cd enviorment if you feel like your tired of windows.

Member Avatar for mr77

im not quite sure how to download either knoppix or ubuntu. how do i burn them to a cd?
HELP!:)

Member Avatar for PhilliePhan

im not quite sure how to download either knoppix or ubuntu. how do i burn them to a cd?
HELP!:)

Follow the instructions in this linky.

-- If you are having trouble with compy and need support, you would be best off starting a new thread detailing your specific problem.

Cheers :)
PP

Member Avatar for JemB

You can try a manual fix of the startup.
boot from the Vista install disk.
select country region etc
then instead of re installing
select the repair my computer option
(it may want to run through the painstakingly slow
auto repair, and will probably fail)
When it finishes. don't close the window
select that advanced options from the bottom left corner.
then select command prompt.
When it pops up type:
bootrec /fixboot
it will should you the command completed successfully
now type in:
bootrec /fixmbr
it should now tell you the command completed successfully
now reboot
this method will often work when the auto repair does not

Member Avatar for TommyStun70

JemB,

A million thanks to you. I recently had an issue with a Windows 7 64-bit (non-laptop Dell Inspiron 580). It was displaying the "Your Computer was unable to restart .... " I was minutes away from reformatting and reinstalling Windows, when I found this and tried it. Whew! Thanks for saving my computer!!

Member Avatar for JemB

JemB,

A million thanks to you. I recently had an issue with a Windows 7 64-bit (non-laptop Dell Inspiron 580). It was displaying the "Your Computer was unable to restart .... " I was minutes away from reformatting and reinstalling Windows, when I found this and tried it. Whew! Thanks for saving my computer!!

Thanks for the thank you TommyStun70. nice to know I could help.

Member Avatar for Mirciulikkk

JemB, thanks a ton. Your solution worked like a charm. windows 7 ultimate 64bit

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