Massive Computer Problem - Please Help

My friend has a Dell Inspiron 1520 laptop with Windows Vista 32 bit Home Premium.

He got multiple viruses or his computer last week which led to many problems. While we were trying to remove the viruses, I think one of the antispyware programs deleted a system file since a system file had a virus in it. After restarting, the computer said "Missing Operating System". We've tried many things but to no avail. We would like to use the Dell Recovery Partition, but I can't seem to load up the Recovery Tool so it can boot the recovery partition. We've tried holding ctrl-F11 but nothing happens. In the mean time I've been able to boot up a live version of Ubuntu linux from a USB drive. Is there any possible way to boot the recover partition and restore Windows?

Thanks

 

If I remember right the instructions for recovering from the parttition say that if it doesn't work by this point, you have to reinstall from the CD.

It's safer to do it that way and probably quicker than faffing about with the restore partition.

 

Where can he get these CDs?

And regarding the restore partition- When using Ubuntu, I opened a Partition Utility and it showed the Recovery Partition in functioning condition so it still appears to be there. It also showed a Dell MediaDirect Partition. But the main C HDD said 0 bytes. It's like it's not even there. Is the C drive corrupted?

BTW, would it be possible to install Windows 7 RC1 as a trial OS just to see if the HDD is still working right?

 

Looks like the C drive is corrupted. It may still be possible to get the restore partition to work if you can get the recovery console up, but isn't something I've done without the CD.

Have you tried pressing F8 on boot... Getting 'repair your computer' on advanced boot options?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058 is a starting point if you want to look into this. Someone on the Dell Support foums may have a better idea.

You could try asking Dell for a replacement disc or probably any Vista Home Premium disc would work with his Vista licence key.

Otherwise W7RC (or Ubuntu) should work fine on this machine.

 

Dell has a policy that you can call in and get OS discs for free or a small charge.

Go here, and request them:
https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

 

We tried pushing Ctrl-F11 and F8 at boot, but no luck. W7RC is available for download til August 20th so I'll give that a shot on his computer.

Thanks for the link. I'll put in a request for the CDs.

 

Well my friend and I decided to go to the GeekSquad at Best Buy just to see if they have any special software that could get his files off his C Drive before we go ahead and re-install the OS. After looking at the computer he said that the Drive was in fact corrupted along with Windows. He said that the only way to save the files before doing a recovery install of Vista or installing any OS for that matter, would be to send the computer to the headquaters in Kentucky and they could try to backup the files from the corrupted drive but it would cost about $500. This is ridiculous so I was just wondering- are there any tools or software that I could download and possible backup the files from the corrupted drive (which seems to be missing a file system)? it would have to run off of a flash drive or CD or using Ubuntu I suppose. If the tech guys at the headquarters can do it, then I see no reason why I can't with the right software.

So, is there any software that can save his files from his computer even though the drive is corrupted and Windows is missing?

Thanks

 

Any ideas before I go ahead and erase the drive?

 

Thank you for your information



Computer

 

put a normal windows disk (borrow one) into the computer and select the option to repair the OS.

 

i'd remove the drive, put it in an external usb enclosure and attach to another computer. You'll be able to see the if there are any files left. Just because it's not bootable doesn't mean all the other files are gone or corrupted. You can copy the files your friend wishes to save to another computer and transfer back to the laptop after reinstallation via cd or usb drive.