Unexplainable Dell Vestro 200 Computer Shutdown

Try system restore from recovery console....

If you have Windows XP CD... (if you don't have Windows CD, scroll down)

1. Boot from the CD.
2. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts. Select the repair or recover option by pressing R:



3. You'll find yourself at this screen:



4. Once you are at the Recovery Console you will be given at least one choice of Windows installations. Normally the choice you want is the number 1 choice. Click the number 1 key at the "top" of the keyboard and click enter.

NOTE: at this point your numbers to the right of your keyboard are turned off. If you insist on using these keys for your numbers remember to hit the Numbers Lock key before clicking a number over there or your computer will automatically reboot and you will have to wait through the previous steps to get back to the console.

5. You will be given a message asking for the administrator password. Unless someone or something has messed with your computer there is no password so you just click the Enter key.

6. This will bring you to a prompt that says:

C:\WINDOWS>

7. Type:

cd \

Press Enter

Note: between "cd" and "\" there should be a "blank space" otherwise the command won't work

8. The prompt should now say:

C:\>

9. Type:

cd system~1\_resto~1

Press Enter.

===============================================================================

Note: If it gives an error "Access Denied" while accessing the folder, follow the method below

Type: cd \

Press Enter

Type: cd windows\system32\config

Press Enter

Type: ren system system.bak

Press Enter

(note the spaces between ren and system, and then between system and system.bak)

Type: exit

Press Enter

now the computer should restart, then follow steps 1-9

===============================================================================

10. Type:

dir

Press Enter

NOTE: When you hit enter it will list all the restore points folders like "rp1", "rp2" we have to see the last restore point to copy the file from a recent backup. If the restore points have more than one page then you have keep on hitting the key to view the last restore point folder.

NOTE: It is a good rule of thumb to choose the files from the restore point folder which the second to the last one.

11. Type:

cd rp{with the second to the last restore point number }

Press Enter

Example: cd rp9. if rp10 is the last restore point

12. Type:

cd snapshot

Press Enter.

NOTICE: Now the command prompt will look like this:

c:\system~1\resto~1\rp9\snapshot

Note : restore point 9 assumed for clarity of the content.


13. Type:

copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system

Press Enter

14. Type:

Exit

Press Enter.

Final note : If the above procedure won't solve the problem, repeat all steps, but in step 13 type:

copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software

Alternatively, select different restore point.



If you don't have Windows CD...

Download Windows Recovery Console: http://www.thecomput...om/files/rc.iso
Download, and install free Imgburn: http://www.imgburn.c...hp?act=download
Using Imgburn, burn rc.iso to a CD.
Boot to the CD...let it finish loading.
When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.

Follow steps 3 - 14.

I hope I am doing this correctly.
Unfortunately I do not have the Windows CD and I cannot download the Windows Recovery Console because I cannot boot up, which I would need to do if I wanted to download anything. Booting up seems to be my major problem. Any instructions given me to enable me to boot up and bring Windows back to life do not work.

Where are you posting from?

Homeland, California USA

Hahaha....I meant, you're using some working computer. Using it, you can download recovery console and create the CD.

AH HA! Sorry if I seem dense. That's only because I am. I shall create the CD and post my progess.
Thanks Broni. I really appreciate the assistance.

You're welcome

Broni,

I go to:

www.thecomputerparamedic.com/files/rc.iso

I am taken to:

NTI CD&DVD-MAKER

The disk drawer on the Acer Aspire I am using opens and a dialog box asks me to insert a blank disk into the target drive. This action brings up another dialog box entitled "Write DVD". When I press "START" data is recorded on the disk. I am assuming that this data is "Recovery Console".

You then say, "Download and install free Imgburn. Using Imgburn, burn rc.iso to a CD."

Isn't that what I have just done? If not, what did I burn? Here is where you lose me.

When you go to the above link, rc.iso should start downloading.

O.K. Have I burned rc.iso to the disk I mentioned? If so, why must I download Imgburn and use it to duplicate what I already burned?

I told you I was dense.

I'm not sure, what program you used to burn the CD.
ImgBurn guarantees, that the burned CD will be bootable.

You further confuse me when you say you are not sure what program I used to burn the CD. I clicked on the link you gave me (www.thecomputerparamedic.com/files/rc.iso) and got the NTI CD&DVD-MAKER which automatically opened my disk drawer and asked me to insert a blank disk. Isn't that the only thing that could happen? If so, it therefore follows that I used the NTI CD&DVD-MAKER program to burn the disk. Can we start all over with a more detailed explanation on creating the RECOVERY CONSOLE disk?

You're doing something wrong.
You have to download the file to your computer, first.
DO NOT burn it straight from the internet.
When donwloaded, burn it to a CD, using ImgBurn.

Clicking on that link does not download the file. It downloads that NTI CD&DVD-MAKER program which automatically opens my disk drawer and requests a blank disk. It then burns the rc file to the CD. If you can get that link to do anything else, please tell me the secret.