i have a toshiba lap top, on starting i get the black screen saying windows failed to start. a recent hardware or software change may be the problem. (not changed anything) insert start up disk, (i don't have one) it aks you to press enterto continue but nothing happens. help for a slow boy please.

Just before it starts to boot up hit F8 and select safe mode. Report back as to whether or not it will do this. If it starts to list files [which it should] and it stops tell us which file is the last on listed.