Talk to me about 2nd hand garage laptops...........

[ukracer]

in post 23 you also state its a Toshiba
if your screen shows a mouse pointer then its working fine have you tried the FN key with F5 or which ever swaps the screen

You are of course correct. That explains why you never had problems with a Toshiba lol. I had just taken the hard drive out to check it and I think the fact it was Toshiba flumoxed me. Honestly my memory does seen crap lately. I feel like Ashley of Emerdale. Since then I had it upside down with the drive out and never really gave it any more thought!.. I might get a toshiba next..

 

[the snooper]

if your mouse pointer is on screen can you right click and bring up the display options, graphic properties and so on ?

 

[ukracer]

Yeah do not get a DV6 they overheat. ....

But just to clarify a DV6 is not actually a toshiba. (Its HP) My bad.....

 

[ukracer]

if your mouse pointer is on screen can you right click and bring up the display options, graphic properties and so on ?

No this is the point. It started to take a long time to boot and I mean 10 mins BUT I had not used it for ages and then I started it up and even left it over night! Its really weird as its just like its switch to projectors but the F5 key or similar does bring that box up and I can switch a projector on and external monitor. But even with one attached it does not show desktop . Windows key does not work. Right click does not work. Its sort of like drivers for windows dont display but I dont really know why it would show the mouse that can disappear to the right! Oh and it does not go into safemode as I would expect that to be single screen only so I tried that etc etc.

 

[the snooper]

No this is the point. It started to take a long time to boot and I mean 10 mins BUT I had not used it for ages and then I started it up and even left it over night! Its really weird as its just like its switch to projectors but the F5 key or similar does bring that box up and I can switch a projector on and external monitor. But even with one attached it does not show desktop . Windows key does not work. Right click does not work. Its sort of like drivers for windows dont display but I dont really know why it would show the mouse that can disappear to the right! Oh and it does not go into safemode as I would expect that to be single screen only so I tried that etc etc.

have a look here its describing similar issues with fixes

sounds like master boot record failure, that's why no safe mode or right click menus and so on

 

[ukracer]

have a look here its describing similar issues with fixes

sounds like master boot record failure, that's why no safe mode or right click menus and so on

will do. its just run puppy up just fine.. off to bed after a quick read thanks to all for assistance.

 

[Chris Stevens]

LOl yes I do jump around a bit its due to the grandson and wife needing controlling.. I managed to get them both asleep and my new computer are warm enough to work in comfortably.

Took a big swig and settled down to do just what you asked above. I am just wanting to get ANYTHING I can of my laptop to make sure I dont loose something I can save.

One issue I had was I have a number of programs than can only be installed once. (free from a deal cant remember the name. They also have % of other products) Not many I use but you know what its like loose it and you need to use it.


I am planning on getting all the files off and then a system restore to factory as I have 5 discs BUT Toshiba tell me its also on the hard drive under toshiba tools.

I was concerned about getting it working again as I forgot about produ key.

Now I have saved all keys on my laptop I am happy. Once I have copied all the files I can I will put the drive back into my Toshiba laptop. Currently its in a USB 3.0 caddy.

I now have a CD with Puppy on it and will check my hardware........

Then I can do my reinstall. I will also have to re grease the video chip and cpu as its overheating badly.



In case you are all a bit confused I also have another laptop an aspire which I was going to use for mach 3 but a mate gave be a registered copy of Mach3 and a computer with it all running. So thats going to have a fresh install...BUT I was not aware it was originally Vista 64 bit and had been upgraded to Windows 7 ultimate. (My Toshiba has home premium on it.)

Anyway I Also have my sons mates Aspire (another one) which he used for vehicle diagnostics and its that one I would like to get running with its original OS. That said I think I have found the key file and saved it so I think even that one can be a reinstall but taking it all slowly.

Scotl has offered remote assistance but is not available for a while so I am just cracking on slowly. I am not a novice but once you stop something for a while its not like riding a bike things change very quickly and you need to get back up to speed. I need promoting and reading is good for me..jogs my memory etc.

If your laptop HD is still working, then why not just get an old Dell Precision desk top (which can run 4 or 5 HDs), fit the HD to that, which will mean everything easily accessible, and give you a more reliable and powerful machine than any home user lap top?

 

[Chris Stevens]

will do. its just run puppy up just fine.. off to bed after a quick read thanks to all for assistance.

If Puppy runs then sounds like you have a Windoze related problem..............but well worth removing the HD from machine and connecting it direct to another working machine via USB interface (£15 or so Ebay), and seeing if you can get the files required off of it maybe accessing via a recovery disc which might let you avoid Windoze issues?

 

[the snooper]

If Puppy runs then sounds like you have a Windoze related problem..............but well worth removing the HD from machine and connecting it direct to another working machine via USB interface (£15 or so Ebay), and seeing if you can get the files required off of it maybe accessing via a recovery disc which might let you avoid Windoze issues?

