computersaysno

Hi all,

I reall, really, really, need some help.
I recently got a second hand laptop (Toshiba Equium A60 - PSA67E-00j00C8J). It was working fine running Windows XP until I decided with my lack of knowledge to download Vista Black Edition and try and install it. Now my laptop will not boot. It just comes up with the initial black screen and says that I must press ctrl-alt-del to restart it. This just happens over and over again.

I have a Windows XP disc and can re-install it, but I am very worried that I will lose all of my program files. My personal files (pics, music, documents etc) are not that inportant because I have them on discs from when I got the laptop, but things such as my Microsoft Office 2003, my McAfee security, Toshiba drivers, wireless installation, DVD drivers and media drivers (??!!) etc and everything else that was on my computer i'm worried will be lost.

Does anyone have a solution of how I can get my computer to turn on properly, so that I can uninstall the Vista or how I can re-install XP without losing my program files?

Any help would be greatly appreciated and please remember that I am a complete novice.

Thanks,

onlinesupport

Hi,
Have you try to open computer in safe mode? Restart computer and press F-8 button.

computersaysno

Thanks.
I'll try that tonight and see what happens. I'm thinking that it's a case of me just having to re-install my XP. I can re-install all (or most of what I can remember) my apps and was told that I can get the Toshiba drivers from the website (don't have the disc). In terms of my security software. I can't find my McAfee security disc anywhere. I'm I screwed in that sense. Will I have to just buy another one?

Thanks again.

CriticalPoint

I'm pretty sure you would have to have registered with McAfee - Either with an email address or a paper-form of sorts. So, that said, get in touch with McAfee and ask them what they can do for you. You'll probably find that it's a free download and they supply you with your exclusive licence info again for re-registration.

However - There is a way you can partition the drive and re-install XP on a clean section of the disk. After doing this, you can sit there and manually slave the data over - Which could take an age and can be very unreliable. Details HERE.

But really, I think McAfee support would be your way forwards!

Additionally, the link you are after for Drivers is HERE.

computersaysno

I bought the laptop second hand, so not sure what it was registered under. I was just given the disc (which I can't find). If it comes down to it, i'll buy new security software (that's not the biggest problem in the world).

Thanks for the info and help. I have a try tonight and see what happens.

Much appreciated.

CriticalPoint

Just a thought.. I have recently started using Avast Home Edition after I did a google search for a 'Lite AV'. Uses minimum resources and subscription is free (a word we all love). I like it, you might want to give it a go..

I have also heard great things about Avira Anti-Vir but I can't vouch for it as I have never used it!

(EDIT - Both are free but require an email address for registration as far as I can ascertain)

computersaysno

Hi all,

Thanks for all you help. I've manage to get mostly everything back on to my laptop and it's working fine now. I won;t be stupid enough to think that i'm an IT technician again. :-)

I'll try the Avast Home Edition. Could anyone give a recommendation for another Anti-virus as well (McAfee or Norton or others?)

Thanks again all.

TriggerFinger

Avira is good too. I have been using it for a year now and so far I am happy with it.

Glad to know you got your computer working again. Kindly mark this thread as SOLVED if you do not have any more issues on the subject.

Thanks.

computersaysno

Solved