I have Dell Inspiron 6400 running Vista Home Premium 32 bit.
Last week I did usual windows updates and then proceeded to install new
itunes v.8. Upon completion of installation it asked me to restart, i
clicked yes. MELTDOWN!
It tries to start up but fails, so i select option of trying system
recovery. didnt work - now I want to try and do a backup of my hard
drive and then just do a restore to factory settings.

When I choose advanced system recovery options and select command
prompt, it opens the command window with the line at:
X:\Windows\system32

How can I change this to point to the c drive so that I can xcopy my
docs etc to my portable hard drive?

I am not very techy, know a few basics just - so if you can offer any
help please let it be aimed at an IT dummy level


--
anniemc123

Hi annie,

If you have a DELL "reinstall" dvd, you may find it has the option to
do a startup repair ( some of the Dell discs do - they have been
shipping what appear to be straight copies of the MS dvd - in some
regions/ ranges )

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91...up-repair.html

If you do not have that dvd, or that option, you can make your own disc

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/14...very-disc.html

Otherwise, you could see if you can copy your drive to an external hard
drive using a bootable drive copy app. , free from here

'EASEUS Disk Copy: Free Disk Copy, Partition Copy Software. Sector by
Sector for hard drive backup tool.' (http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/)

I have not used this, but read the web page and see if you want to try
it.


I'm assuming Vista won't boot at all , i.e. you don't get to the Widows
loading bars.

If you get past the windows loading , and then it hangs, it could be a
misbehaving/ corrupt program trying to start up.

If that is the case, try going into Safe mode ( tap F8 after the post
screen , but before windows starts loading ). Then type msconfig into
the start search box, and click it when it pops up.

Dot Selective startup and tick Load system services. Then click the
Startup tab and untick everything except your security apps and video
drivers. Click Apply and OK. Then try starting up.

7519

7518

You could also try going into safe mode arrowing down to Last known
good configuration and press enter.

Hope that helps

SIW2


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--
SIW2

I would use the F8, then try the last known good first.

"anniemc123" wrote in message
...

I have Dell Inspiron 6400 running Vista Home Premium 32 bit.
Last week I did usual windows updates and then proceeded to install new
itunes v.8. Upon completion of installation it asked me to restart, i
clicked yes. MELTDOWN!
It tries to start up but fails, so i select option of trying system
recovery. didnt work - now I want to try and do a backup of my hard
drive and then just do a restore to factory settings.

When I choose advanced system recovery options and select command
prompt, it opens the command window with the line at:
X:\Windows\system32

How can I change this to point to the c drive so that I can xcopy my
docs etc to my portable hard drive?

I am not very techy, know a few basics just - so if you can offer any
help please let it be aimed at an IT dummy level


--
anniemc123