Samsung Recovery Tool

[Guest jsa12]

if its a recent drive and its developing bad sectors would be to seek a replacement under guarantee,these are not recoverable normally and could be an indication of possible failure in the future.hence back up frequently to avoid data loss.

[locutus]

Personally, I'd try the Seagate recovery tool (a good tool, used it many a time many moons ago) as what appear physical problems are commonly the computer turning off during the write cycle.

[SOD'EM]

Removing the hard drive is 2 screws to remove the cover (which I have done), and 3 screws to remove th HD. The reason I haven't removed it is because the laptop is still in warranty, and I don't want to mess with that. I do have a problem though beacuse the laptop came with a free ram upgrade from 1GB (which is what the R915 normally comes with, and still actually says on the original box which I still have), to 2GB. This in itself may have voided the warranty because the company I bought it off have obviously unscerewed the cover.. I have managed to get a disc to work, and I haven't tried every option yet. Just the main ones like Fix HDD errors and the likes. As you have seen, they do not work. I don't think any virus on earth can cause this s**t, but, you never know.

 

I would like to try other options on the disc I downloaded, but I aint got a Scooby what half (or much less) what they mean.

[dx100uk]

can you just run chkdsk c: /f /r please

 

it wont harm anything and may well cure the issues

 

dx

[SOD'EM]

I wish I could dx. I can't get a Command Prompt for the life of me.

[dx100uk]

its linux you cant

 

if its fitted with a samsung drive run es-tools from the screen menu of the ubcd

 

or run the hdd diagnostics tool for the make of the drive fitted

 

dx

[SOD'EM]

Sorry dx. The link I recieved earlier for the ubcd seems to be Linux (I presume that because of the disc error it said, that I put in an earlier post). There has only been one disc that actually boots, but I don't understand it. I have pm'd the link, because I know that not all links are allowed on here.

Edited January 25, 2011 by SOD'EM

[locutus]

sounds like a simple sector error

 

download the universal bootdisc image from

 

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

 

then just run either the HHD util on the disc for your drive

 

or chkdsk from it

 

chkdsk c: /f /r

 

should do it.

 

dx

 

Burn the image file you download with imgburn and then boot from that and follow DX's advice

[dx100uk]

head bang

head bang

head bang

 

dx

[SOD'EM]

That may be where I am going wrong???

 

I have already downloaded that and used Imageburn to burn it.

The dodgy laptop automatically boots from the disc and takes me to the same thing I already have (on discs).

 

I get to the part where you choose a keyboard language, press next, and then (when you expect different options) bugger all. Nada, Nil, Nothing.

 

Now maybe I have to delete certain parts of the iso file before I burn it (so I just have a certain part of the recovery that's needed on the disc), but I know it's doing all your heads in now. But not as much as mine .

[locutus]

Turn on your PC and press 'ESC' when the blue Samsung screen appears. A Boot Menu should appear.

When the Boot Menu is on screen, insert your UltimateBoot CD into your laptop and press 'Enter'.

When the Boot Menu disappears, press any key when the message comes up ' Press any key to boot from CD'.

[SOD'EM]

Already done that a b'dillion times Loccy. It says 'Windows is loading files' (great). After a short while it comes up with a lovely wallpaper with nice wiggly lines through it. Then it says 'BOOT MENU

 

Also, sorry about the PM's. Havin a bad one at the mo.

[locutus]

lol no problems, we all have rough nights. (the ones where we're on CAG at 3 am generally )

 

I'm torn between thinking it's a memory problem or a HDD failure. Memory problems (especially if it is a high memory address that doesn't get accessed imediatly) can cause very strange faults.

 

Ive found a basic MS-DOS boot CD that Ive turned into an ISO I can email you if you want (its about 6mb), it's just a basic DOS command prompt (but with added NTFS support youll prob need), if that doesnt work then it deff would be a hardware problem, if it runs, it will let you browse the hard drive and run some basic commands such as chkdsk, etc.

 

Andy

If you have not managed to scan the hard drive, I'd take andydd up on that offer, get to command prompt and do a disk scan from there.

[andydd]

lol no problems, we all have rough nights. (the ones where we're on CAG at 3 am generally )

 

I'm torn between thinking it's a memory problem or a HDD failure. Memory problems (especially if it is a high memory address that doesn't get accessed imediatly) can cause very strange faults.

 

 

If you have not managed to scan the hard drive, I'd take andydd up on that offer, get to command prompt and do a disk scan from there.

 

Which is pretty much where we came in quite a few posts ago. Like I said, I have a simple dos boot disc that ive just checked and I know it works and has NTFS support, drop me ya mail and Ill send the iso image.

 

If that does nothing than I think we can assume that either the HD or RAM is screwy and they either need replacing (even just to check they are ok) or if PC is under warranty it is prob best to send it back, where was it from ?.

 

Andy

[SOD'EM]

OK guys. Finally getting somewhere. Managed to get the Samsung Recovery to work through a program that dx recommended. Could not do a basic restore (where it tries to keep some files), so had to do a full restore. It restored back to Feb 2010 (I presume that's when it came from the factory). The only problem I have now is signing in. This was a Home Access laptop that has 2 accounts. One is the Learner (does not need password), the other is Parent (administrator). The password hint for the admin account is 'w'. Is there any way I can find the password for that account?

[pastracasse]

I'm not sure how helpful I can be but, aside from you downloading a password recovery tool (search google), if the laptop is a Home Access one, did you not get any paperwork with it giving you the parent password?

Also, if you can remember which company provided it through the scheme you could look up their Tech Support through google and call them - they should have kept records.

