PC crashed and wont let me log in.

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Barry64

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Apr 26, 2013
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Hey guys. I have a fujitsu siemens amilo with windows vista. My computer started running really slow and then all but stopped so I reset my computer. After loading the computer would cut out before loading up the password screen so I cant even get onto my desktop. Looks like I have a pretty bad virus.

I tried entering in safe mode but got no further. I decided to reset my computer back to factory setting unfortunately I never made a restore disc, I did however back up all my important personal stuff onto an external hard drive.

While loading I repeatedly pushed the F8 key and chose the repair computer option. It took me to a black screen. After 10 mins the screen turned grey, then after a further 10 mins the computer was ready to restore. A grey rectangle appeared saying the computer was being restored to factory settings along with a long bar next to it. 12 hours later the bar had still not moved. I looked up a guide, followed the instructions and the outcome was the same.

Any ideas on what I should do ? I don't mind losing my files as I have them backed up but I can't seem to erase the virus or reset my PC back to factory settings. Any advice would be great. Thanks.
 
Solution
house70
I suppose you have a separate partition where the system image is being restored from.
If that is true, then you need to give your other partition (the system one, the one that has the OS on it) a full wipe to ensure that no virus is left over. Remember, formatting a drive does not erase it, it just marks it as available to write over.
I use a program named Killdisk (available online, there is a free version that you can download and put on a bootable media) that writes zeroes on any partition or drive you need. You can use this program to wipe completely the system partition (or system drive, according to your PC, if you have more than one HDD), keeping the RESTORE partiton intact. Make sure you select the correct partition/drive when...
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I suppose you have a separate partition where the system image is being restored from.
If that is true, then you need to give your other partition (the system one, the one that has the OS on it) a full wipe to ensure that no virus is left over. Remember, formatting a drive does not erase it, it just marks it as available to write over.
I use a program named Killdisk (available online, there is a free version that you can download and put on a bootable media) that writes zeroes on any partition or drive you need. You can use this program to wipe completely the system partition (or system drive, according to your PC, if you have more than one HDD), keeping the RESTORE partiton intact. Make sure you select the correct partition/drive when you do this, you don't want to erase the RESTORE partition/drive.
After that, you can apply the RESTORE routine as you did before.
 
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Solution
It is very possible getochkn, my PC is never off. I recently took my PC apart to clean the inside and the fan, days later it died, Maybe I did something to the fan. The computer has been off all day so will open it up to make sure everything looks ok and that the fan is working as intended. I hope its not the hard drive.

Sorry anoldnewb, I don't understand.

Thanks for the advice house70, I will definitely read up on your suggestion.

After I check out my PC I will post the results. Thanks guys.
 
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The fan seems to be working just fine. I tried the recovery process again. I ill give a more detailed description in the hope that it helps more.

At first I get the message -Windows has failed to start a recent hardware or software change may be the cause - I have the option of starting windows as usual or repair. If I start windows as usual a blue screen with some digits appear for a few seconds then the computer restarts and repeats. If I choose repair I am asked to select a source for my repair. I only have one option, the hard disk. The next message reads - The default factory settings can now be restored to the selected hard disk 0, the entire contents of the hard disk and its partitions will be deleted. I am then told the data is now being restored but the bar does not move.

Maybe I damaged something while cleaning ? Would sending for a restore disc from the manufacturer make a difference ? I am not very computer savvy to be honest so not sure if I could replace my hard drive or do as house70 suggested without messing things up.

Thanks again guys.

--------

After this post the restore began to work. After it completed the restore, windows would still not load. Now the computer wants the windows installation disk but I never got a disk with my computer. Would buying windows vista home edition be the answer ? That is what my computer has at the moment.

Thanks guys
 
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There are 2 different types of Restore. One is the restore offered by Windows in case something goes awry, and this is the restore you've been attempting, that's why it asks for a Windows disk, to copy uncorrupted files from the installation disk; the other one is the PC restore from the manufacturer, where upon launching it it restores the whole image of your system back to OEM configuration (not only OS, but also the other programs that came preinstalled with it). I highly suspect the restore partition/disk has an image on it, and there is a certain procedure for that particular PC that launches the factory restore. Double check the documentation for that PC, check their online support as well, to find out how to launch that factory restore.
Last hope scenario, you can request the manufacturer a set of CDs or DVD that has the image of your PC; that is useful in case the partition that has the restore image has been affected as well, esp. if the HDD that hosts it is a few years old. In this case, they could send you a OEM copy of your OS installation, in which case you could have the option to restore the whole factory image OR just do a Windows Repair-install, as you tried. You have already paid for that OEM copy of the OS when you bought the PC. If not, you can download an image from Microsoft, burn a DVD with it (or put it on a USB drive, if supported), and just apply your OEM activation key when prompted. In this case, make sure you download the correct OEM version of the OS that came with the PC.
 
