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Desk top in DOS wont boot or start (Resolved).

tried everything I know

Best Answer phillpower2 , 16 September 2016 - 07:46 AM

   frex39, Sorry to hear about your computer problems   I will address your data recovery below and first mention what may have happened when you tried to roll back to an e... Go to the full post »


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#1
frex39

frex39

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Four days ago my Gateway dx4380g/uw308 6gb ram originally windows 7 updated to 8.1 then to 10, just stopped.it in said  I had to roll back due to an error, no mention of what. then said it could not do the roll back. then it restarted twice, shut down and it went into DOS saying ..Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected device and press key. I would really like to retrieve my data if possible. If not I have a new hard drive and a full version of win 7 pro I can install. Any help would be great. I was just starting a small business and got shut down. A friend at my husbands college tech department said you guys were my best chance. Thanking you in advance for anything! frex39  :upset:  :upset:  :D


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#2
phillpower2

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✓  Best Answer

:welcome:   frex39,

 

Sorry to hear about your computer problems  :(

 

I will address your data recovery below and first mention what may have happened when you tried to roll back to an earlier OS + what I suggest you do regarding Windows 10.

 

If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free you must have done so before July 29th 2016 as that was the cut off date for being able to do so and the previous OS will have been automatically overwritten by Windows 28 days after you first upgraded to Windows 10 meaning that Windows 8.1 which would have been kept in the Windows old folder for those 28 days will no longer be available.

 

Again regarding Windows 10, if you did take advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade you will be able to download a free Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft which you can use to either try and repair the present OS or do a clean installation, this is because Microsoft will have your motherboard details stored on their database and so be aware that you previously used the free upgrade offer and so do not need to purchase a new product key, I will provide the ISO information after we have tried to recover your data, please see below;

 

=================== 

***Required Hardware*** 

CD Burner (CDRW) Drive, 

Blank CD, 

Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)  

=================== 

 

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

  • Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso) 

    Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software 

     

    There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; / 

     

    For computers that have UEFI as opposed to legacy BIOS, to be able to boot from your USB device you may need to disable secure boot and change UEFI to CSM Boot, not all computers and BIOS are the same, please refer to your user manual if you have one as the following steps are only one such example.

     

    Restart the computer, Windows 8 and 8.1 from the Start or desktop screen move your mouse pointer over the upper or lower right corner of the screen, when the Windows Charms appear click the Settings Charm, click on Power and then the Restart option.

     

    Windows 10, Click on Start,Power and then Restart.

     

    While the computer is re-starting,you will need to continually tap or hold down the particular key that will allow you to access the BIOS on your computer, we will use the F2 key as an example here;

     

    After restarting the computer, when the screen goes black, press and hold down the F2 key, wait for the BIOS to load.

     

    Select Security -> Secure Boot and then Disabled.

    Select Advanced -> System Configuration and then Boot Mode.

    Change UEFI Boot to CSM Boot.

    Save the changes and Exit the BIOS, commonly F10.

     

    If your computer will not boot into Windows at all, power up or restart the computer continually tap or hold down the key that will allow you to access the BIOS on your computer and then do the following;

     

    Select Security -> Secure Boot and then Disabled.

    Select Advanced -> System Configuration and then Boot Mode.

    Change UEFI Boot to CSM Boot.

    Save the changes and Exit the BIOS, commonly F10.

     

     

  • Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer 

  • Extract All files to a location you can remember 

  • Double Click 1%20BurnCDCC%20Icon.PNG BurnCDCC 

  • Click Browse 2%20BurnCDCC%20Browse%20Button.PNG and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded 

  • Open/Double Click that file 

    IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x 

  • Click Start 3%20BurnCDCC%20Start%20Button.PNG 

  • Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically 

  • Insert a blank CD and close the tray 

  • Click OK 

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created 

 

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second 

  •  

  • Start the computer/press the power button 

  • Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup" 

    (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen) 

  • Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to: 

    CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd 

  • Open your ROM drive and insert the disk 

  • Press F10 to save and exit 

  • Agree with "Y" to continue 

  • Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD 

     

    4%20BIOSBootPriorityImage.png 

 

 

 

3.  Recover Your Data 

  • Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM).  You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer".  Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning.  Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy.  To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once.  Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to.  This is normal.  Ready?  Let's get started. 

     

    3a. Mount Drives[list] 

  • Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop. 5%20Puppy%20Linux%20Mount%20Icon.PNG 

  • A Window will open.  By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted.  Click on Mount for your hard drive. 

  • Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount. 

  • USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted. 

  • If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab.  Mount it now. 

 

3b. Transfer Files.

  •  

  • At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon. 

  • Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1 

  • Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1 

  • If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows) 

  • From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window. 

 

For The Novice:  The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders for XP is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each individual name of each user, for Vista and above  C:\Users\$USERNAME\[...]. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos

 

Remember to only click once!  No double clicking!  Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy.  Choose COPY each time you drag and drop. 

 

YOU ARE DONE!!!  Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer.  Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations! 

 

 

 

PuppyLinux528screenshot.png 


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#3
frex39

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Thank you for your lengthy response as it is what I need, lots of clear instructions. I have downloaded Puppy on my sons old pc and am about to begin. I will let you know how it goes. Frex39:yeah:


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#4
phillpower2

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You are welcome  :)

 

We will be here and good luck  :thumbsup:


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#5
phillpower2

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Not heard back from you frex39, do you still require assistance or is the issue now resolved, an update would be appreciated.


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