Computer Problems

[herefishy]

I have a gateway laptop that is a few years old. Upon start up it goes through the whole process then just ends on black screen. You can see the mouse pointer but that is it. I even tried running the repair that it prompts me to run at start up. It fails and then continues on to the blank screen. I can't find any of the software that i received when i bought the computer. My question is, Is there a way to do a fresh install of windows with out having the cd that came with the computer? Oh and i already tried to restore it to a previous point at that failed as well.

Thanks in advance

 

[stratos21xl]

you can try 2 things. First, try contacting Gateway directly, look on the bottom of the laptop and get the make, model, and serial number and see if it has a sticker with Microsoft on it. It should have a license key for whatever version or operating system that is on the PC. Ask them if they can send you a replacement disk. If they say no then call Microsoft and give them the numbers on the sticker and see if they will ship you a new windows disk. Either way all they can say is no and all your out is a little time. Microsoft may charge you 20 or 30 dollars for a new disk but it's cheaper than a trip to the PC store.

Have you tried booting the pc up in safe mode to see if the screen works then? Most PC's, while the pc is booting up, you press F8 or F10 to get into the boot menu to see the options. You can always get the model number then google safe mode for that model.

http://support.gateway.com/s/software/microsof/7509594/faq2/750959415.shtml

 

[Fixxxer93]

Sorry alittle late, but sounds like some files have been deleted when installing/uninstalling a program or removing a virus. If a virus is deep enough, when it's deleted it will take operating files with it. The safest thing is to restore windows with the disk like previous post said. I'd contact a computer shop and explain what you need because most of the time they have the disk and can do it as long as the key on your computer is valid. You can also research "rescue disk" also because if you can run check disk (chkdsk) on computer, that will also restore files.

 

[herefishy]

Ok, gonna try to contact gateway and Microsoft. Thanks!!

 

[river rat]

A lot of laptops instead of supplying a disk load in on a partition on the hard drive called D drive

 

[Liveliner]

Have you tried to start in Safe Mode? What Operating system are you running? At your first screen Logo press and hold F8 until the sound. Select Safe Mode. If you can get in, create a New second user and make it an admin. Sometimes when a computer has issues in the software it is only in the primary user's account.. When the Computer builds files in the new account they are same as the original files and do not contain the flaws you have in #1.. See if you can go into your Computer in the new admin user. , If all seems okay then set up a third user and make it an admin as well. When all seems okay. Try to access Files like documents you desire to keep and any Photos from the Bad user files. Avoid allowing any pop up ads to load.. At this point you must make a decision.. Delete the primary account and select to NOT save files.. You will have a operating Laptop as it was when new. anything you have loaded like Google will have to be down loaded again. ... That is a free fix that works ... BTW.. Those recovery disks that came with your Computer are like Gold. They would recover your system Pronto...

 

[MadBomber]

If your computer will start in safe mode, another option to try is to get a 8-12 gig flash drive, go to another computer. From there, go to Gateway website support, enter your laptop model and serial and download the drivers for your laptop to the flashdrive. Reinstall the driversfor your laptop. It could be your video drivers are corrupted. That's better than losing all your files from a OS reinstall.

 

[scubajt41]

If you are in no rush, drop it off with me.. Ill recover what pictures, music, etc that i can and install a fresh copy of Windows XP for ya. Could have it done in a week or two depending on work load.