[delboy]

Hi all

In the week of 9th June I was invited to update my Vista, which I loyally did.

Subsequently, apart from my office packages crashing and restarting when I open them (which I can handle), Windows kept telling me that my Adobe Reader package was incorrect and that I should download updates for it.

So I dutifully went to Adobe's website today and downloaded the latest version of Reader (which is number 9).

Now my computer won't even boot up properly - that is Windows fails to start.

I haven't backed up for weeks and will lose loads of stuff - aaaargh.

Any ideas would be massively appreciated on how I can:

1. Fix it, or
2. At least somehow access all data on the computer and save onto external harddrive before reinstalling Windows

Thanks a lot

PS If you can give any advice in language fit for a bit of a muppet would be kind - I have a vague understanding of computers but am no geek. Ta

[Hybr!d]

If you boot off your Vista CD you will be given an option to repair boot-up.

[delboy]

Thanks for that idea Dave

2 potential probs:

1. I haven't got a Vista CD - it came already installed from Acer. They want £50 for the CD. Grr. But I could buy one I suppose...

2. Even if I did have the CD, would I be able to save the files on the computer, or would it wipe it before I had the chance?

Any help gratefully received.

Cheers

[Hybr!d]

#1 - Is the software built into the PC ie is there a recovery option?

#2 - No it will not wipe the machine.

[delboy]

Sounds encouraging - thanks.

How do I recover it though? When I turn on the computer it says that it wasn't shut down properly and looks for errors. Then it starts up again but fails to boot up Windows.

Do I need to interrupt this process?

Thanks for help

[Hybr!d]

Look in your manuals or on the Acer site.

Will be something like hit F12 for recovery just before the PC boots.

It's different for various makes/models and not all have it.

[delboy]

Yup will try that - thanks again for the advice.

One thought I had was that when I did this before, I did lose all my data.

Does anyone know if it's possible to install an old copy of XP that I have onto an external harddrive, and then tell the BIOS to boot up using that drive? Would it then be possible to access the old files on the C drive, save them on the external drive and then reinstall Vista on the main computer?

Ta

[Hybr!d]

A Vista CD will have both options, wipe or repair. A recovery partition may have both or just one.

Yeah you can install XP or have a Google for a Linux boot CD and boot of that into Linux and back-up.

[tomthedrummer1992]

Knoppix is your answer in this case.

It runs off a live CD so you don't need to install it onto your HDD.

Do a google.


Tom

[MYRM1D0N]

that sux. i have no advice, thats just really bizarre. though i dont recommend using adobe reader for pdf files. it just has a bunch of massive crap taking up memory on your hard drive. i recommend a program called foxit reader. i think it only a few MBs, maybe 5 or something. and its freeware. can be found at filehippo.com. i stopped using adobe reader for pdf related stuff a couple years back. adobe is only good for photoshop and video editing.