Can't start windows

[Rick]

Hi all,

I am having trouble starting windows. The following text
is what appears when I turn on the computer. No matter
what option I choose, Windows appears to start up but then
reverts back to this menu:

-----------

We apologize for the inconvenience but Windows did not
start successfully. A recent hardware or software change
might have caused this. If your computer stops responding,
restarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shutdown to
protect your files and folders, choose 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.

-----------

I appreciate any help.

Many thanks!
Rick

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Assuming you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, try a Repair
install as follows:
.. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.



Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.



Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.



Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.



The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.



If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.

 

[roz]

I had this problem too on a laptop. The only way I was
able to fix it was to hold down the power or on button
for about 30 seconds. This too it back to the set up
from the factory. I then went in and reset all of my
setting because the color and font still looked like it
was in "safe mode". I had downloaded a free program
called "bonzo buddy" that caused the problem. I went in
and deleted all unknown hardware from my computer.

 

[Sharon F]

Hi all,

I am having trouble starting windows. The following text
is what appears when I turn on the computer. No matter
what option I choose, Windows appears to start up but then
reverts back to this menu:

-----------

We apologize for the inconvenience but Windows did not
start successfully. A recent hardware or software change
might have caused this. If your computer stops responding,
restarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shutdown to
protect your files and folders, choose 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.

-----------

I appreciate any help.

Many thanks!
Rick

I have one program installed that if I configure it to run at startup, I
get that error message. If I disable it from running at startup, the system
boots normally. May want to try that angle?

If yes, use Start> Run> and type in MSCONFIG. Click OK. Uncheck your
startup items. Restart the computer. If it starts normally, you'll know
that you're on the right track. Start adding programs back one at a time.
Test with a restart. Repeat until you get the "failed to start" notice. The
last item added was the troublemaker.

Open that program and find the menu to change its startup behavior. Or just
leave it unchecked in MSCONFIG.

 

[Andrea]

Hello,

I have been having the same problems - it seemed I was
going in circles. I have reintalled XP but my program
files are not there. I am able to see all my "old" files
and programs but can't access them or the users. HELP
PLEASE!!!

Thank-you

Andrea

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Try reinstalling your applications. As to your files:

This sounds like a file ownership issue related to NTFS. Note, file
ownership and permissions supersede administrator rights. How you resolve
it depends upon which version of XP you are running.



XP-Home



Unfortunately, XP Home using NTFS is essentially hard wired for "Simple File
Sharing" at system level.

However, you can set XP Home permissions in Safe Mode. Reboot, and start
hitting F8, a menu should eventually appear and one of the
options is Safe Mode. Select it. Note, it will ask for the administrator's
password. This is not your administrator account, rather it is the
machine's administrator account for which users are asked to create a
password during setup.

If you created no such password, when requested, leave blank and press
enter.

Open Explorer, go to Tools and Folder Options, on the view tab, scroll to
the bottom of the list, if it shows "Enable Simple File Sharing" deselect it
and click apply and ok. If it shows nothing or won't let you make a change,
move on to the next step.

Navigate to the files, right click, select properties, go to the Security
tab, click advanced, go to the Owner tab and select the user that was logged
on when you were refused permission to access the files. Click apply and
ok. Close the properties box, reopen it, click add and type in the name of
the user you just enabled. If you wish to set ownership for everything in
the folder, at the bottom of the Owner tab is the following selection:
"Replace owner on subcontainers and objects," select it as well.

Once complete, you should be able to do what you wish with these files when
you log back on as that user.



XP-Pro



If you have XP Pro, temporarily change the limited account to
administrative. First, go to Windows Explorer, go to Tools, select Folder
Options, go to the View tab and be sure "Use Simple File Sharing" is not
selected. If it is, deselect it and click apply and ok.



If you wish everything in a specific folder to be accessible to a user,
right click the folder, select properties, go to the Security tab, click
Advanced, go to the Owner tab,
select the user you wish to have access, at the bottom of the box, you
should see a check box for "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects,"
place a check in the box and click apply and ok.

