Window Vista will not load -- Acer logo comes on then after a while says windows OS failed to load.... software was pre-loaded when I bought the notebook - tried the repair/fix option - just runs for a while then gives runtime error and says to click OK to terminate - please help

oh a fun one. Reset your bios to defaults. if that doesn't work then try a windows disk boot up. if that doesn't work you're screwed.

if you want any of your files from the computer first pull out the hdd buy a cord and transfer them to another computer.

the windows operating system is corrupt, you need to get a technican to repair the OS or lets chat so that i can give you step by step how to go about it.

You have to format the drive...Vista can go"over" XP,but XP cannot override Vista.Or partition your drive and get a dual boot system, then you can choose either O.S., like I have.

Log in to safe mode by pressing F8 during startup, if you see windows loading you have missed your window to push the F8 key. When the options menu comes up choose safe mode.
While in safe mode if it loads, click Start > Computer (My Computer) > right click on your ‘C’ drive and click properties > click the ‘tools’ tab > click the ‘Check Now’ button under ‘Error-checking’ > make sure the options ‘Automatically fix…’; and ‘Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors’ is checked. A dialogue box will come up stating “windows cannot check the disk”, just click the ‘Schedule disk check’ button and restart your computer. When the computer starts up a check disk will start, let it run. you might want to go do something as the check disk may take up to and sometimes longer than an hour.
Let me know if that helped, and please rate me after, thank you.

try pressing f8 when you load vista and then select start normally
if that doest not work and gives you the same error then restart and press F12 as soon as you see the dell logo, put in the vista installation disk that you got with the laptop and select boot with disk option.

try and repair or the recovery option .

NOTE : IT IS RECOMMENDED TO TAKE BACK UP OF YOUR FILES BEFORE USING THE RECOVERY OPTION .

No it is not if Vista is already loaded. In order for it to work and have a dual-boot, the earlier OS must be loaded first. So, first you must have Windows XP; then you can load Windows Vista; however it does not work the other way around. So if you wanted to have both, you would have to wipe your hard drive clean, load Windows XP, then load Windows Vista....Good Luck.

ok no need to get a bcakup disk or downlaod anything

if ur hard drive is original factory fitted
and
ur laptop came with pre loaded OS as XP

then do this without disk

Sony: When you first turn on the laptop and see the VAIO logo screen, press the F10 key (you need to do this before the VAIO logo disappears).

pls let me know and rate me FIXYA for help

pls retore ur OS like this without backup disc fast and easy just see this

When you first turn on the laptop and see the Acer logo screen, hold the ALT key and press the F10 key (you need to do this before the Acer logo disappears).

pls try to restore or repair thru backup disk u made when u bought pc

otherwise follow this procedure for restoring the OS without backup disk but data might be lost on C drive only not D or other drives pls take care

cer: When you first turn on the laptop and see the Acer logo screen, hold the ALT key and press the F10 key (you need to do this before the Acer logo disappears).

pls rate FIXYA if it helps

You might try this. If it doesn't work, you may have to purchase a recovery CD. It is supposed to come with one.

This is from the Acer website:

Re-install bundled software without CD
Acer e-recovery Management stores pre-loaded software internally for easy
driver and application re-installation.
1 Boot to Windows XP.
2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the Acer e-recovery Management utility.
3 Enter the password to proceed. The default password is six zeros.
4 In the Acer e-recovery Management window, select Recovery actions and
click Next.
5 In the Recovery settings window, select Reinstall applications/drivers and
click Next.
6 Select the desired driver/application and follow the instructions on screen
to re-install.
At first launch, Acer e-recovery Management prepares all the needed software
and may take few seconds to bring up the software content window.

Below is a link for Acer. You can see if it helps.
http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/notebook/as_3680.html