Urgent laptop help please !

[buccal]

The first draft of my msc thesis is due in next week. Today my norton security had to be renewed. Down loaded the update and system (vista) rebooted without issue. I've been working on the laptop all afternoon and when i restarted the computer tonight it won't restart. First screen says it needs start up repair but nothing works beyond that when it tries to open windows. Any advice urgently needed as i'm posting from my mobile

 

[wemorgan]

On my Dell, F8 during the initial BIOS booting starts up a menu where I can select to boot in Safe Mode. Have yoy tried that? Failing that enter the BIOS menu and run the diagnostic tests (F12).

 

[buccal]

Thanks Will, no joy with the safe mode either. The f12 stuff looks terrifying to me. Anyone recommend a computer guy in london?

 

[wemorgan]

...........

 

[rees_A]

Hi Buccal, do you have it working yet? Where are you in London. I may be able to help if you are local.

 

[buccal]

Not yet mate, i'm south east but have gone out to try and forget about it. I'm going to try a local guy first thing tomorrow. Thanks for the offer, will let you know

 

[jasonyw]

Use the Vista disk to boot up and repair the boot sector.

If you got the Vista disk, reinstalling it creates new windows directory and your old windows directory will become windows.old without loss of any files provided you have enough disk space.

 

[rees_A]

Ok no prob, Let me know if u r stuck.... I should be able to get it going..I'm in North London though. It'll probably be a quick fix so I won't charge anything...Yu can just owe me a favour if I do fix it for you...

 

[whizzkid11]

Upon boot up - hit F8 - and you will get a list of options - select ' BOOT FROM LAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIGURATION'

Hopefully that should fix it for you. If it does, get yur thesis done and submitted - and after that run any updates which you may need to.

Let us know how you get on.