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Question

Laptop says windows could not complete installation

by Nov 21, 2012 3:37AM PST

My son has a Gateway laptop. It just shut down and went to a blank screen with a blinking cursor at the top.

I tried to do a system recovery which seemed to be working, but then a box popped up that said "could not configure windows to run on this computer's hardware.

I clicked ok. restarted the computer. Now I'm getting a box that says windows could not complete installation. To install windows, restart the installation.

Nothing is working. I tried starting in safe mode, same response.

The computer didn't come with any disks for windows or system recovery.

Can someone please help me!!

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Answer
I've seen that when
by Former Forum moderator Nov 22, 2012 1:49AM PST

When the wrong restore media is used that message happens. It's also possible with today's rather nasty viruses.

Fix? Order the restore media.
Bob

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Restore media
by pgc3 Nov 22, 2012 2:39AM PST

Restore media would be the best way to go for sure of course if she had someone to make her a Linux/Ubuntu boot disk that might be worth a shot, maybe.

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(NT) If they just need internet, basic word processing, good idea
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Nov 22, 2012 2:56AM PST
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Answer
System recovery in Gateway
by Nov 22, 2012 2:50AM PST

How old is the laptop? You may want to try this:
Turn off the computer completely. Turn it back on holding down the Alt key and then while holding down Alt constantly start hitting F10. Your son's system may have a system recovery partition that will be triggered by doing this, then just follow the screen instructions. You should first try to do a recovery instead of a clean reinstall and disk format so you can retrieve his data of course. If this doesn't work we can try step 2. Good luck.

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