The user should now be able to perform necessary functions on files in the
folder even as a limited account. If not, make it an admin account again,
right click the folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab and be
sure the user is listed in the user list. If not, click add and type the
user name in the appropriate box, be sure the user has all the necessary
permissions checked in the permission list below the user list, click apply
and ok.

That should do it and allow whatever access you desire for that folder even
in a limited account.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

She should try reinstalling her applications. As to her files:
This sounds like a file ownership issue related to NTFS. Note, file
ownership and permissions supersede administrator rights. How you resolve
it depends upon which version of XP you are running.



XP-Home



Unfortunately, XP Home using NTFS is essentially hard wired for "Simple File
Sharing" at system level.

However, you can set XP Home permissions in Safe Mode. Reboot, and start
hitting F8, a menu should eventually appear and one of the
options is Safe Mode. Select it. Note, it will ask for the administrator's
password. This is not your administrator account, rather it is the
machine's administrator account for which users are asked to create a
password during setup.

If you created no such password, when requested, leave blank and press
enter.

Open Explorer, go to Tools and Folder Options, on the view tab, scroll to
the bottom of the list, if it shows "Enable Simple File Sharing" deselect it
and click apply and ok. If it shows nothing or won't let you make a change,
move on to the next step.

Navigate to the files, right click, select properties, go to the Security
tab, click advanced, go to the Owner tab and select the user that was logged
on when you were refused permission to access the files. Click apply and
ok. Close the properties box, reopen it, click add and type in the name of
the user you just enabled. If you wish to set ownership for everything in
the folder, at the bottom of the Owner tab is the following selection:
"Replace owner on subcontainers and objects," select it as well.

Once complete, you should be able to do what you wish with these files when
you log back on as that user.



XP-Pro



If you have XP Pro, temporarily change the limited account to
administrative. First, go to Windows Explorer, go to Tools, select Folder
Options, go to the View tab and be sure "Use Simple File Sharing" is not
selected. If it is, deselect it and click apply and ok.



If you wish everything in a specific folder to be accessible to a user,
right click the folder, select properties, go to the Security tab, click
Advanced, go to the Owner tab,
select the user you wish to have access, at the bottom of the box, you
should see a check box for "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects,"
place a check in the box and click apply and ok.

The user should now be able to perform necessary functions on files in the
folder even as a limited account. If not, make it an admin account again,
right click the folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab and be
sure the user is listed in the user list. If not, click add and type the
user name in the appropriate box, be sure the user has all the necessary
permissions checked in the permission list below the user list, click apply
and ok.

That should do it and allow whatever access you desire for that folder even
in a limited account.

 

[Sarah]

If we are having this problem and don't have an XP CD
then so we have to go spend $200.00 on a new one? That's
ridiculous. Why is this happening to people's
computers? I have the same problem and can not afford to
go out and drop 200.00 on an XP CD. Is this a problem
with Microsoft? If so then why are they not doing
something to fix it?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

There's no way of determining the precise cause because there are any number
of reasons including user error, conflicts with software the user installs,
incompatible hardware or software, problems with the PC manufacturer, etc.
There's absolutely no way to build in a process that will prevent every
single possible condition that might cause this type of problem any more
than every exploit or loophole in the operating system can be anticipated
prior to a hacker figuring out a means of attack.

I understand your predicament and one of the reasons why I post the response
with regard to purchasing an actual CD is one of education. If more users
insisted they receive an actual CD with their systems and complained about
their not receiving one to the manufacturer, perhaps this situation would
change.

Things do go wrong on computers, all computers, MACs, mainframes and PCs,
that's why you are given a recovery disk, that's why the tools that I have
outlined are on the retail version and why it should be supplied with every
PC as opposed to only giving users a recovery option that will wipe their
hard drive.

If you are dissatisfied with the fact you didn't receive an actual XP CD
with your system, complain to the manufacturer, they have the option to
supply an actual CD with their system and chose not to do so. Microsoft
didn't build your system, Microsoft didn't make the decision not to supply a
disk with your computer.