[laurengray]

I have seen this in various forms on this forum (http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/9...isk-error.html and http://forums.techguy.org/virus-othe...ve-please.html), but mine varies in one major way: I can't get my machine to start in safe mode, and I can't get it to do anything beyond the point where I get the Windows error message, "VCAB.exe There is no disk in the drive. Please insert another disk."

Because of this, I can't install AVG, can't run Norton (which I pay for and use), and don't know how to get a log for you...

I am running Vista, I think SP2 (but can't check to be sure).

I don't do anything like go get torrents or shady software - I had to look up "cracked software" to even know what the one response meant.

Can you help me?

Thanks in advance
lauren

[Hughv]

A repair install may help:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...torial148.html

[laurengray]

Thanks - looks like a good tutorial. In keeping with Murphy's Law, though, my laptop of course didn't come with a DVD to install Vista. Looks like that whole system repair depends on having the DVD to start up with.

Ideas? Tips?

tia

[Hughv]

What's the make and model?
Many computers comer with a restore partition.

[laurengray]

Sony Vaio
VGN-FZ240E

[Hughv]

From the Sony Site:

If the operating system will not start and no other troubleshooting can be performed, a recovery of the (C drive can be performed by starting the computer and pressing the F8 key.

WARNING: There is a risk of data loss. All software applications, configurations and data added to the restored drive will be erased. '.