My computer which uses Windows Xp won't start up today for some reason. When I try to turn it on, a blue HP screen loads up and the following message occurs:

"We are sorry for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A current hardware/software change might have caused this. Your computer restarted unexpectantly or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders. Choose Last Known and Good Configuration to revert to the most recent setting that worked. A previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or the Power/Reset button was pressed. If you're not sure what the problem is choose start windows normally."

Then I'm given four modes to start up my Windows like safe mode or normal. However, when I click on them, the Windows doesn't load, but instead reverts me back to the blue HP screen and error message.

I do not have any back up of any sort unfortunately. Is my data safe? One guy said I should do a system restore, but wouldn't that erase all my data? Thanks ahead of time

Well first off, a system restore doesn't erase all your data so no need to worry there It will remove some, but only data between the current date and the date you choose to restore too. It wont delete Word files etc either, so your pictures, films, music, text files are safe.

Don't worry about not having a backup. Windows XP keeps a copy of it's self for backup it's self so it's possible to use that to backup and in most cases it wont delete all your files, Just programs etc. your My documents is often kept.

Have you made any changes too your system recently? any upgrades? downloaded anything? etc

It will remove some, but only data between the current date and the date you choose to restore too.

To clarify, it does NOT remove data files, such as Word documents, email, etc. regardless of their creation/modification timestamp. It does, however, remove (or roll back to previous versions) program files, hardware drivers, Windows updates, Registry changes, etc.

However, you cannot do a System Restore if you cannot boot up normally, or at least into Safe Mode.

Perhaps what was meant was a system repair - and this is done by booting to an original Windows install disk (not a PC maker's "recovery" disk). This too, will not cause loss of your data files, but you will have to install all the Windows Updates updates again.

If you have a true Windows install disk, check out How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install.

If you have a PC maker's recovery disk, or a hidden restore folder on your hard drive, you will need follow your PC maker's instructions for recovery. However, in that case ALL your data, installed programs, drivers, and updates will be lost!

You may want to pull that drive and temporarily install it as a slave in another PC. Then, hopefully, you will be able to access it so that you can backup all your important data files.

Of course, you don't need to be told that you should have had some backup scheme in place. Everyone always seem to think their PCs are impervious to failure (the "it won't happen to me" syndrome) and it is just not so. At the very least, ALL users should periodically copy their My Documents folder (or whatever folder they use - I keep all my data somewhere under My Documents) to a second drive, CD/DVD, or networked computer. This is the most simple method to backup your data, and it is free.

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it.

Keep us posted.

Originally Posted by Digerati

However, you cannot do a System Restore if you cannot boot up normally, or at least into Safe Mode.

It used to be possible to do a system restore thropugh DOS. if im not mistaken?

There is no DOS in NT bases operating systems such as XP - not a true DOS - you have to boot to Safe Mode with a DOS prompt.

I have decided to put the drive as a slave onto my father's computer. However, I have another question. Do you have to remove the whole hard drive?

Do you have to remove the whole hard drive?

Umm, not sure what you mean here. There are no parts of a hard drive that are user removable, so yes, the whole drive gets moved.

When you have the drive out, note the jumper position on the back of the drive. To set this drive as a slave in the 2nd PC, the drive will need to be set to SL (slave) or CS (cable select). IMPORTANT: You MUST determine how the master drive is set. If set to MA (master) you must set the slave to (SL). If the master is set to CS, the 2nd drive must also be set to CS. In otherwords, if one drive is CS, the other must be CS. If one is master, the other must be slave. You cannot mix CS and master/slave on the same cable. When using CS the controller determines master/slave based on the drive's position on the cable.

If you are going to hook it to your dad's computer as a slave, then yes you do. His computer should see it and assgin a drive letter and then you can drag and drop your files.