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-   -   Help! Need to Format! Big Problem! (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=20237)

EXPEEUSER 17-11-2004 17:27

Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
I’m running Windows XP on a Sony VAIO.

Here’s the problem: I want to format Drive C: and I’d like to do it like normal people do—you put in your recovery or boot disk and follow the instructions. But, I can’t. When I do (no matter which disk I put in) I get a message like the following example:
"E:\SONY\RESTORER.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose ‘Close’ to terminate the application."

Whatever my choice there, ‘Close’ or ‘ignore,’ I can’t do anything. I must be missing a System 32 file or something (I’m guessing). Why else would it not recognize my Application Recovery CD?

Can someone help me get this damn thing formatted, so I can reload all my apps again? I need to format to get rid of all the spyware and adware on my computer.

Thanks.


nffc 17-11-2004 17:28

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
You don't need to format...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;305521

As for the Adware, have you used Ad-Aware and Spybot?

paulyoung666 17-11-2004 17:54

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
hi and :welcome: to the site EXPEEUSER , why do you need to format ?????? :) , there may well be something less drastic that will help you out :) , as stated above have you tried something like adaware :)

Bifta 17-11-2004 17:58

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by EXPEEUSER
Iââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢m running Windows XP on a Sony VAIO.

Hereââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s the problem: I want to format Drive C: and Iââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢d like to do it like normal people doâ₠¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚you put in your recovery or boot disk and follow the instructions. But, I canââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t. When I do (no matter which disk I put in) I get a message like the following example:
"E:\SONY\RESTORER.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose †˜Closeâà ¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€Å ¾Ã‚¢ to terminate the application."

Whatever my choice there, †˜Closeâà ¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€Å ¾Ã‚¢ or †˜ignore,âà ƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã¢â€à …¾Ã‚¢ I canââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t do anything. I must be missing a System 32 file or something (Iâ₠¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢m guessing). Why else would it not recognize my Application Recovery CD?

Can someone help me get this damn thing formatted, so I can reload all my apps again? I need to format to get rid of all the spyware and adware on my computer.

Thanks.


The Vaio that I used system restore CD's on required you to boot from them, i.e. making sure your first boot device in the BIOS is the CD Rom drive, making sure the disk is in, and turning it on/rebooting.

EXPEEUSER 17-11-2004 19:20

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
Thanks for the suggestions to try ad-ware / spy ware virus removal programs, BUT, I've already tried those. They don't work. Not in this case. This situation on my computer is really BAD! And, of course I'd love to as you say, "use the system restore CD's and boot from them, making sure your first boot device in the BIOS is the CD Rom drive, making sure the disk is in, and turning it on/rebooting" BUT, that doesn't work! That's my whole point here. How can I re-format otherwise and restore all my stuff? (I've already backed up all the files I want to keep.) Is there a file I'm missing? Maybe in my zeal to rid myself of some spyware, I accidentally removed some good files as well? Anybody know what that message I keep getting means? Why won't it accept my CD-ROM book disk when I reboot?

paulyoung666 17-11-2004 19:36

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
and you dont have a floppy drive either ????????? , is the hdd removable easily ???????? , i was just wondering what make of hdd it is :)

DES_1001 17-11-2004 19:39

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
Just a quick question have you added another cd drive? cd/dvd rewriter? if you have and you are putting the restore disc in the second drive it will not let you restore from that drive! you need to restore from the master drive. Just a thaught.

homealone 17-11-2004 20:05

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
I can't get why the restore application would try to load stuff from the 'C' drive, anyway, from a hidden partition, yes, but that wouldn't show as C:\windows\system32 , would it??? - is there an autoexec.nt file in that folder, have you tried having a look at it?

Otherwise if you have a burner you can download a boot disk image from

http://www.bootdisk.com/

- of course you don't get a 'proper' restore after formatting if your recovery disk still won't work, but you'd have a clean pc & Sony will presumably replace the recovery disk?

rick 17-11-2004 20:07

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
I have a sony vaio and its just a case of popping the recovery disc and selecting the option you want

paulyoung666 17-11-2004 20:09

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rick
I have a sony vaio and its just a case of popping the recovery disc and selecting the option you want


i think thats been covered and dont work :rolleyes:

EXPEEUSER 17-11-2004 21:04

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
Hey, I just tried nffc's original suggestion and it worked! Thanks to all for your ideas. Sorry about the panic attack! I get befuddled when my computer doesn't obey.

homealone 17-11-2004 21:42

Re: Help! Need to Format! Big Problem!
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by EXPEEUSER
Hey, I just tried nffc's original suggestion and it worked! Thanks to all for your ideas. Sorry about the panic attack! I get befuddled when my computer doesn't obey.

thanks for letting is know :tu: - good call nffc :cool:


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