Which OS is it?
What message do you get when you try the Repair option?

That it goes to command prompt and/or attempts repair doesn't really point to a bad HD--at least not initially.

tells me it cannot repair and asks me to insert cd with drivers. I do not have computer in my possession right now so cannot provide details to all the messages but that is the loop it takes.
i did get a message telling me something about an error with "sound" ?

Vista sucked, 7 was good, 8 sucked unless you had a touch screen. I haven't tried 8.1 yet. But I would not spend money to end up with a Vista laptop. Your mileage may vary.

Therefore it can't be completely bad. Now, that doesn't mean the OS is salvageable but it discounts the quick diagnosis of a bad HD.

If you want to try to diagnose it then you really need to pay attention to exactly what happens on screen when trying Normal startup. It probably hangs at the Windows loading screen but it may restart itself--it may be relevant which one it does.

When you try repair it should load up and you choose US keyboard layout. Then it should display a small window where it tries to automatically repair--you say it gives message it can't repair which should have a link to show details of the problem--at about #6 of those details it should tell you the exact error. If there are no details then close the can't fix window and there should still be the small window which should show your Vista OS--Does it show your Vista OS? I'm guessing not because you hit the Drivers button. Do not hit the drivers button but hit Next to get to the list of 5 options. At that list try Startup Repair; even if it doesn't fix quit the repair and restart the notebook and try the repair tools again. This time see if it recognizes your Vista OS in the little window where it previously did not. See if you get a different set of details of the error. Then hit Next button and choose Command Prompt. Try these two chkdsk commands:

chkdsk c: /r
chkdsk d: /r

Try to boot normally and see if you get the same hang or restart.


Forgot: Check the second to last two screenshots that show the windows where Vista would be showing. Are these empty on your installation? http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winre/accesswinre.htm

That is the computer they are talking about which uses the Google Chrome OS (Operating System) based on the Linux kernal. The kernel is a fundamental part of a computer's operating system.

Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, and Opera are Browsers.

Linus, I think you mean Linux is a OS like Windows or Apple's OS X.

Before your daughter buys a Chromebook she should investigate exactly what a Chromebook does and does not do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromebook

The chromebook may be ok for her.