[Patrick]

Basically, some of you may remember I made a thread last night explaining my computer was acting up.

I got some helpful answers back and I followed Josy's tip and went on Safe Mode.

However, the problem failed to go away - and I then tried numerous other ways of getting rid of it, ways that were meant to help other people in the past.

They failed.

I then decided it was time to just reboot my computer.
Problem is though;

I turned it on there now and it's asking me for a Installation Disc the second I turn the comptuer on. So I can't even go onto the Password/Desktop Screen - it says to install it and then restart.

So I insert the disc, and guess what? Nothing happens - and there is no restart button 'cus I'm not on the main screen, so I hit the power button to restart and nothing happens.



My question is;
I want to reboot, I have a disc here to reboot the computer - only thing is; I've had it years and I have programs and pictures and videos on that computer that I honestly do NOT want to loose at all, some are things that can't be downloaded again.


So I need to find out how to get onto the computer, and find away of getting those items onto a Backup/Hosting Site before rebooting.

Any ideas?


I'll do anything for you if you can help me.

[Iceman]

When I reboot mine it keeps any pictures/ programmes I want and creates a folder -old disk structure-

Sounds weird that you cant though, whats the make of your computer and i'll see what i can do.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Iceman

When I reboot mine it keeps any pictures/ programmes I want and creates a folder -old disk structure-

Sounds weird that you cant though, whats the make of your computer and i'll see what i can do.

That sounds excellent, that's exactly what I want to do basically.

I have Windows Vista.

[Iceman]

I need the actual model of the PC though

[Zippy]

you're not rebooting you mean re-installing.

If you're installing Vista again then you can keep all your old files in a folder called something like windowsold. When re-installing you make sure you do not choose to reformat your drive when asked.

Otherwise you can reboot in safe mode and transfer your files to an external hard drive. Then you won't need to keep all your pld files when re-installing Vista and you can do a complete fresh install.

[Shasown]

If you are using the same version of windows that was originally installed, when you go to re-install it overwrites the original area of disc which windows originally allocated to itself.

Provided you dont reformat. when it asks you to name the drive or location of information you want to save use a different name than the one you already have.

The only problem comes is when you attempt to install lets say windows xp with sp3 over an installation of say windows xp sp1. Or Vista over xp etc.

Once you have reinstalled windows, you may need to use explorer to go back into the root directory and other directories to locate your current "My Documents"

[Patrick]

Iceman; I'm 95% sure it's Acer, I can't actually get onto the 'My Computer' menu to double check, but I think that's it.


Guys, basically when I turn it on, you know when you turn the computer off and it sometimes says 'Windows did not shut down properly.'

It's that kind of screen, when It tells me to install that disc - I put it in and nothing comes up at all.

So like I'm kind of puzzled because it's not recongizing this disc at all even though it says to put it in.
If it would recognize it, then I'll be able to do what both of you said, but at the moment it seems to be ignoring the disc.


I have two discs,
'Auto Install' and 'System Restore' and I currently have the Auto Install one in.