Hello all,

Where to start....!!

My uncle bought a brand new computer in Nov 2008. He set it up with a
log in name and password. He forgot his password and gave up trying to
log in, put the laptop away in a box and ignored it til now as he wants
to use it now.

He tried for hours to crack his password, trying everything that he
thought it could be, but still no joy. He then went on my computer and
downloaded something called "killdisk" ( then transferring to his comp
via CD) believing that this would basically restore everything when
booted up. However whenever he turns his comp on now, it says " insert a
bootable disc...." and wont load anything up ie windows vista! He then
downloaded a "windows vista recovery disc" from a website that now, when
the comp is turned on takes him to " intall windows" He types in the 25
digit product key but is told "windows cannot open the required file D:/
sources/ install.wim. The file does not exist. Make sure all files for
installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code:
0x80070002"

So he then clicked " repair your computer" where he is asked to select
an operating system to repair.... however there are no operating systems
to select!

Does this mean that he has unintentionally deleted or uninstalled
windows vista? If so, is it possible to get it back? Can he download
something, or transfer vista from my laptop or what?

Sorry, I know this is a large post but I wanted to make sure all the
info was in.
Thanks in advance for any help.


--
bazzab1984

If it's this KillDisk then it's pretty obvious what it does...it erases
hard drives so it looks like you are going to have to reinstall.
'Active@ Kill Disk Hard Drive Eraser. Low Level Format.'
(http://www.killdisk.com/)

To retrieve a lost password there are many ways of going about
it...just do a Google search for -*How To Retrieve A Lost Windows
Password.*-

Unless your Vista is a volume license it isn't usable on another
machine.


--
Ex_Brit

::*-Peter-*::
Toronto, Canada
XP Pro SP3, Vista Ultimate SP1, Windows 7 Beta
P4 HT @ 3.0ghz, 4gb DDR, 700gb HDD

bazzab1984 wrote:

My uncle bought a brand new computer in Nov 2008. He set it up with a
log in name and password. He forgot his password and gave up trying to
log in, put the laptop away in a box and ignored it til now as he wants
to use it now.

He tried for hours to crack his password, trying everything that he
thought it could be, but still no joy. He then went on my computer and
downloaded something called "killdisk" ( then transferring to his comp
via CD) believing that this would basically restore everything when
booted up. However whenever he turns his comp on now, it says " insert a
bootable disc...." and wont load anything up ie windows vista! He then
downloaded a "windows vista recovery disc" from a website that now, when
the comp is turned on takes him to " intall windows" He types in the 25
digit product key but is told "windows cannot open the required file D:/
sources/ install.wim. The file does not exist. Make sure all files for
installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code:
0x80070002"

So he then clicked " repair your computer" where he is asked to select
an operating system to repair.... however there are no operating systems
to select!

Does this mean that he has unintentionally deleted or uninstalled
windows vista? If so, is it possible to get it back? Can he download
something, or transfer vista from my laptop or what?

Yes, your uncle hosed his computer. And all he had to do was use NTpasswd to
change his password to a blank and he would have been back into the laptop
in under a minute (not counting downloading NTpasswd and burning the .iso).
It's really too bad. And all because he thought he knew what he was doing
(and absolutely didn't).

The recovery disk your uncle probably downloaded has Vista repair features
but cannot be used to install Vista. He will need to restore the laptop to
factory condition using whatever method the laptop mftr. provided. If your
uncle destroyed the special partition that holds the factory image (and I'm
guessing he did), then he will need to use the recovery disk set he made
when he first got the computer. Didn't make the recovery disk set? Then he
should contact the laptop mftr.'s tech support and order the disks. These
recovery disk sets are usually very inexpensive, around $20.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

If you do a Google search for killdisk
you will find an app that will *Erase*
your hard drive.

It sounds like Vista has been removed
from the hard drive and no he cannot
'transfer' Vista from your computer.

The reference to: ""windows cannot open
the required file D:/ sources/ install.wim"
means there was a recovery partition on
the hard drive that also must have been
'Erased'.

If you have or can order a recovery CD/
DVD from the "manufacturer" of the
computer you may be able to reinstall Vista.

--


John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk
========================
Hello all,

Where to start....!!

My uncle bought a brand new computer in Nov 2008. He set it up with a
log in name and password. He forgot his password and gave up trying to
log in, put the laptop away in a box and ignored it til now as he
wants to use it now.

He tried for hours to crack his password, trying everything that he
thought it could be, but still no joy. He then went on my computer and
downloaded something called "killdisk" ( then transferring to his comp
via CD) believing that this would basically restore everything when
booted up. However whenever he turns his comp on now, it says "
insert a bootable disc...." and wont load anything up ie windows
vista! He then downloaded a "windows vista recovery disc" from a
website that now, when the comp is turned on takes him to " intall
windows" He types in the 25 digit product key but is told "windows
cannot open the required file D:/ sources/ install.wim. The file does
not exist. Make sure all files for installation are available, and
restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070002"

So he then clicked " repair your computer" where he is asked to select
an operating system to repair.... however there are no operating
systems to select!

Does this mean that he has unintentionally deleted or uninstalled
windows vista? If so, is it possible to get it back? Can he download
something, or transfer vista from my laptop or what?

Sorry, I know this is a large post but I wanted to make sure all the
info was in.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Kill Disk Has the ability to reset passwords in vista by wiping the
original password. If he didnt know what he was doing when he used
killdisk he obviously must have wiped his disk to 1010100101010101010101
meaning cleaning his system to nill OS,

He must take more care next time, Reinstall vista and your set.


--
sparks559

John Inzer;1018281

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk
========================

Sparks559

His uncle doesnt need to order a *recovery Disk* his system is wiped a
OEM or a disk with vista onit will do, just get a mates burnt copy of
the OEM, just remember burnt copies are legal the CD key cloning is
illigal, you pay for the CD key not the Disk.

Reininstall windows, DO it Brinks way, When it asks for a CD key say
no, do it later, then pick your OS (Which his CD key is linked to, EG
Home Premium, (Located on bottom of Laptops Most of the Time))

Then select partition, in this case the disk will be unallocated space
so you need to make a new drive by selecting the drive clicking advance
options and then making it a new NTFS partition of C: Drive, then format
it once its done, make sure you format it, then click next (install)

And WB if there are any issues


--
sparks559

thanks for the replies. i have vista home premium on my laptop too. is
it possible to burn that onto a disk and use that as we both have our
own product keys. whats Oem and where could i get that if the 1st option
isn't plausable. thanks again


--
bazzab1984

You should need to do that then hmmm *Idea*

Norton Ghost, Ghost your operating system over to his computer, let me
know if thats an idea that may work


--
sparks559