[Glennix1]

I have two computers basically, this is how I am able to be here. My Sony Viao lap top has big problems right now.

I usually run the free version of SUPERantispyware every weekend. First I update the program, then run a scan. The program usually detects a small number of adware items and I click continue, they are deleted, then removed. Life goes on.

But this morning, a whole other story.

I downloaded the latest SUPERantispyware update, clicked scan and walked away from my computer.

I came back after about a half hour and the SUPERantispyware scan had detected 33,000 threats in the laptop's registry and counting. I canceled the scan at 33,808 total threats detected and clicked continue. The program started to go about the process of removing the Adware threats. I tried to cancel, but it would not let me. I had to follow the process through.

I am not able to use my laptop at all now. After rebooting, I was not able to bring up my Internet explorer or even the SUPERantispyware program. I was not even able to shut down. I removed power supply and the battery to shut down then put them back and tried to restart. Now I just get the blue Windows XP loading screen. If I press control, alt, delete, nothing happens.

This appears to be a very serious problem to me. I'm thinking my registry has been severely altered or damaged.

I need help with this in the most desperate way.

Can anyone help?

Glenn

[Glennix1]

I posted an inquirery with SUPERantispyware and just got this reply,

"Did you look at the threats detected? SUPERAntiSpyware can't remove systems files that are part of Windows. You may need to do a repair from your XP CD."

I don't remember getting any CD with my VIAO when I bought it.

[Byteman]

Hi, There have not been any problems with SUPERAntispyware that I know of-- we would have had a notice about any.

I'm scanning with a freshly installed copy of the Free edition, and Updated it, etc and no problems.

Can't say what the problem might be, but one way to try to get started up might be to try an XP System Restore.

Can you try starting in Safe Mode-

When you start up, tap the F8 key repeatedly until you see the Advanced Startup menu, with your keyboard down arrow key move the line down to "Safe Mode" (only) and press Enter once.

If you get to the Desktop,

All Programs> Accessories >System Tools >System Restore

Pick a Point back in time from today and try to Restore.

[Glennix1]

I followed your instructions. I was able to initiate starting in SAFE MODE, however, I ran into the same problem; I can't get beyond the two tone blue Windows XP logo screen.

[Byteman]

Try the same thing but this time go down to "Last Known good configuration" if that does not work, try

"Safe Mode with a command prompt."

If, by some chance, you get there follow what it says here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449


You can start a Restore from the command line.

I don't have much else to offer- doesn't your computer also have a Full System Recovery it could do from a key pressed at startup, before Windows starts?

Exact model number information of the VAIO please... I want to look up the system information at SONY, will find out if disks came with the machine or not, or if you can get a new Recovery set from SONY, if it is new enough there is that possibility.

[Glennix1]

Tried all your suggestions. Still the same thing. Nothing beyond the two tone blue Windows XP screen.

My VIAO is a VGN-SZ320P. I got out the original materials I received with the lap top and the documentation specifically says "system and/or application recovery media are not delivered with your computer."

"To access the VAIO recovery utility from Windows XP operationg system:
1. Click Start>All Programs>VAIO Recovery.
2. Click VAIO Recovery."

I could do that if I could get that far at start up. But again, I cannot get to the desk top menu to do that.

[avalanch3]

sounds like windows crashed and if you dont have any cd's I'd contact sony depending on how old/long you've had the computer

[Byteman]

Hi,


You need to go to the SONY support here and read all of the information about performing Recovery- there is more than one way, if yours is one that has the feature:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/mod...GNSZ320P&LOC=3

Your computer did not come with Recovery disks, I think you were supposed to create them- if yours came with a DVD/CD burner drive, there was a utility that prompted you to make the disk(s) at the first bootup....

But> the hidden partition method described at SONY might just work, provided that part of the hard drive was not affected by whatever ate your files...

(There definitely are some malwares that do this when you attempt to use any security software to remove them).

Please, do not try anything yet, without reading all or most of those items!!!!!! If there are important files, to you, on that drive, and you have never backed them up on other media....doing a full system Recovery might mean that they will be gone.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/mod...GNSZ320P&LOC=3

Look at the list of information there....Sixth item down System Recovery and Recovery Disk Information

This bit below, is from C395689 How to perform a system recovery using the VAIO Recovery Wizard.

