Windows XP not booting at all

[SK]

Hello everyone, I need urgent help to boot up my machine. Some automatic
updates from Microsoft has prevented my machine from booting up in any way. I
keep getting the following message every which way I choose.

"
We apologize 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, chose 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 you aren’t sure what caused
the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Commend Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

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

So I tried to boot it in Safe Mode with Networking from this "menu" however
when the computer restarted, I got this same message page/screen. And the
same thing happened when I tried every other booting option as well.
Thanks in advance.

 

[VanguardLH]

Hello everyone, I need urgent help to boot up my machine. Some automatic
updates from Microsoft has prevented my machine from booting up in any way. I
keep getting the following message every which way I choose.

"
We apologize 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, chose 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 you aren¢t sure what caused
the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Commend Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

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

So I tried to boot it in Safe Mode with Networking from this "menu" however
when the computer restarted, I got this same message page/screen. And the
same thing happened when I tried every other booting option as well.
Thanks in advance.

So, did you elect to have Microsoft install hardware drivers? Why?
What wasn't working before for hardware? You don't update drivers or
BIOS unless the updates fix a problem that you actually encounter or
provide for new features that are actually required. And then you go to
the hardware manufacturer's site to get the correct driver, not rely on
Microsoft's scan to guess at what you have.

Have you tried using the "Last known good config" option?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Hello everyone, I need urgent help to boot up my machine. Some automatic
updates from Microsoft has prevented my machine from booting up in any
way. I
keep getting the following message every which way I choose.

"
We apologize 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, chose 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 you aren't sure what
caused
the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Commend Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

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

So I tried to boot it in Safe Mode with Networking from this "menu"
however
when the computer restarted, I got this same message page/screen. And the
same thing happened when I tried every other booting option as well.
Thanks in advance.

I suggest you try a manual System Restore:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

 

[Mark Adams]

Hello everyone, I need urgent help to boot up my machine. Some automatic
updates from Microsoft has prevented my machine from booting up in any way. I
keep getting the following message every which way I choose.

"
We apologize 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, chose 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 you aren’t sure what caused
the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Commend Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

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

So I tried to boot it in Safe Mode with Networking from this "menu" however
when the computer restarted, I got this same message page/screen. And the
same thing happened when I tried every other booting option as well.
Thanks in advance.

See the following KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

If you can get the computer to boot, even in safe mode; do a system restore
to a time before the updates installed.

 

[Jose]

Hello everyone, I need urgent help to boot up my machine. Some automatic
updates from Microsoft has prevented my machine from booting up in any way. I
keep getting the following message every which way I choose.

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

If Last Known Good Configuration does not work, you will need to come
up with:

A bootable XP installation CD that matches your installation (best
idea)

or

A bootable XP Recovery Console CD (which you can make - might help).

 

[db]

you might try booting up with a winxp
cd and select repair from the first screen
the setup produces.

after you log into the disk type and enter
at the system prompt the following
commands>:

chkdsk /p
fixboot

then exit, remove cd and retry your
booting.



--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[sandy58]

you might try booting up with a winxp
cd and select repair from the first screen
the setup produces.

after you log into the disk type and enter
at the system prompt the following
commands>:

chkdsk /p
fixboot

then exit, remove cd and retry your
booting.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
 - Systems Analyst
 - Database Developer
 - Accountancy
 - Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com
-  nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

db, the magic words! I also have tried (and failed miserably) the
"repair" option but after typing "help" hadn't a clue what came next.
Now, thanks to your wee post, I DO!
Thanks, db.

 

[db]

you're welcome.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[nass]

Hello everyone, I need urgent help to boot up my machine. Some automatic
updates from Microsoft has prevented my machine from booting up in any way. I
keep getting the following message every which way I choose.

"
We apologize 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, chose 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 you aren’t sure what caused
the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Commend Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

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

So I tried to boot it in Safe Mode with Networking from this "menu" however
when the computer restarted, I got this same message page/screen. And the
same thing happened when I tried every other booting option as well.
Thanks in advance.

As Mark mention try to Boot Up with the first Option which Safe Mode. In
Safe Mode try system restore to before the updates by doing this:

Click Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> System Restore
( Pick a restore point).

HTH
nass

 

[HeyBub]

Hello everyone, I need urgent help to boot up my machine. Some
automatic updates from Microsoft has prevented my machine from
booting up in any way. I keep getting the following message every
which way I choose.

"
We apologize 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, chose 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 you aren't sure
what caused the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Commend Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

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

So I tried to boot it in Safe Mode with Networking from this "menu"
however when the computer restarted, I got this same message
page/screen. And the same thing happened when I tried every other
booting option as well.
Thanks in advance.

There is some evidence - more of a guess, really - that the culprit is the
Malicious Software Removal Tool. It removes a bit of malware and, in the
process, bothers the Master Boot Record (which was bothered upstream by the
malicious software that gets removed).