Looks like you've only skipped through parts of the thread, has already had the HD in another machine

 

[ukracer]

If your laptop HD is still working, then why not just get an old Dell Precision desk top (which can run 4 or 5 HDs), fit the HD to that, which will mean everything easily accessible, and give you a more reliable and powerful machine than any home user lap top?

I have 4 desktops. I need a reliable laptop to actually use on my lap while sitting with my wife in the evening . My laptop has 6 meg of ram so it's no slouch with a fresh Install.

 

[Can'tWeld]

I know it's a bit over budget but you can get all manner of brand new netbooks for not very much cash nowadays. Like this one for instance. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4175852.htm

I just picked up a similar one for car tuning duties (battery is knackered on the big laptop) and it's fine. Battery lasts forever too, like a whole day of moderate use. Only downside is that the 32GB solid-state drive is a bit small and (as far as I know) not upgradeable, but as long as you're not storing music or videos on it, you can get by.

It's a nice size, not too expensive and you don't have the hassle of buying second hand then. Just an idea.

 

[gaz1]

laptops ssd drive is upgradeable

http://www.cclonline.com/category/718/Storage/Solid-State-Drives-SSDs-/

you can also use an ssd drive within your pc and does make it faster when using it

the better ones are the ones that read and write at the same speed the closer they are the better means better access to information and much quicker

 

[skotl]

My summary/understanding is that ukracer's laptop is fine, and his hard disk is fine, but the Windows setup is stuffed.
He could reinstall Windows on the existing laptop and hard disk, but wants to a) retrieve his files / application product keys first and b) retrieve his Windows product key, so that he can reinstall Windows for £0.

So I don't think it's a hardware problem, or a performance problem, nor is he looking to rush away from Windows.

That about right?

 

[the snooper]

My summary/understanding is that ukracer's laptop is fine, and his hard disk is fine, but the Windows setup is stuffed.
He could reinstall Windows on the existing laptop and hard disk, but wants to a) retrieve his files / application product keys first and b) retrieve his Windows product key, so that he can reinstall Windows for £0.

So I don't think it's a hardware problem, or a performance problem, nor is he looking to rush away from Windows.

That about right?

I guess mbr corrupt

 

[skotl]

I guess mbr corrupt

Wouldn't disagree. OP's current, stage, though is to get his files off while the disk is still readable.

 

[the snooper]

I would download macrium, make an exact image of the drive then use the mbr repair command

 

[ukracer]

Wouldn't disagree. OP's current, stage, though is to get his files off while the disk is still readable.

Tis proving a little more awkward trying to work with 3 laptops...lol 2 with issues.

I have resorted to MOVING the files instead of copying as I no longer am trying to salvage either OS.

That way I can see what its not moved...


My hard drive has problems with permissions (a lot of it surrounding documents and settings folder.....which seems to confuse any drive you try and access a folder by that name.....The folder seems to convert to a shortcut. i.e it gets curled round blue arrow after you try accessing it. instead of just a yellow folder icon.

As for the puppy it sees things that should be there but I tried copying them and it wont do it. says an error occured. Says they are read only. In a windows box the partition can be seen but not read..

 

[ukracer]

Really?

Was it made in 1986?

Pedantic ok its brandy and coke tonight so god knows what I will type.

 

[skotl]

...As for the puppy it sees things that should be there but I tried copying them and it wont do it. says an error occured. Says they are read only. In a windows box the partition can be seen but not read..

Indeed. NTFS (the filesystem that Windows uses) is proprietary and, while a number of systems (especially Linux) claim some form of compatibility, most of them only warrant read-only.
Personally, I would absolutely not try to write/delete files from Linux to any NTFS volume. That goes 16x for a volume that has any question marks over it.

I'd stick to Windows to try and copy (or optionally move/delete) - I'll be home tomorrow evening if you'd like a hand.

 

[gaz1]

Tis proving a little more awkward trying to work with 3 laptops...lol 2 with issues.

I have resorted to MOVING the files instead of copying as I no longer am trying to salvage either OS.

That way I can see what its not moved...


My hard drive has problems with permissions (a lot of it surrounding documents and settings folder.....which seems to confuse any drive you try and access a folder by that name.....The folder seems to convert to a shortcut. i.e it gets curled round blue arrow after you try accessing it. instead of just a yellow folder icon.

As for the puppy it sees things that should be there but I tried copying them and it wont do it. says an error occured. Says they are read only. In a windows box the partition can be seen but not read..

mbr can be repaired its just a risk so is worth saving your files first

as goes for puppy linux never heard of it for file transfer as i use a live cd myself and have always been able to see or transfer stuff even when password locked or permission locked

but i also have other stuff that can pull off a hard drive even if wiped off

i would have cloned the hard drive using acronis putting it on another disk and work from there