Can you get a command (Start/Run/cmd) prompt whilst in the Learner account?

 

--edit--

 

Can you start an elevated instance of command in the Learner account?

ie: Click Start

Type cmd into the Search box

Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Click "Run as Administrator"

 

-- 2nd edit --

 

If the company who supplied the laptop was XMA Ltd, the default Parent password is likely to be:

 

xmahaadmin

 

Give it a try (obviously only if it's from XMA)

Edited January 25, 2011 by pastracasse

[dx100uk]

check that safemode administrator login is not a blank password

 

there are easy win 7 password tools

 

or phone the owner and ask?

 

dx

[Guest jsa12]

as mentioned earlier a lot of these problems can occur when the startup/shutdown process is in operation connecting/removing devices as such,this can lead to disk errors and other software issues,run the utility disk scan software and attempt to repair any errors however once done a complete fresh install of windows is really needed.

 

use an external usb floppy drive dos boot disk with fdisk/delete non dos partiton and then format c: its the only way to fully recover windows 100 percent you may need to download drivers from the manufactures website.

[andydd]

as mentioned earlier a lot of these problems can occur when the startup/shutdown process is in operation connecting/removing devices as such,this can lead to disk errors and other software issues,run the utility disk scan software and attempt to repair any errors however once done a complete fresh install of windows is really needed.

 

use an external usb floppy drive dos boot disk with fdisk/delete non dos partiton and then format c: its the only way to fully recover windows 100 percent you may need to download drivers from the manufactures website.

 

....and again someone asking poor Sod'em to start formating his hard drive without asking first, is there any important data on there ? and do you have the neccassary licences to re-install the OS and other important software, Office, etc ?

 

Anyway, glad that the problem is (nearly) solved, as suggested perhaps the restore date was before any passwords were set up (or if they were you dont know them !).

 

Im surprised though that System restore wasnt turned on and it made other (newer) back up points (remember to turn it on when (if!) you get it back up and running).

 

The options would appear to be:-

 

1. Get the Password from samsung/supplier.

 

2. Try googling for the answer, many default passwords can be found online (I often have to look up default ones for routers, etc)

 

3. Try a password cracking program, i have used XP ones in the past, but now almost deal with PC's on a domain and any lost passwords can be changed on the server.

 

4. You should be able to boot into safe Mode (but that isnt really a solution), I cant recall whether once logged in as safe mode whether you can craete a new user (with admin priviledges) may be worth trying though.

 

Andy

[SOD'EM]

Got it sorted now (thanks to all of you). Got Original password from supplier. Have lost a lot of stuff (which will teach me from now on to have a HDD backup). Have to go through all Windows updates, and reinstall all previous programs. I really do appreciate all your help:smile:.

 

Unfortunately had no option but to restore back to factory settings.

Edited January 26, 2011 by SOD'EM

[Guest jsa12]

....and again someone asking poor Sod'em to start formating his hard drive without asking first, is there any important data on there ? and do you have the neccassary licences to re-install the OS and other important software, Office, etc ?

 

Anyway, glad that the problem is (nearly) solved, as suggested perhaps the restore date was before any passwords were set up (or if they were you dont know them !).

 

Im surprised though that System restore wasnt turned on and it made other (newer) back up points (remember to turn it on when (if!) you get it back up and running).

 

The options would appear to be:-

 

1. Get the Password from samsung/supplier.

 

2. Try googling for the answer, many default passwords can be found online (I often have to look up default ones for routers, etc)

 

3. Try a password cracking program, i have used XP ones in the past, but now almost deal with PC's on a domain and any lost passwords can be changed on the server.

 

4. You should be able to boot into safe Mode (but that isnt really a solution), I cant recall whether once logged in as safe mode whether you can craete a new user (with admin priviledges) may be worth trying though.

 

Andy

 

hence its very important to back data up,starting with acronis when the pc has just arrived starting with the manufactures recover partition,many dont do this and later run into problems'.

[andydd]

hence its very important to back data up,starting with acronis when the pc has just arrived starting with the manufactures recover partition,many dont do this and later run into problems'.

 

I agree, I have Windows Home Server doing daily backups of all my PC's and then Acronis doing weekly ones in case WHS screws up.

 

Its a pity that backups arnt 'pushed' more by microsoft, especially as Vista and 7 have got a a half decent backup program included.

 

People forget that hard drives do screw up and that they do have a limited life span, my local paper recently had 2 stories on laptops being stolen that contained cherished photos and college course work on and the owners had no back up.

 

Online backups are also useful, I use my freebie buiult in Virgin Media one which is a bit naff but does the job and I recently had to use it to retrieve some important docs.

 

Andy

[dx100uk]

next!

 

dx

[SOD'EM]

Just noticed (after reinstallation of Win 7) that a program I removed some time ago has resurfaced and is affecting browsing. The program is Netintelligence which monitors all activity, but also blocks sites like Facebook and Googlemail. I can't remeber my username or password (as last login was a year ago) to get the uninstall password. Is there a quick way to get rid of the program (and all it's components)? I have tried to remove with CCleaner, but it needs an uninstall password.

[andydd]

HHmm.A program that needs a password to remove sounds like mal or bloat ware to me.

 

A quick thought is just to remove the folder and or files from Program Files and then get RevoUninstaller (made by same people as CCleaner), and run it, its first step is to uninstall the normal way, (ignore this) it will then scan through all files and the registry and remove as much leftover crap to do with NI as possible, choose the select all and delete options, that should get rid of most if not all of it.

 

Andy