My desktop(zoostorm)keeps shutting itself off, scans reveal no virus, after
running memory diagnostic windows will not load, I want to a full
reinstallation but I dont have a cd as it was pre-installed, i'm told to
click f8 repeatedly at start up but unsure where to go from there to restore
the factory settings, something about advanced boot, command prompt, repair
restore etc, I have my license key(product key), a step by step walk through
would be appreciated greatly, it is a 32 bit vista running vista home premium.

lollerbongo wrote:

My desktop(zoostorm)keeps shutting itself off, scans reveal no virus,
after running memory diagnostic windows will not load, I want to a full
reinstallation but I dont have a cd as it was pre-installed, i'm told to
click f8 repeatedly at start up but unsure where to go from there to
restore the factory settings, something about advanced boot, command
prompt, repair restore etc, I have my license key(product key), a step by
step walk through would be appreciated greatly, it is a 32 bit vista
running vista home premium.

Since Windows came preinstalled and you apparently didn't make physical
recovery disks, contact the computer mftr. to get replacement recovery
disks. You'll be contacting them anyway because what you're describing is
most probably caused by failing hardware, not software. Reinstalling
Windows onto faulty hardware is futile.

Here are some general hardware troubleshooting steps:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...ardware_Tshoot

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with
known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data backed up
before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

This does not sound like a software problem. It sounds like hardware. In
any case, F8 does not sound like the right key. F8 brings up the Advanced
Boot Options. On my wife's HP laptop the option to restore to factory
condition is the F11 key.

"lollerbongo" wrote in message
...
My desktop(zoostorm)keeps shutting itself off, scans reveal no virus,
after
running memory diagnostic windows will not load, I want to a full
reinstallation but I dont have a cd as it was pre-installed, i'm told to
click f8 repeatedly at start up but unsure where to go from there to
restore
the factory settings, something about advanced boot, command prompt,
repair
restore etc, I have my license key(product key), a step by step walk
through
would be appreciated greatly, it is a 32 bit vista running vista home
premium.

Colin's response is 100% spot on. Pre-installed systems without discs
are often factory-installed in a hidden partition on the hard disk.
Your documentation will possibly tell you which " f* " key to press on
initial boot (it may also be displayed on the pre-windows screen on
boot, just after memory test).
Be aware this will do exactly what it says - restore Vista to EXACTLY
as it was when delivered. It will re-format the C: drive, thus wiping
ALL the data, drivers and updates installed since you originally got the
pc.
In my experience (with ACER pc) this re-install process is relatively
simple, requiring minimal user input. However, it's the subsequent
updates that are the pain - you will need to download/install all the
Vista updates, PLUS re-install all your applications (and their updates
too) plus drivers for your peripherals. Look forward to at least 2 days
work!

A tip - if not already done, partition your hard disk drive C;/into at
least two (do NOT attempt to change/format the existing hidden partition
else you will lose your "factory settings", i.e the entire factory
installed recovery system)

When you have recovered your system, use the D: drive to store ALL your
data files/drivers etc
Reason? If/when you have to "restore" again (and thus reformat/wipe the
C: drive, again) it's only the C: drive that's wiped - data stored on
D: is still there!


--
Masterbowl

Even the updates may not be a big deal if Vista SP1 was preinstalled.

"Masterbowl" wrote in message
...

Colin's response is 100% spot on. Pre-installed systems without discs
are often factory-installed in a hidden partition on the hard disk.
Your documentation will possibly tell you which " f* " key to press on
initial boot (it may also be displayed on the pre-windows screen on
boot, just after memory test).
Be aware this will do exactly what it says - restore Vista to EXACTLY
as it was when delivered. It will re-format the C: drive, thus wiping
ALL the data, drivers and updates installed since you originally got the
pc.
In my experience (with ACER pc) this re-install process is relatively
simple, requiring minimal user input. However, it's the subsequent
updates that are the pain - you will need to download/install all the
Vista updates, PLUS re-install all your applications (and their updates
too) plus drivers for your peripherals. Look forward to at least 2 days
work!

A tip - if not already done, partition your hard disk drive C;/into at
least two (do NOT attempt to change/format the existing hidden partition
else you will lose your "factory settings", i.e the entire factory
installed recovery system)

When you have recovered your system, use the D: drive to store ALL your
data files/drivers etc
Reason? If/when you have to "restore" again (and thus reformat/wipe the
C: drive, again) it's only the C: drive that's wiped - data stored on
D: is still there!


