that seems to have worked! thanks!
now to create a backup disk to avoid this in the future.
I’m plotting a new computer purchase any way. Before doing so, what do I need to move what’s on the old one to the new?
Looking at a new Toshiba with Windows 7 on Amazon.
That’s great news. But FWIW, a backup won’t make this not happen again. This sort of things DOES happen, and to be honest, we see it the most after Windows updates. Sometimes the updates don’t quite finish properly and leave you with a bad bootsector. I’m glad it’s back for you.
Provided you’re going from Windows OS to a newer one, there are plenty of migration tools in the OS. If you’re using Vista, use ‘Windows Easy Transfer.’ It’s the most “Microsoft-friendly” migration tool. If you want to make a backup, you often just need to backup everything your C:\Documents and Settings or C:\Users directory (whichever is applicable to your situation).
And while I’m a regular Win7 user, I will say that Microsoft’s done some decent stuff with operability in Win8. EVERYONE complains about Win8, because the interface is very different; however, it is far and away the most stable (Windows desktop) OS I’ve ever used. If you’re just looking for the same look and feel of your Vista machine, Win7 is the way to go.
Enjoy!
I’m glad you got your computer working again.