[Macboatmaster]

This I am sorry to tell you does not at the moment look too good.

Possibly the indication of a hardware fault was the errors you were finding on the files system.

Normally if Puppy fails to load, unless there is an error on the CD, a faulty burn, or an error on the CD drive, not reading correctly, OR it is inidicative of a hardware error on gthe computer.
Puppy runs in RAM, so that is one area we must examine.

Before we proceed to that, would you please reassure yourself that the CD will boot another computer and load.
Follow the same procedure please boot from the CD

If that Puppy will not boot another computer it is the CD itself
If it will it is either your CD drive or other hardware in your computer.

If it WILL not boot another computer - try this Puppy
http://distro.ibibli...fulldrivers.iso

You must use the ISO burning program again.


After you have done that we will proceed to check your memory and the HDD

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Akabilk

May I ask that if you wish to discuss the issue further, we proceed by PM, (providing it is not an issue on which you require help) as to continue on the thread may confuse HMiddleton.

No, nothing to discuss really.
I was just trying to be helpful to HMiddleton by pointing out the best way to use Puppy to rescue personal data as it can be very confusing to a Window's OS user.

Personally, I use use the (open source) TestDisk http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/TestDisk from Flash or Disk to recover files and folders from computers as it is a lot quicker to use than Puppy. However, as an OP recommendation to use though, it has far too many other features and uses that could easily land them in serious bother if they play with them

[Akabilk]

Akabilk

May I ask that if you wish to discuss the issue further, we proceed by PM, (providing it is not an issue on which you require help) as to continue on the thread may confuse HMiddleton.

No, nothing to discuss really.
I was just trying to be helpful to HMiddleton by pointing out the best way to use Puppy to rescue personal data as it can be very confusing to a Window's OS user.

Personally, I use use the (open source) TestDisk http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/TestDisk from Flash or Disk to recover files and folders from computers as it is a lot quicker to use than Puppy. However, as an OP recommendation to use though, it has far too many other features and uses that could easily land them in serious bother if they play with them

[happyrock]

TestDisk is only used to
# Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
# Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
# Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
# Fix FAT tables
# Rebuild NTFS boot sector
# Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
# Fix MFT using MFT mirror

it is not used to recover data period

[happyrock]

do as Mac advised with the puppy linux,,,
nojoy...
After you have done that we will proceed to check your memory and the HDD
a last resort would be to slave the drive to a working system to get your data off the drive

[HMiddleton]

my laptop is being fickle and wont burn the dvds that i have on hand. can we just proceed and i will not worry one bit about any lost pictures? i have the most important ones on my laptop anyway. I would like to find out if the desktop is toast...
Holly

[Macboatmaster]

That maybe a little difficult, as the next set of tests, require CD`s - unless the computer has a floppy drive, but you would still have the problem of making them as the laptop will more than likely NOT have a floppy.

May I suggest that you wait until you can make the Cd`s there is no rush as far as we are concerned.

I am looking at your computer specs NOW I will come back to you.

UPDATE.

I have looked briefly at your computer specs.
Here is the link

http://h10025.www1.h...0850095_command

If it does not remain on the correct page, simply enter in the search box for your computer Pavilion A6442p
Then go to Solve a problem and find the page on When Vista will not start.

I mentioned earlier in the thread about the options on F8 and asked if Repair Your Computer was there.
According to HP (if that is the original HP installation) on that computer it should be there.
As it was NOT supplied with the Vista DVD.

Would you check again PLEASE.

[Akabilk]

TestDisk is only used to
# Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
# Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
# Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
# Fix FAT tables
# Rebuild NTFS boot sector
# Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
# Fix MFT using MFT mirror

it is not used to recover data period

Really?

Like I said in my last post, "I use it to regularly to recover data" and in the real world.
I also use PhotoRec (included in TestDisk download) to recover photos only.

It is quite embarresing to (basicly) be called a liar in a public form, especialy by a forum Tech.

So sorry to have to disagree with you, but so does the main Testdisk download site: http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/TestDisk

TestDisk, Data Recovery

TestDisk is OpenSource software and is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL v2+).

TestDisk is powerful free data recovery software! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.

Operating systems
TestDisk can run under
DOS (either real or in a Windows 9x DOS-box),
Windows (NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7 (x86 & x64),
Linux,
FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD,
SunOS and
MacOS X

Have a nice day,
Aka

[HMiddleton]

Yes, Repair your computer is there. It pulls up system recovery options. I have ran the startup repair several times in the past few days. no luck. I was afraid to do the system restore option without you telling me to.
Sorry for any confusion on my part.
Holly

[Macboatmaster]

Please DO NOT be insulted by this, but I only have what you tell me to work with.

Please see my post 5 and your reply 6 and mine 7.

This may sound stupid, but you said IT was NOT there.

With the stress of a broken computer, I have known people forget which machine they were looking at.

Please confirm that the item you now say is there is ON the HP with Vista that WILL NOT load windows.

[HMiddleton]

Yes, it is there. I am so sorry for frustrating you! It is at the very top and I must have overlooked it because it was the only one highlighted. I have always been looking at the HP. My mistake.
Holly

[Macboatmaster]

No problem.

You are doing well.

That is the screen from which you tried a system restore - is that correct please.

If so you selected Repair Your Computer and then you were presented with this screen

[attachment=53920:startup-repair.png]

You have already chosen system restore.

Now choose
1. Startup repair.
2. Memory diagnostic.
3. Command prompt

If startup repair fails return to this screen and try WMD

If that returns errors post please and I will advise further.

If it does not return errors go to Command prompt and run a chkdsk /r typing that command when you enter the cmd prompt window.


It is 0222 here in UK I am signing off goodnight back about 2000hrs

[HMiddleton]

Did 1,2,3 and still nothing.
cmd prompt said:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.
Windows cannot run disk checking on this volume because it is write protected.

Yes, I tried system restore from this screen.

I am in Texas, central time zone. I will check back tomorrow night.
I feel terrible I have wasted so much of your time. I got no excuses... I'm just a goober.
I really appreciate the help. Thanks so much!
Holly

Edited by HMiddleton, 25 November 2011 - 09:54 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

I feel terrible

There is absolutely no need to. We are here to help and do so becuase we enjoy it.

When you boot to the cmd prompt from the System Recovery Options screen

type this please.

chkdsk C: /r
You will notice when you go back in that the prompt is X:\
That is particular to accessing cmd prompt in the repair mode and I forgot to include the C.

Did Windows Memory Diagnostic run. please

[HMiddleton]

WMD did run, but on restart it would not load Windows.

chkdsk C:/r got this result:
Volume is in use by another process. May run if volume dismounted first. ALL OPEN HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? Y/N

Holly

[Macboatmaster]

Yes. In otherwords key Y