Laptop Recovery discs - Computer Help & PC Help Forums

**Spartan73** · 08-21-2008, 01:19 AM

Hi Guys - I have another one for you. THis time - Im helping a friend, being the ever helpful guy i am ( even when i dont know what Im doing ).

Sony Laptop - VGN FS315Z
HDD died ( after various testing this was concluded )
so we bought a new one - installed it, and using the recovery discs are trying to reinstall the OS ( XP )

Thing is, its not recognising the disc - or booting from it. I keep getting the same error ( OS not found ). Went into the bios, and made sure boot sequence was OK, and still not able to install.

Any advice please people?

Thanks muchly, as always,

Spart

**Seth** · 08-21-2008, 03:10 AM

Does the bios recognize the optical drive? Check that and double check the boot sequence. Also make sure you're using the correct first bootable cd and that it's clean.

If all that fails to resolve the issue, then see if the laptop will boot from any other bootable cd such as a regular xp cd.

**Dalo Harkin** · 08-21-2008, 07:39 AM

The fact that it is saying OS not found says that it is searching for the HDD still -
Make sure that the CDROM is the FIRST boot device and disable 2,3, etc.

**Spartan73** · 08-21-2008, 11:09 AM

Hi Guys

thanks for your replies.

Im pretty sure the Bios is finding the HDD - it is listed ( with a serial number ) in the boot menu.

Boot Menu is

Optical Drive
Floppy ( non existant )
HDD
Network

I moved the HDD to the bottom of the pile and still, same error. Been reading around ( hopefully got no textually transmitted diseases ) and found out that you can press F10 on the start up screen to begin recovery from preloaded partitions - even tried that, hoping it will look for the missing software from the disc - but no joy.

The recovery discs DO have the OS on them dont they? First time these discs have been used, and they are mint, so scratches are not the prob.

I only have a Vista Disc at home, I will try thta in the drive later - just to see if it boots of course!

Thanks guys

**Dalo Harkin** · 08-21-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan73

Hi Guys

thanks for your replies.

Im pretty sure the Bios is finding the HDD - it is listed ( with a serial number ) in the boot menu.

Change Boot Menu to

Optical Drive
Disable
Disable

I moved the HDD to the bottom of the pile and still, same error. Been reading around ( hopefully got no textually transmitted diseases ) and found out that you can press F10 on the start up screen to begin recovery from preloaded partitions - even tried that, hoping it will look for the missing software from the disc - but no joy.

The recovery discs DO have the OS on them dont they? First time these discs have been used, and they are mint, so scratches are not the prob.

I only have a Vista Disc at home, I will try thta in the drive later - just to see if it boots of course!

Thanks guys

do as highlighted

**Spartan73** · 08-21-2008, 11:17 AM

Ok buddy will do -

let you know how i get on - asap

Thanks again,

**Seth** · 08-21-2008, 12:53 PM

The boot order can be generic, so you have to check that the optical drive is being detected by the bios. It should say so under the first or second bios heading which will show the detected drives.

**Wolfeymole** · 08-21-2008, 02:41 PM

Let me get this right Spartan

Are you trying to boot and install from a Recovery disk?

A recovery disk is just what it says and not a full operating system install disk mate.

It will reinstall/repair operating system files that are already there but not when using a brand new hard drive.

**Seth** · 08-21-2008, 02:47 PM

Wolfey,

The Recovery disks are an image of the original operating system and software. The same image that would be on the recovery partition.

**Wolfeymole** · 08-21-2008, 02:57 PM

I'm not convinced Seth.