Windows start up

[Bazile]

Windows on my PC wont start up
The following page comes up -

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We apologise for the inconvenience , but Windows did not start successfully.
A recent hardware or software change might have caused this .

If your computer stopped responding , restarted unexpectedly , or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders , choose last known good configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked .

If a previous start up attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the power or reset button was pressed , if you aren't sure caused the problem , choose start up windows normally .



Safe Mode
Safe mode with networking
Safe mode with comment prompt

Last known good configuration ( your most recent settings that worked )

Start windows normally

Use up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice

Seconds until windows start .
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No matter what option I choose - it still comes back with the same page

Can anyone help please .

[VHG]

Windows has some very important files it stores on the root of your "C" drive (they are hidden so you never see them).

If these files are deleted, corrupt, or altered in some way then this can often stop Windows starting.

If, for example, you shut Windows down using the power off switch, or got a hard disk error, this could corrupt one of these files.

It is a chicken and egg situation, you cant get into Windows to fix them and you cant fix them till you get into Windows.

If you have a PROPER Windows disk (NOT a recovery disk) then this has a REPAIR option on it.

If you start the Windows install, and choose repair, it will replace the important Windows files with new copies and Windows may start.

Some others may suggest different things to try.

I hope you have your important data backed up !!

[ChuckFickens]

Remove every bit of hardware that you have in your computer and attached to your computer except for monitor, keyboard, mouse, and leave one stick of ram and the graphics card in the mother board (this is all you need to run the system) and try again, if it still won't boot and you have removed any ram then swap it for the stick left in and try again.

If still no boot then it's time to put that windows CD into the drive, boot from that and try a repair of windows, if the repair doesn't work then you will have to do a reinstall of windows, if you do this leaving the hard drives untouched on the partition/ formatting part it will install windows over the top of the current install and your data will still be on the drive.

[VHG]

You dont tell us what version of windows you are running.

That will help if people are going to suggest things to try.

btw I have never done a Windows Repair so cannot offer any advice.

A search in Google for "Windows Repair" or "Vista repair" may give you some help.

Here is a Microsoft site that may help.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US /help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033 .mspx

[VHG]

Note that on Answerbank there is a Technology section, and within that is a Computer section.

In future you may be better asking on the computer section.

While I always look on "How it works" for computer question not every computer geek does.

[Bazile]

I have Windows XP

Thanks all - i'll have a good read later ( at work now ) of your suggestions

It all does seem very technical though

[ACtheTROLL]

and again .... how many times?????

[angel21]

thats what I was thinking ACtheTroll lol

[VHG]

Note this question has been posted in THREE places.

"How it works", "Technology" AND "Computers"