diagnostics won't repair, can't boot!

Hello all. I have little over an hour before I am out of Internet for a fortnight so panic on!

My m17x r3 has been going around in circles, running system diagnostics on start up, can't repair, so restarts, then same again. If I select start normally, it gets as far as the black screen screen with the little windows logo, then restarts before it comes fully focused. Then all that over again. I can't restart from last known good configuration as same happens. Tried every option after tapping f8. After diagnostics I hit advanced options but I get stuck with a password, and it's not accepting my own to carry on! I don't have my recovery discs either. . . What can I possibly do

Dan

 

So it doesn't boot into safe mode? If safe mode is not an option, then you have very few options outside a clean install. Those options would involve using recovery discs, though...which you state you don't have. I am at a loss as to why the diagnostics screen would as you for a password. One thing that helps is to post your specs. Also, are you sure Alien Respawn (i.e. the built in recovery program) is in/op?

 

My specifications are not too hand unfortunately and I have been rather out of touch for a while until now to know them off top of my head. 12Gig ram, crucial solid state as operating system, the the main storage drive is 750gig sata. Not much to go on holiday know. I haven't updated much myself apart from those so the rest will be factory parts

I don't know about respawn but it doesn't pop up anywhere. Password has baffled me too.

 

One solution that always work, reinstall windows (format..).
Else really don't know how to boot in windows and the password thing? Is weird...

Good luck with it .

 

How can I do that? If I format, ill lose windows and it won't boot anything? Thank you.

 

What version of windows does the m17x r3 has?
If you have a alienware cd it's easy else download a windows 7 (home prem i geuss).
Use a USB stick or DVD to boot from.

The install includes a format or not, what you like.
You have a key with your m17x r3 (I geuss in on the back/battery) and go install that.
Then install all drivers from dell.com
You can always find information here in the forum.

Sjoerd

 

If you installed the SSD yourself and did a clean install, then Alien Respawn will not be available. It's good that you have your files backed up to the 750GB HDD and your SSD is your OS drive. That at least saves the files (except for the ones on your desktop). Respawn in Alienware's recovery software. If it doesn't boot into safe mode, and you don't have the recovery software, then your only viable options are:

A) Download a Windows ISO image from the internet and use a USB thumb drive to create a Windows 7 install USB. You would need to transfer any files off your SSD to another drive cause you will want to quick format your SSD as to wipe out whatever is causing your OS to malfunction. You can also use the Windows 7 install USB to run the Windows 7 install repair. It's an option once you boot to the USB (repair installation as opposed to install OS)

B) Try and get a set of recovery discs from Alienware. Sending your system into them for Depot service is not an option if you installed the SSD yourself. It's considered a third party upgrade and they won't work on it with your SSD as the OS drive.

Not a whole kit and kaboodle can be done when a system doesn't boot to safe mode. Even less because you don't have the recovery discs and won't have access to the internet. It's a really sucky situation. But I will stay online for as long as you need.

 

Appreciate that mate for staying on! But anythin that involves downloading can't be done. I'm in Madagascar, Internet is. .. Well, poor. Then at sea for three weeks until Sri Lanka where it is equally poor, and not home to deal with anything official as in the depot or phone calls until July!! Pretty much screwed it think?

 

Yup. That is the definition of screwed.

 

Is there anyone with you that has a Windows 7 installation disk you can borrow? The repair option might work. If it does not, unless it is a system recovery disk, any Dell OEM disk should work using the Windows Product Key on your COA. (Another brand of OEM installation disk, such as HP, Asus or Acer, might also work for installation as long as it does not use an SLIC activation method.)

 

There is nobody. I must leave now. I am doomed.

Dan