BleepingComputer.com: Vista System Restore

Hi,

I have a Sony Vaio FZ21Z laptop using Windows Vista 32 bit.

I am at University and had many important bookmarks on Google Chrome for work. I uninstalled Google Chrome but then installed it again and all my bookmarks had gone and I needed to get them back. So I did a system restore to yesterday (12/01/11) as I thought that the restore would bring back the bookmarks that I had. However there has been a problem.

The system restore completed and the laptop shut down to restart again in normal time I think but now it is stuck at the reboot stage. It started up again but is stuck on a blank black screen for about an hour now. There has been nothing come up since the computer shut down. I didn't think that I should turn it off holding the power switch so I will wait for a reply.

I have exams in a week and need to get it working again so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much,

Gary.

This post has been edited by Gary Fox: 13 January 2011 - 09:26 AM

What happens if you hit ctrl-alt-delete?

Hi,

Nothing. The screen in black and blank still. There isn't a mouse cursor either but the screen is lit up - can see the light from the edges.

Thanks.

Then I would try to power off and back on to see if same result. If it is hung, leaving it on in that state will not help any.

I would try hitting cntrl-alt-delete several times in a row 1st.

Try startup repair options: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/repair-windows-with-windows-startup-repair/

Thanks for your replies.

So I shouldn't just wait? I'll try the ctrl+alt+delete and see but didn't do anything last time. What can happen from holding the power button or had the system restore already complete?

The repair options should I use that right away or try booting Windows normally first? I don't think that I have the DVD or CD needed for that.

Thanks again,

Gary.

This post has been edited by Gary Fox: 13 January 2011 - 10:04 AM

If it's been frozen during restart for an hour it's not going to continue on its own. Depressing and holding the power button will most likely force a hard shutdown. And sure, you can try to reboot first - worst that will happen is that it will freeze again. Then I'd boot to the Vista cd and try the repair options.

Thanks.

So should I hold the power button then or just press it once? I don't think that I have the CD needed for the repair and if I do I don't have it with me! Is there any other way or would I have to go buy one?

Thank you,

Gary.

Well you have to see what it does 1st. Hold down the power button until it turns off. Then press it to power on.
What happens?

1) Press it, hold it, whatever works.
2) You cannot use Vista's startup repair options without a Vista CD. If you can borrow one, it's perfectly legal to do so.

If you are at a university, there should be a disc hanging around there somewhere.

I turned it off and back on. It came on and came to the option of startup repair and start windows normally and I pressed startup repair but forgot I didn't have the CD! I'll have to wait for that to finish as I cannot cancel it and then I will start windows normally.

I hope this doesn't make things worse.

Sorry.

Gary.

It won't do any harm.

I closed down the computer again after startup repair failed to work (obviously) and then I booted back up. The VAIO sign comes up then goes away, the green bar scrolls across a few times as usual and then goes away and now its on a black screen with the cursor in the middle which I can move around and its been like that for about 10 minutes now.

Whats the problem? What should I do next? or do I need the repair CD?

Thank you,

Gary.

AllanG, on 13 January 2011 - 10:03 AM, said:

This post has been edited by AllanG: 13 January 2011 - 10:39 AM