[spike350]

I was looking at a few other topics and couldn't find anything really useful... What I want to do is take everything off my hard-drive except for my OS. Yes, I know, I should try and fix stuff first. I don't really want to I've already started doing it manually and with the amount of junk I have on this computer it's going to take for ever! I have the around 3 things I want to save backed up elsewhere. I have no restore/OS install CD.

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(I'm running Vista on a Dell Inspiron 1525 with a Intel Core 2 Duo CPU)

[spike350]

(I'm running Vista on a Dell Inspiron 1525 with a Intel Core 2 Duo CPU)

[rshaffer61]

You can try a factory restore which would put the system back to like it was when you first got it.

Dell:

The key combination is CRTL + F11 pushing the keys at the same time at the the dell screen during post. Once you push them then you want to release them.
It should go into the recovery partition so you can do a system restore.

[Digerati]

Hi Spike and

I've already started doing it manually

If you are just deleting files or folders, that is probably not a good idea as many may not appear to be needed, but in fact, are.

The best solution is to go through Control Panel > Programs and Features and uninstall programs you installed that you no longer need. Running Windows' own Disk Cleanup will also clear out much of the clutter.

[rshaffer61]

Are you still having problems with your issue?
It has been 13 days since your last response and I was wondering if the issue has been resolved?
If so can you explain how it was resolved so others may be able to fix it if they have the same issue.
If not please let us know and we can continue with helping you to resolve the issue.

[spike350]

No, still not working. I was trying to fix it set it to boot from disk accidentally and then couldn't get it to run for a while :/. Anyways I tried I tried CTRL+F11 and a whole lotta other things and although I can get into settings, I can't figure out what to do to get it to reset itself. I went looking for my re-install disk and I found the "Drivers and Utilities" one. It won't open/run unless windows is open.

I was remembering back to when I used virtual machines and I know I somehow installed windows on that without a disk. Is there a way I can "download" windows and then use that to reinstall it on my computer?

Thanks for the continued help.

Edited by spike350, 04 February 2012 - 12:55 AM.

[spike350]

2 steps forward, 20 back... I found my restore disk, ran it, formatted my hdd and reinstalled. Thought I fixed it. Apparently not... when I try to boot, I get a message (in windows boot manager) saying
"...
File: \Windows\system32\drivers\msahci.sys

Status: 0xc0000221

Info: Windows failed to load because a critical system driver is missing, or corrupt."
I have both my install disk and drivers disk but I can't figure out how to run the latter.

[spike350]

I have a feeling that no one is following this so I'm going to repost this topic.

[rshaffer61]

Try this.

OK the issue seems to be the Win 7 OS itself that is causing your problem so lets do a Repair Installation by following the steps HERE.
Please read and follow all instructions carefully.

[spike350]

It's not windows 7, it's vista

[rshaffer61]

You will have to Perform a Repair Installation For Vista...guide is here...
This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep all of your personal user account files, settings, and programs

[spike350]

I already reposed this topic here: http://www.geekstogo...77#entry2123277