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Thanks house70 for the detailed answer. I will look into the documentation to see what I can find and if all else fails I will request the CD's from the manufacturer. I will let you guys know how I get on. Thanks again.
 
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Like I said, you can download the Windows image from Microsoft, burn it on a dvd, do a repair-install using the key that came with your system. I would try that before asking the manufacturer for a copy of the PC's image. Got nothing to lose.
If you plan to do this, one more detail I forgot to mention: you'll need the drivers and utilities that are specific for your hardware configuration. Go ahead and download them all on a separate USB drive or a CD/DVD, you'll need them if the above OS install succeeds. Windows 7 is great in finding the drivers it needs online, Vista... not so much. You can download all that from the manufacturer's website. The drivers are self-explanatory; the utilities are needed to unlock the full functionality of the special keys or other gimmicks that came with the system.
 
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I got the windows image and the drivers and utilities that I needed. I repaired the system and installed the disc. In the end windows appears and I type in my password. A few seconds later the computer restarts and asks me to do a system repair. It just keeps repeating the same process. I contacted the manufacturer and they seem to think they can't help me, wont even send out a disc. Sorry to be a pain guys but any more ideas or is it time for a new PC ?

Thanks
 
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Sounds like hardware. A restore disc isn't going to make a difference. All that is the installed copy of windows with your drivers. Using a different Windows with the drivers didn't fix it, sounds like hardware. If you want, download and burn a Ubuntu and run that, see if it freezes or acts weird. Don't run it as a live CD as that won't install it to the hard drive.
 
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Save your image files and your drivers/utilities on a different drive/disk, then try to replace the HDD.
BTW, did you do the erasing of the OS partition/drive (like using killdisk, for instance)?
How old is the HDD (or your system, if the HDD has not been replaced)?
Is this a desktop or a laptop? I could not find it mentioned anywhere on this thread ( I might have missed something, though).
 
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It is a desktop and my hard drive is six years old. I downloaded the drivers/utilities onto a different disk and I did erase the OS partition but I didn't try the killdisk.

Thanks again
 
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If the HDD is 6 years old, even using Killdisk would only buy it a few more months (at best) in terms of lifespan. I would say go ahead and try it, anyways, because if it works OK after that (even for a short period of time) it would confirm the HDD is half-dead and needs replacing. Next step would be to get a new HDD and proceed with a clean install.
How did you erase the partition if not used Killdisk? Just curious what program you used. Just formatting does not erase the data, it only marks it as available to be written over. Erasing means "zeroing" the partition/drive, writing zeroes all over it, like it came from the factory. If you used a similar program that did that, no need to use Killdisk, and you can safely proceed to replace the HDD.
A remote possibility could be that the HDD-controller is the culprit, not the moving platters but the chip on the HDD's circuit board. That is less common, since moving parts are the first ones to go, but not impossible. Replacing the HDD is the solution in that case, as well.
 
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Ahh, I get it now. Killdisk is not the same as formatting, sorry house07. It just took a while to sink in. I will try Killdisk. If I need to replace the HDD will I be looking for the same model as I have ? My PC is a fujitsu siemens amilo Pi 3410, Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 2.66 GHz processor, 2 Gb memory, 320 Gb HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 7100 graphics card. I am not sure what would be compatible with my PC, I will do a bit of research.

Thanks again.
 
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Just make sure the interface is similar, and the form factor (3.5 or 2.5 inch). The mounting should not be a problem, similar drives have standard mounting screw holes. The interface (IDE or SATA) is crucial though, you can't directly fit the cables if not same interface.
While you're at it, you could upgrade your RAM, as well. It is cheap and just by doubling it you will notice a huge improvement.
Let us know how it turns out.
 
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Killdisk worked. I will still look into getting a new drive and upgrading my memory. I wont actually buy anything just yet but at least I will be prepared if anything should happen. Thanks for all the help house70.
 
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