HP Pavilion ze4101 problems

[hejlik]

My son has a HP Pavilion ze4101 laptop. He gave it to me to fix as it had a couple issues.  The first issue was where the power cord plugs into the laptop.  The connector on the motherboard had come loose so I took it apart and re soldered it. Evidently this is a common problem with this model.

The second problem, and more serious is the virus problem.  I ran a boot time scan and must have deleted an important part of Windows   Now I get to the log in screen and when I click a user, it tries to start and goes right back to the log in screen.  When it tries to start it says (loading personal settings, I get a very brief look at the desktop, and it goes back to the log in screen and says (saving personal settings).

I think I am going to have to try a repair install. Problem is the restore disks are 130 miles away, which gets me to my question.

Can I use a different xp cd to do the repair, or do I need the original? What are the chances of loosing the data on the hd when doing a repair install? I don't think there is anything on the hd that needs saving, but if there is I have an adapter so I can hook it to a desktop.

[kixfan]

I would try repairing using the disc you have. The OEM version should have the same files on it for the most part. If it doesn't work then I would do a reformat and install windows since there is nothing you need on the hard drive. If you do this the OEM disc may become useless in the future though since you are removing the vendor specific files.
Dennis

[patio]

As long as the XP CD matches both the version : Pro=Pro...Home = Home and the installed service packs match then any XP CD will do.
Repair Install of XP
Done properly all your data and apps will be intact...
Done improperly your apps and data will be gone but you will have a clean install of XP
So read theru it to get familiar and print out a reference copy.

If he is really concerned about losing data then grab one of these first:
                                         
Laptop to IDE converter...bout 8 Bucks.
This enables you to hook his laptop drive to your desktop machine as a slave and copy/burn data...
Best of Luck and let us know.

[patio]

I would try repairing using the disc you have. The OEM version should have the same files on it for the most part. If it doesn't work then I would do a reformat and install windows since there is nothing you need on the hard drive. If you do this the OEM disc may become useless in the future though since you are removing the vendor specific files.
Dennis

An OEM CD will only wipe everything and take the machine back to Day One status...
DO NOT do this if he wants his data.

[Karnac]

You might want to try ridding your pc of malware first. Can you get into safe mode to run antivirus. This might get you up and running....In addition does your HP product have a recovery program hidden on the hard drive. Some more info here....

http://www.pctechbytes.com/hprecovery.htm

[hejlik]

Thanks for the replies. 

Karnac --- I tried to get into safe mode but I could not

patio ---  I picked one of those up the other day for another project I may have.


Maybe I can connect the laptop hd to an old desktop I have and do a virus scan on the hd before I try a repair?  Would this be wise?

[patio]

Absolutely...that's the way to go.
Then if it gets a clean bill of health re-install it in the laptop and do the repair install...
Scans suggested :
Your normal A/V app
Stinger
Malwarebytes anti-malware

This should give you a good solid indication of infections...