Hi and welcome to the WTT forums.
Sorry to hear of the problems with the machine. The forum here is for folks generally who are in trouble with their computers used for private purposes….. here's an extract from the Terms of Use
•We offer free computer help and tech support for home and personal use. We are not here to support others that work for profit, or to support/replace your company's IT department.
Having said that we will try and help you get the machine up and running again.
The normal steps to try are as follows:
1 Try to boot into safe mode, the default Administrator password is left blank, but make sure your cursor is in the "password box" before pressing the "Enter" key…….you could also try selecting "last good configuration" if no joy then try any type of safe mode, and see how you go. If your boss has set an Administrator password then use that but remember passwords are "case sensitive" If he has forgotten the password then use the password reset "disc" that hopefully he made when the password was set up…. The main Administrator account is an integral part of Windows, it is there automatically and has nothing to do with "user accounts" being set up……it is normally "invisible in day to day use so this is why you do not see it when Windows starts up.
2 if still no joy then more serious steps will be needed, but the first thing to do is to:
take the opportunity now to bring your back up/archive/copy of all your important stuff 100% up to date, check that it's accurate, reproducible and held securely on removable media (not your hard drive)……the idea here is to ensure that all your important data, files, spreadsheets, work, music, emails, log in details, user names, address book, drivers, letters, invoices, videos etc….in fact everything that is important to you (stuff that you would not like to permanently lose) is kept safe on external media. Whilst you are doing this collect together all your application installation discs (or downloaded installation executables) serial numbers, product licence keys (including the one for Windows itself and the Microsoft Windows installation disc and or Manufacturer's Restore and Driver /utilities discs. If you have made a disc image then keep this safe also on removable media and ensure you have made a bootable CD/DVD for use in the event that Windows will still not start. If you need further instructions on how to check the back up/copy/archive, or even make one from a non booting machine post back and we will send them.
Your boss may not feel "overjoyed" to do this……..a lot of folks find that checking backups, copies/archives etc is not much fun….. if that is so, I'd recommend you use all your powers of "gentle, persistent persuasion to convince him of the necessity of the actions described. This may be difficult for you, but it's worthwhile using all your influencing skills to achieve the required results whilst maintaining a state of harmony between you.
3 Next, consider using a System Restore Point to set the computer back to a time before the troubles started, it's probably easier to do this from the Recovery Console, so post back if the Recovery Console has not been installed (more need for your persuading and influencing skills…) or you need further information on either using a Windows installation disc or a Recovery.iso to enter the Recovery Console, and the commands to use for the System Restore Point. if still no joy then:
4 The next step may be to recommend that he re-images his boot drive, from the disc image that hopefully was made when the machine was running fast and sweet, free from malware with all required applications and settings installed. Providing the disc image has been kept safely on removable media and a bootable CDRom made (as is recommended) then the system will be up and running again in less time than it takes to walk the dog! As your boss is "always in a hurry" this quick simple approach may appeal to him, however don't forget that "updates" will need to be done and maybe data backup copied across if for some reason it was not being kept on a separate partition. if still no joy then:
5 Consider a repair install of Windows (on top, non destructive) you will need the Microsoft Windows installation disc for this………..
6 Don't forget most Dell Vostros have a Recovery Partition that will set the machine back to it's "Factory" condition, so you could carry out a complete restoration to the machine's exact state as it was when it left the factory
NOTE this will wipe everything from the machine, repeat wipe everything from the machine including data, Windows itself all applications and settings etc you will need to reinstall all your applications and copy across your data, do the updates etc, hence the importance of the steps spelt out in Step 2 above!
7 If you need discs or details of Dell support facilities then you could go here:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/glo…;l=en&s=dhs
with your Dell service tag and practically everything you need will be available.
Finally the best of luck with this job, I appreciate that some of it may be tough for you, hope it all goes well and if you need a "step by step" on a specific issue post back and we will do our best to help
Regards
paws
Let us know how you get on..post back if you need any clarifications or step by steps…
Regards
paws