[rshaffer61]

Sorry my internet is acting up.
Without being able to get to the recovery console we can't work on the system. Was there anything downloaded form the internet, updated drivers, anything installed just prior to this issue starting?

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No not really I don't think so.

Just windows updates.

[dreday2]

No not really I don't think so.

Just windows updates.

[rshaffer61]

OK so we can't do a system restore or a repair and all the hardware checks out ok.
At this point i have to believe we are dealing with a corrupted OS or a infection.

[dreday2]

OK - so what can we do now?

The main thing I'm wanting to do is somehow get to the Outlook emails on it.

If it's an infection how do we fix it?

Thanks in advance again,

[rshaffer61]

OK first lets deal with Outlook.
I would suggest backing up your data and format the system. This way you can start with nothing but the native OS and installing any other programs. If you want to save your Outlook's address's and Messages then go HERE and follow the steps.

If Email does not open or says not default mail handler then go HERE

If none of the above will work then try going to HERE

[rshaffer61]

Once the above is done then I suggest you go to the Malware Removal and Spyware Removal Forum and run all the steps located in the
START HERE. These self-help tools will help you clean up 70% of problems on your own.
If you are still having problems after doing the steps, then please post the reguested logs in THAT forum.
If you are unable to run any of the tools then start a new topic in the malware forum and put this in the subject line...I am unable to run any malware tools

If you are still having problems after being given a clean bill of health from the malware expert, then please return to THIS thread and we will pursue other options to help you solve your current problem(s).

Add a link to this topic so that malware tech can see what steps have been taken here

[dreday2]

Thanks for the reply.

I decided to leave the laptop for a day switched off then try re-start the day after - it failed on that attempt.

So I manually shut down and turned the laptop upside down and tried to boot up - no idea why just thought i'd experiment.....and it worked!

This then leads me to believe that it may be a hradware issue? The hardrive itself?

Can this be tested? If I need to replace it (it's about 4 ish years old and it's been moved back and forth between offices etc) I'm concerened about transferring all the data to a new one.

Thanks in advance,

[rshaffer61]

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

Thanks to Broni for the instructions


To transfer the data you can do it one of two ways.
You can remove the hd and get a external enclosure for a 2.5 inch hard drive that will connect to another system via a USB connection.
Transfer data using a different system on to cd's or dvd's. You can also transfer the data to the other system till you get the laptop back up and running and then using cdrw's copy the data and put it back in your laptop.
The other way is leaving the hard drive in your laptop and using a Linux Live cd you can gain access to your data without using windows and backup your data straight to cd's or dvd's. This method would mean the system needs to boot up to a live cd.
Below are the instructions for the Linuxc Live cd method.
Get Puppy Linux from my signature below...Get puppy-2.16-seamonkey-fulldrivers.iso download it and burn it to cd
..
if you don't have a burning program that will burn .ISO files get Burncdcc from my signature...it is a small FAST no frills iso burning program...

NOTE...do not put a blank cd in until burncdcc opens the tray for you
1. Start BurnCDCC
2. Browse to the ISO file you want to burn on cd/dvd ....in this case its puppy-2.16-seamonkey-fulldrivers.iso
3. Select the ISO file
4. click on Start

make sure in the bios the cd drive is the first boot device....

put the cd in the cd drive..boot your computer....puppy will boot and run totally in ram...if your hardware is is good working order you will know...
after you get it running and your at the desktop...you take the puppy linux cd out and then you can use the burner to copy all your data to cd/dvds
you can also use it to backup your data to a external usb harddrive..just have it hooked to the computer when you boot up with puppy...

==========================
quick guide for saving data...music..files on a system that will not boot using puppy Linux..


after you get to puppy desktop..
click on the drives icon...looks like a flash drive...top row..it will list all the drives connected to

your computer...

click on the red icon for the drive you want to mount...in this case its a flash drive ...puppy will

mount the drive..the drive icon turns green when its mounted...
minimize the drives mounter window..you will need it again in a few minutes..
drag the right edge of it sideways to shrink it to its narrowest size...about half the width of the screen...then drag the window to the right edge of the screen...

now click on the icon that looks like a filing cabinet (kind of yellow) on the main drive...it should
already be green..
you will see a list of all the folders on the main drive Usually your C: drive..shrink that window to
the narrowest you can..about half the width of the screen...drag that window to the left side of the screen...
at this point you should have 2 windows open on your desktop..the flash drive on the right side..
go back to the folders on the C: drive...click on the documents and settings folder...then your user
name or all users..find the folders that has your data..
drag and drop the folder with the data you want to make copies of to the flash drive window...

your options are to move ..copy ect...JUST COPY..if its to big you will have to open the folder and
drag and drop individual files until the flash drive is full...(I have a 120 GB external USB drive for
big data recovery jobs and a 4 GB flash drive for the smaller jobs)..after you get the files copied to
the flash drive...
Click on the drives mounter you minimized earlier
UNMOUNT THE FLASH DRIVE by clicking on the green icon..you will once in awhile get error messages when
unmouting the drive..ignore them..when the flash drive icon turns red again its safe to remove the
flash drive..trot on over (stroll if you want to look cool) to another computer and plug in the flash

drive and copy all the data files ( I drag and drop) to the other computer..
make sure the other computer can read them...

now delete the data on the flash drive...take it back to the misbehaving computer and plug it in

again..click on the drives icon again and repeat until you have all your data transferred to the working
system..

Thanks to happyrock

[dreday2]

Thanks for the reply - sorry been away.

Ha - typical - it's a Toshiba.

I'll have a look through what you've suggested in more detail over the weekend and report back.

Thanks in advance,

[rshaffer61]

[dreday2]

Hi there.

I've just returned and decided to give it another go and switch it on.

I was greeted by the blue screen message saying the BIOS system is not fully ACPI compliant.

I manually switched off now can't get it to work again.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

[rshaffer61]

First suggestion is to get into the bios normally by clicking the DEL key on the first black post screen.
Once there click on Load Default Settings and then click Y to accept the settings. This will put the bios back to factory default settings which should bring the system back up and running again.
Let me know if this resoles the issue.

[dreday2]

Do I keep tapping the del key or just once? Is it before the windows logo appears?

Thanks in advance,

[rshaffer61]

During the first post screen where it is counting up the memory. On the bottom of the screen it should tell you how to get into the Bios or Setup menu.
Normally that is Del but yours may be F2, F8, F10 or F12

[dreday2]

Thanks for the reply.

None if them work.