LookinAround
Posts: 6,429 +186
First off, glad to help as best i can
And as for your machine and recovering your HD,
1) we will first try to get your computer to boot from CD. Once we can boot from CD
2) There's a couple ways to go to try and recover:
>> First is Full drive recovery. which is ideal (assuming it's possible) and would get you back to a Windows bootable HD drive along with your personal files still on the HD
>> Second is Personal File Recovery. In this case, we care less about getting Windows fixed on your HD vs. simply getting access to your personal files on your HD so you can copy/save them somewhere
So first order of business is getting your machine to boot from CD
1) You should double check your model number (check for a metal tag on your computer will all your info)
>> fyi.. you reported an hp dv4040us
>> but the bios info you reported would seem to indicate a dv4030us (it seems when i use it on hp site or search it online)?
So i just want to be sure
2) You have an internal CD drive right?
3) Since you can see the files on the CD it should've been created OK but you might also want to try booting that CD on your friend's computer (if any question about if the issue is the CD vs your computer)
4) When you first start your computer, you see the HP "flash" screen. Look along the top of the screen (usually to the right) as usually it gives Function key (Fn) options (e.g.
>> Is there an F-key recovery option? and/or an F-key boot menu option?
>> As in addition to changing BIOS boot order you'll often find a boot menu where you can manually select the device
And once we can get your machine booted the FIRST order of business would be to run chkdsk /r so to verify the HD filesystem
/* edIT */
and just a reminder, that chkdsk may take a long time to run. Which means waiting for a screen change while running chkdsk to take 30+ minutes before thinking it might be hung
And as for your machine and recovering your HD,
1) we will first try to get your computer to boot from CD. Once we can boot from CD
2) There's a couple ways to go to try and recover:
>> First is Full drive recovery. which is ideal (assuming it's possible) and would get you back to a Windows bootable HD drive along with your personal files still on the HD
>> Second is Personal File Recovery. In this case, we care less about getting Windows fixed on your HD vs. simply getting access to your personal files on your HD so you can copy/save them somewhere
So first order of business is getting your machine to boot from CD
1) You should double check your model number (check for a metal tag on your computer will all your info)
>> fyi.. you reported an hp dv4040us
>> but the bios info you reported would seem to indicate a dv4030us (it seems when i use it on hp site or search it online)?
So i just want to be sure
2) You have an internal CD drive right?
3) Since you can see the files on the CD it should've been created OK but you might also want to try booting that CD on your friend's computer (if any question about if the issue is the CD vs your computer)
4) When you first start your computer, you see the HP "flash" screen. Look along the top of the screen (usually to the right) as usually it gives Function key (Fn) options (e.g.
>> Is there an F-key recovery option? and/or an F-key boot menu option?
>> As in addition to changing BIOS boot order you'll often find a boot menu where you can manually select the device
And once we can get your machine booted the FIRST order of business would be to run chkdsk /r so to verify the HD filesystem
/* edIT */
and just a reminder, that chkdsk may take a long time to run. Which means waiting for a screen change while running chkdsk to take 30+ minutes before thinking it might be hung