The last item down in the list:

Close all open programs and turn off the computer.
Disconnect all network connections.
Disconnect all peripheral devices.
Turn on the computer.
When the SONY screen is displayed, press the F10 key.
From within the VAIO Recovery Wizard application, in the Restore C: Drive window, click to select the I understand box.
WARNING: There is a risk of data loss. Once you click the Next button, the recovery process starts and cannot be reversed.

Click the Next button.
WARNING: There is a risk of data loss. Do not click any buttons or windows until the bundled applications are installed and the Finish button is displayed in the Restore C: Drive (Step 4 of 4) window. No other action is required.

After the bundled applications are installed, under Restore C: Drive (Step 4 of 4), click the Finish button.
The computer will restart and the operating system setup wizard will begin. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup wizard.

You can try finding out if the disks are still available- at least check first....in case actually trying the F10 method results in anything worse than you are in now.

The documentation, user guide, etc is here: Downloadable Adobe .pdf files.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/mod...?mdl=VGNSZ320P


Files on the hard drive now might be able to be rescued but it would take some work and you would have to have an IDE to notebook drive adapter to be able to read from the notebook drive while it was connected to a regular tower type system.

At least, that's how I do it, there are probably other ways.

It does also say that you can ship the whole computer back to them and they will reimage it as it was brand new...I'm not sure if yours would still be covered under that.

Might pay to find out. Good luck!

[avalanch3]

after reading this I think i might go create my restore disc for my toshiba laptop

[Byteman]

Hi, Yes, better had! It's pretty easy- put in a blank DVD (Or, about six CDs) , the utility does it in just a short while... The problem is, only one set can be made with the ones like Dell has, one only per customer.

So, you might be able to copy the one, though I haven't tried any- seems like that would be possible.

If the hard drive totally goes, which can happen even if new....you at least have something in hand.

[Glennix1]

Ok, I tried the F10 button at start up. This brought me to a restore screen. This is good. However, there is a warning about loosing data, as you have also mentioned. So I did not procede from this point.

I think the most critical data I had on the laptop was a money program that I had periodically backed up onto a CD.

But, I think I will try bringing the lap to to a local techician to see if he/she can download data from my laptop that is still there. I might be suprised by what I might have missed. Unless this is something I can do. Hmmm, is this something I can do with my other computer?

[Byteman]

Hi, It's not possible for me to tell whether even a tech...could salvage anything usable or if files were destroyed....
Though, the Registry is not needed to get at the files, so it looks good.

You should try to save anything you might need, like your Favorites, if you had special ones....

Pictures, documents....things created by you. Installed programs of course won't copy and transfer like that, you'd have to reinstall fresh after using the Recovery method....and then, load back your saved files.



The hard drive connectors are different from ordinary IDE 3.5inch hard drives, than laptop 2.5inch types, so you can't just take the drive out of the notebook and connect it to a tower computer...and, you can't put one drive into another laptop, as it would try to boot from it, and in XP that would mean screwing up both machines....

You might be able to borrow an IDE to 2.5inch notebook drive adapter, they don't cost much, either....at a tech place, should have them.

Once you get the drive connected as a SLAVE drive *that is important, it has to be jumpered as a SLAVE or as Cable Select if that is what your tower computer uses....and put on the ribbon cable on a middle connector....in order for the tower system to recognize the drive and as a SLAVE drive so it doesn;t try to boot from your notebook drive.

Once you get that, it's fairly easy to use Explorer to see files on the second, or SLAVE drive and copy and paste them to a folder on the tower C drive....to burn them to CDs, etc. or whatever you want to do to save them.

You just have to be careful, not to disturb any other wires etc inside the tower.

And, some hard drives are not removable from notebook computers, without a lot of disassembly work. It depends!

On most, you simply slide the drive out of a compartment, either on the bottom or on one end after unscrewing a little screw.

Be gentle, notebook drives aren't meant to be pulled out too often.