[rfris777]

2 days ago i turned on my gateway laptop, as it reached the first screen, (the black screen with the loading bar that says microsoft corporation under it) it would simply stay at that screen. i turned the computer off and turned it back on and it told me it was recommened to select the repair option, i did so and it simply brought me to a blank black screen with the mouse cursor. I've tried all of the following:
-restarting the computer
-taking out and puting back in the battery
-starting in safe mode (it would start running down the list of files its opening then it freezes)
-starting at last known good configuration (it would just bring me back to the loading screen again and just sit there
-running the operating disk (it would load the files thenbring me to the loading screen again and sit there)
-ive tried just letting it sit at the loading screen, it would say there for several minutes and then restart, back at the screen that tells me to either repair or start windows normally

i brought it to best buy and they said it sounds like i have a corrupt operating system. being a broke college student in today's economy i cant really afford to pay the large amount they are asking to fix it.
can anyone help me out?
thanks!
-rob

[Advertisements]

Do you have a recovery or Vista installation disc? Is there a recovery partition on the hard drive?

[Quackers88]

Do you have a recovery or Vista installation disc? Is there a recovery partition on the hard drive?

[rfris777]

im pretty sure the only disk i have is operating disk, and ive tried that and it didnt work...

[hfcg]

Which could indicate a hard drive failure.
What you are describing is more than a corrupt operating system. The Vista disc would reinstall Windows if this where the case.
Please enter the BIOS set up by pressing F2 (a few times) and look for the hard drive diagnostic utility.
You will have to look for the utility but it should be under ADVANCED.

[rfris777]

i went to advanced after pressing F2, here is what i see:
>I/O Device Configuration
>DMI Event Logging
Legacy USB Support [Enabled]
Large Disk Access Mode: [DOS]

Wake on Lid Switch [Enabled]
Auto Dim: [Enabled]
Battery Auto Learning: [Disabled]

Quiet Boot Mode: [Enabled]
Execute-Disable Bit Capability [Enable]

-what do i choose, if any of these?

[hfcg]

None of those.
I was hopeing that Gateway, like a lot of other manufactures, would have the utility in the BIOS.
You will have to go to the gateway website and find the utility that fits your model.
Follow Gateway's instructions on how to use the utility.

[rfris777]

alright, ill see what i can do. thanks for your help

[rfris777]

i'm actually having a hard time finding what i need to on the website. my model number is MA8, could you post a link for me or something?

[hfcg]

http://support.gatew...s...wscan&st=kw

It is called GWscan.
Follow the instructions to use the utility.

[rfris777]

What type of information would you like?
FAQs
How To Install Drivers and Software
Product Views
User Guides

which should i go to?

[rfris777]

I found it and these are the links:

What type of information would you like?
FAQs
How To Install Drivers and Software
Product Views
User Guides

which should i go to?

[hfcg]

The link that I posted in post #9 takes you directly there.
Just click on the link in post #9

[rfris777]

oh, i didnt see the link im kinda slow

[rfris777]

the directions tell me to write all the files onto a disk, then erase all bootable data and insert the disk again. i think its telling me to do all this on the computer that i want to run this on, but i cant because the computer wont get past the loading screen, so there is no way for me to download said files from the internet, or do anything else for that matter.