Cant Boot Normall, No install Disc, Important Files on HD, Please

[Guest]

So heres my Problem. My Sister's Laptop recently contracted a rather nasty
virus and can no longer start. What i mean by 'can no longer start' is that
when the power goes on, it makes some rather bad sounding noises and gives me
the screen saying "We're sorry for the inconvience, but windows has failed
too start." Etc, then asks me how i would like to try to start it, "Last Good
Configuration", "Safe Mode", "Normal Start-up" etc etc, but none of them
work! Also, i may mention that the computer does not like any of the more
recent windows updates and refuses to install them.

So heres what i need to do:

1: Rescue all the important files from her Hard Drive

2: Wipe her Hard Drive

3: Reinstall Windows XP Home Edition

Here is why that is more difficult than i would like:

1: Computer refuses to boot

2: Computer did not come with Windows Install Disc or Boot Disc

3: I cant just wipe it clean and use that 6 Disc Set downloadable from
Microsoft.com with the cd key on the bottom of the computer because i need
files off of it.

4: I am rapidly getting a very large headache.

Just in case, Heres some Misc Info that might come in handy about the
computer itself if anyone is willing to give me advise:

Intel Pentium 4 Processor
Made for Windows 2000/Xp
Has survived a rather nasty encounter with some juice...
Brand Name: Xplio (Never heard of it, cant find any information on the web)
Did Not want to accept windows service pack two, or a whole bunch of other
updates.

If someone would be so kind as to point me in the right direction, it would
be very much appreciated...

 

[DL]

multi posted

 

[Guest]

Get the newest CD version of Norton Antivirus or Utilities, boot from it, run
a virus scan, reboot computer without Norton CD in drive.

 

[Guest]

yeh, it could be a boot virus or corrupted file table. however, booting from
cd would override your difficulties. be sure to access your bios setup and
select 1st boot device as the cd. then insert your windows and begin setup.
instead of installing a new windows use "the repair" and "do not" format if
prompted...

 

[dadnj]

Two things.
Norton has become notoriously enreliable in the last year or so, I
avoid it like the plague.
without the original disks you cant do a repair of windows.
If the laptop is H.P. or Compac it may have a partition on the drive
with the setup files on it. If so you can restore from that. You will,
however, need to boot the machine with something that recognises an
"NTFS'" formatted drive. If the drive is "FAT32" you can boot with a
windows 98 startup floppy and get into the "d" drive that way.

 

[Bert Kinney]

What's your question?

 

[dadnj]

Hi Bert.
If you're talkin to dadnj, thats an answer not a question!!!

 

[Bert Kinney]

The reason I ask is that there is no question in this thread.

Please reply to the original thread with you answer.

 

[dadnj]

OK, so the newbie tag sticks.
I used the "quick reply" link to answer the thread. It seems this
doesn't do what I thought it would.
I've been through the FAQ and this doesn't help either. I would be ever
grateful for a bit of direction
DADNJ

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

The best advise it to use a news reader rather than the web interface.
Outlook Express which is built into Windows will work.

Start with Goodpost:


While there click the link to the left "Reading Newsgroups in OE".