windows xp will not start

[s.caikauskas]

everytime i start up the computer i get this message:

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 startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or
because the power 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 arrows keys to move the highlight to your choice
Seconds until windows starts…

i have tried every one of the startups and it always just goes back to the
same screen. the safe mode with command prompt doesnt let me put in any
commands. please help me. the computer is a sony vaio, windows xp, intel
pentium 4.

 

[db]

your only recourse is to boot with
any xp cd, then select repair and it
will launch the recovery console in
order to get to a command/ disk
prompt.

then at the prompt run the following
commands>:

chkdsk /r
fixboot

then exit, remove cd and retry
booting.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
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~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

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

 

[Jim]

everytime i start up the computer i get this message:

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 startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or
because the power 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 arrows keys to move the highlight to your choice
Seconds until windows starts…

i have tried every one of the startups and it always just goes back to the
same screen. the safe mode with command prompt doesnt let me put in any
commands. please help me. the computer is a sony vaio, windows xp, intel
pentium 4.

What did you plug in / install before this happened ?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

everytime i start up the computer i get this message:

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 startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or
because the power 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 arrows keys to move the highlight to your choice
Seconds until windows starts…

i have tried every one of the startups and it always just goes back to the
same screen. the safe mode with command prompt doesnt let me put in any
commands. please help me. the computer is a sony vaio, windows xp, intel
pentium 4.

Here's a quick thing to try, that has worked for me a number of times. It
*does* require use of another XP PC. If you have an external drive case
or USB drive adapter, you can be done in under 10 minutes.

Remove the hard disk from the damaged system, and attach it to the other XP
system. If you don't have a way to attach externally (i.e. a drive case or
USB drive adapter), put the drive on one of the motherboard connectors,
perhaps temporarily disconnecting the CD drive. You may well need to
adjust jumpers. If mounting internally, you of course have to power
everything off first.

Once the drive is attached and the other XP system is restarted, open
Explorer, navigate to the root of the attached drive, locate and delete the
file "pagefile.sys" in the root. You may need to turn on "show protected
operating system files" to see this. Empty the recycle bin.

Power off, put the drive back in your system, resetting jumpers as needed,
and restart. Sometimes it's necessary to restart twice.

HTH
-pk