Computer stopped during thunder storm..?

[alavahalf]

My son has just told me his computer screen flashed, and the system stopped working during a thunderstorm yesterday.
When you try to start..it goes to a black screen with white text on it, saying that the computer or program was stopped unexpectedly...you also get the option to start in Safe mode displayed.But when you try, it goes through the motionons of starting and end up back on the same page with the text displayed.
Any help will be much appreciated...!

[ACtheTROLL]

at least it's booting

sounds like it's recovery disc time - or a clean reinstall

crash and burn

get him a surge protector powerstrip as well

[padanarm]

Sounds like a power dip or power surge. As AC says you need a surge protector.

If the PC boots up to the black and white screen then the motherboard and memory probably works. It could be that the hard disk has crashed or locked in a busy state.

Do you have a rescue disk - floppy or CD?
Do you have a boot disk - floppy or CD?

If you boot from that disk can you see the hard disk with Windows Explorer?

[alavahalf]

He has tried putting the windows disk in..but it just takes you to the same black screen.

[alavahalf]

He does'nt have a rescue disk...only the Windows installation disk.

[padanarm]

Is one of the options - Start in last known good configuration?

Have you got a computer - can you make a boot disk?

[alavahalf]

Yes that is one of the options...and I do have my own system which also runs the same OS...xp

[VHG]

>He has tried putting the windows disk in..but it just
>takes you to the same black screen.

This is because it is starting from the hard disk BEFORE it gets a chance to boot from the CD/DVD.

Tell him to change the boot options and set the CD to boot FIRST, hard disk second.

He could try to do a repair from the Windows disk.

If that does not work he wil have to do a complete reinstall, but will lose EVERYTHING off the hard disk.

If he wants to save things before doing the Windows install he will need to connect the hard disk to another PC (in an external caddy?) and copy the files off there before then doing the Windows install.

[alavahalf]

Thanks to everyone for all the answers....I think VHG has hit the nail on the head.
Why did'nt I think of that ?
The underlying problem is that he has spent a small fortune on music tracks, and fears that he will loose all of it if he were to do a fresh install.
Please don't shout at me.....''Why has'nt he backed it up''....
I'm only a parent, who knows nothing..in fact I dont have to.
....I've got a children who know everything...well I just let them think they do..!
It's great when kids need to ask...it one of those prescious moments, when you feel like you are still in charge.
Treasure it because It wont last....!

Thanks again to everyone...!