Need To Run A Windows 7 Recovery Boot Cd By Command Prompt

[Galaxy1965]

Cannot open any programs on my laptop and can only get online by safe mode with networking so need to run a recovery cd, can anyone tell me how to get the windows 7 cd to run by command prompt. Thanks in advance.

[Buenchico]

The disc would normally be run by using it (instead of your hard drive) as a boot device. If your BIOS is already configured to 'boot from disc' ahead of 'boot from HDD' you simply need to put the disc in its drive and restart your computer; otherwise you'll need to go into the BIOS to change the boot order:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/start-your-computer-from-a-windows-7-installation-disc-or-usb-flash-drive

[Galaxy1965]

How do you configure the laptop to boot from disc

[Buenchico]

Click 'If the Install Windows page doesn't appear' from my link.

Read the section headed 'To change startup settings in your computer's BIOS'.

As explained there, how you get into the BIOS (and what you'll see when you do) varies between different makes and models of computers. Once you do get in though you'll need to know that your touchpad won't be working. You have to navigate through the menus by using the up and down arrowed keys on your keyboard, together with 'Enter' to accept an option and 'Esc' to exit from things. (You'll probably find that there are explanatory notes to help you on your screen).

[Galaxy1965]

I need to know what to type to get the drive to work that I have put the cd in. At administrator:cmd.exe I get C:\windows\system32>
What do I type after that?

[Buenchico]

You shouldn't be going anywhere near a command prompt. You simply need to put the disc into its drive and restart your computer (assuming, of course, that you've got the BIOS correctly configured)

However, having got to a command prompt, type d: and press Enter. (That assumes that your disk drive is configured to be D. If it's got a different letter then obviously amend that instruction accordingly)

Then type dir and press enter. That will show you the files on the disc.

Then type the name of the file you want to run (which might, for example, be something like setup.exe) and press Enter again.

[Galaxy1965]

As I have already said no Programs are working and when I start the laptop the Cd drive does not automatically start and nothing happens when I click on anything

[Buenchico]

The BIOS isn't part of Windows, so you should be able to get into it even if Windows is totally corrupted. (Indeed, you could get into it even if your hard drive wasn't there!).

Once you've got into the BIOS you can change the boot order of your devices so that, instead of immediately looking for boot information on your hard drive, your computer will look at your CD drive first. It will then automatically bring up the Windows installation system (which includes a 'repair' option).

So it's totally irrelevant as to whether programs on your hard drive are working or not. Your computer won't even look at it.