My sister has a problem with her laptop when she turns it on it comes up the following:

We are sorry for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware might have caused this.

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

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

Safe mode
Safe mode with networking
Safe mode with command prompt

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

Start Windows Normally

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.
Seconds until windows start:.....

Any one got any ideas of what has caused this and hoe to fix it?

Ste

Best thing to do is just start your pc up in either safe mode or normal mode (if you can). And then restore your pc back to a previous time (Start, all programs, accessories, system tools and then system restore). I would be more specific but i don't use windows because it has too many problems.

Try selecting Last known good configuration (your most recent settings that worked) on the boot menu this should load windows as normal from the last time windows loaded succesful. when windows has loaded check in your device manager to make sure you have no hardware conflicts. restart windows and see if the error message still comes up. if it does load windows into safe mode and perform a system restore.

Good luck

Edited at 22:08 Mon 4/02/08 (GMT)

I have tried all the listed options and it comes up a page full or weird writing :S

All that means is that it wasn't shut down properly.

If it boots up fine, then you don't have to do anything, just make sure she knows to shut the lappy down and not just close the lid

(by far the most common cause of laptop boot issues)

I think this is completely busted because i have clicked safe mode etc.., ill just take it to the shops they should fix it.

Thanks anyway.

if the screen with weird writing looks like this



Then thats pretty normal when booting into safe mode just wait a little while and safe mode should appear.

good luck

Thats exactly what it does lol ill let you know how it goes thanks.

lol just wait a few mins mate and you should get a dialog box pop up asking you if you want to continue loading windows into safe mode or to perform a windows restore. if u get stuck mate feel free to pm me and ill do my best to help u out


safe mode dialog box


good luck

Edited at 22:52 Mon 4/02/08 (GMT)

I waited a few minutes mate and its come up safe mode in every corner and has Microsoft (R) Windows XP (R) (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519: Service pack 2) in the center :S.

I would give it a bit longer mate. may take a while depending on your system specs.

Like spinner said when you do restore the system make sure you always shutdown windows using the start shutdown menu this should prevent the problem happening again.

good luck

yea thats it mate its still booting up you should soon see your desktop with massive folders lol ill pm u now mate

hmmmm... it come up Windows is starting up then went back on the safe mode in the 4 corners :S

I would like to say thank you to av_it who took up 1 hour of his time to try and help me out with this laptop, but unfortunately it defiantly needs to be taken to the shops, i appreciate all your help thanks.

Ste

erm cudnt you go in to safe mode and do system restore?

when in safe mode it will have "safe mode" written in each corner but it should work and you should be able to use the start menu, then the follow the steps that nmgdale posted earlier if u wish to restore the system to an earlier point.

We tryed that a couple of times mate and the system freezes on the loading screen.Ste had send that he has never scanned the laptop for viruses since he had it so that might be a cause of the problem.