BIOS problem

Don't ask how to hack password. (BIOS Passwords)
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DBLtrubble
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Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 8:12 am

My brothers ex-wife gave me her old laptop....however when cleaning out files she accidentally deleted a file that was needed to start up the laptop...so basically i power it up and i get to look at a DOS screen....i dont know much about laptops, or fooling around in DOS....but i know that somehow i need to either retrieve that file, or reinstall my whole windows...
can someone tell me how?? i really dont want to reinstall everything, since its an older laptop with no cd-rom drive :/
ajzchips
El cheapo dude
Posts: 3048
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2002 12:41 pm
Location: Madrid, Spain

Don't you get an error message like:

"File xxxx not found", or "Unable to load xxxx"??
DBLtrubble
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Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 8:12 am

only if i type in WIN....then it gives me that message....otherwise it just says INVALID this or that...ive tried lots of things...
*sigh*

i guess that means i have to start from scratch eh?
Ritchie
BIOS Guru
Posts: 761
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 5:17 am

If it's WIN9X and a copy of the CAB files and setup program have been copied to the hard disk, you could consider that you may be able use this to re-install using the hard disk copy without needing to put in the original Windows CD.
DBLtrubble
New visitors - please read the rules.
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Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 8:12 am

well that could work....ill try that tonight....however if it doesnt work than id need an original copy of the windows to re-install?
there isnt a cdrom drive though. where/how can i get one if that is what ill need to do eventually?

p.s. thanks for all your help so far! :)
KachiWachi
The New Guy
Posts: 1451
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2002 10:32 pm
Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Please post the exact error messages you recieve.
Ritchie
BIOS Guru
Posts: 761
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 5:17 am

I have often installed Win9x on desktops with the CD-ROM drive attached and it goes smoothly.
BUT
if it fails, then it might be difficult to recover without the CD, depending on the failure.

So YES, from that point of view, IT IS RISKY, ESPECIALLY if you are installing over the top of an existing Windows installation.

So if you are unsure about how to go about this, this may be an option best avoided.


I have not had a lot of experience with laptops and with using optical drives, such as CD-ROMs, on them, but I believe the ways in which you could setup a CDROM drive on them are several and vary.
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