--
Masterbowl

I have vista home premium 32bit. I lost my passwords for Admin account
and since my other computer is a Mac, no recovery program downloads will
work. At this point, I don't even care about losing all my personal
data. My computer is a Dell Inspiron 1525. Is there a key that restores
it to factory condition if anyone knows?? I didn't recieve any sorts of
recovery or reinstallation discs for Vista. Please please help me. I'm
unable to use the laptop at all because i can't create a new admin
account or delete the current one. Everything needs that darn password.
I've been hacking my own computer for 3 1/2 hours. Can anyone help?


--
gracef

I have vista home premium 32bit. I lost my passwords for Admin account
and since my other computer is a Mac, no recovery program downloads will
work. At this point, I don't even care about losing all my personal
data. My computer is a Dell Inspiron 1525. Is there a key that restores
it to factory condition if anyone knows?? I didn't recieve any sorts of
recovery or reinstallation discs for Vista. Please please help me. I'm
unable to use the laptop at all because i can't create a new admin
account or delete the current one. Everything needs that darn password.
I've been hacking my own computer for 3 1/2 hours. Can anyone help?


--
gracef

Since you received no recovery disks with the computer the computer probably
has a preinstalled recovery partition and the instructions that you have
that came with the computer will tell you how to use it to recovery they
also will tell you how to make a backup copy of the recovery partition so
you can recover if your HDD fails.

"gracef" wrote in message
...

I have vista home premium 32bit. I lost my passwords for Admin account
and since my other computer is a Mac, no recovery program downloads will
work. At this point, I don't even care about losing all my personal
data. My computer is a Dell Inspiron 1525. Is there a key that restores
it to factory condition if anyone knows?? I didn't recieve any sorts of
recovery or reinstallation discs for Vista. Please please help me. I'm
unable to use the laptop at all because i can't create a new admin
account or delete the current one. Everything needs that darn password.
I've been hacking my own computer for 3 1/2 hours. Can anyone help?


--
gracef

Since you received no recovery disks with the computer the computer probably
has a preinstalled recovery partition and the instructions that you have
that came with the computer will tell you how to use it to recovery they
also will tell you how to make a backup copy of the recovery partition so
you can recover if your HDD fails.

"gracef" wrote in message
...

I have vista home premium 32bit. I lost my passwords for Admin account
and since my other computer is a Mac, no recovery program downloads will
work. At this point, I don't even care about losing all my personal
data. My computer is a Dell Inspiron 1525. Is there a key that restores
it to factory condition if anyone knows?? I didn't recieve any sorts of
recovery or reinstallation discs for Vista. Please please help me. I'm
unable to use the laptop at all because i can't create a new admin
account or delete the current one. Everything needs that darn password.
I've been hacking my own computer for 3 1/2 hours. Can anyone help?


--
gracef

I searched on my laptop and there was nothing tagged with "recovery"
however there was something with "recover". I clicked open, and it
promptly flashed on the screen and closed out. I went through this cycle
several times. I have no idea what the program is because it is open for
less than a second...:sarc: This is really stressing me out. I can't buy
another laptop and I can do nothing on it besides typing and stuff. I
need this for school.
What should i doooo


Curious;1212562 Wrote:
Since you received no recovery disks with the computer the computer
probably
has a preinstalled recovery partition and the instructions that you
have
that came with the computer will tell you how to use it to recovery
they
also will tell you how to make a backup copy of the recovery partition
so
you can recover if your HDD fails.

"gracef" wrote in message
...

I have vista home premium 32bit. I lost my passwords for Admin
account
and since my other computer is a Mac, no recovery program downloads
will
work. At this point, I don't even care about losing all my personal
data. My computer is a Dell Inspiron 1525. Is there a key that
restores
it to factory condition if anyone knows?? I didn't recieve any sorts
of
recovery or reinstallation discs for Vista. Please please help me.
I'm
unable to use the laptop at all because i can't create a new admin
account or delete the current one. Everything needs that darn
password.
I've been hacking my own computer for 3 1/2 hours. Can anyone help?


--
gracef


--
gracef