ok so basically my laptop (acer) won't start windows. first a black page comes up saying there was an error and giving options to start in safe mode, safe mode with networking etc. when i select the safe mode options just a blank blue screen comes up and nothing happens. if it select start windows normally it loads up, goes to a blue screen which flashes for about half a second then goes back to the first screen with the start up options! its driving me craaazy. please help. many thanks.

Try running chkdsk from the Recovery Console. Instruction here

I have a extremely similar problem with my

3yr old Toshiba Satellite: M115-S3154 w/ Windows XP Media Ctr Ed 2005

Yesterday upon start up, I immediately rec'd message stating:

- "windows did not start successfully - recent hardware or software changes might have caused this"

- it gave options to restart in the 3 different Safe Modes, last known configuration and start normally - none of these worked. I've tried numerous times yesterday and today with absolutely no luck.

When I shut laptop down 2nites ago, it seemed like it shut down extremely fast?! Today I realized that battery yellow light was on and thought maybe it wasn't charged enough. Charged for over 2hrs, have a blue light, but still had same experience as above.

- I removed and replaced battery - no luck
- I removed and replaced HDD - no luck

I pressed F8 immediately after start - to enter the Windows Advanced Options Menu for this laptop - and i have many options - but all no help:
= the 3 different Safe modes - tried all these, no help
= Enable Boot Logging - tried this, no help
= Enable VGA Mode
= Last Known Good Configuration... - tried this, no help
= Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only) - tried this, no help
= Debugging Mode - tried this, no help
= Disable automatic restart on system failure
= Start Windows Normally - tried this, no help
= Reboot - tried this, no help
= Return to OS Choices Menu

I searched the Microsoft Knowledge Base article "Advanced troubleshooting for general startup problems in Windows XP" - but no help.

I also tried MS article 310353 - How to configure WinXP to start in a "clean boot", but under Method 1, the downloadable guided help would not run on this computer i'm using to figure out the Toshiba problem. Method 2 of this guide requires you to be able to open windows - pretty dumb since I can't get windows to run in first place! So I'm still stuck.

I do have the original Toshiba Recovery and Applications CD - I have many files and pics that I do not want to lose. I looked at the "how to run chkdisk" article you suggested, but can't seem to get the Recovery CD to boot correctly - changed to boot priority on initial bootup to the CD and it ran a bunch of stuff quickly but then it said standby and then nothing.....pressed any key and still nothing, just black screen after 5minutes...

thanks in advance....

b747c9........Hi and a Happy New Year to you,

You have acually hijacked vnejad's thread which is noted in The Terms of Service.

6. Please do not Hijack other members posts. For example, if you are browsing the Forum and see a member has posted a question with a problem very similar to your own, PLEASE DO NOT post in the same thread and say "I have this problem also! please help!" Instead simply click the new thread button and ask your question in your own thread. There are a ton of reasons for this but the main one being that although your problem sounds the same, it will most likely require a different solution.

Would you start your own thread please to get the correct advice for your issue.

kind regards,

Originally Posted by vnejad

ok so basically my laptop (acer) won't start windows. first a black page comes up saying there was an error and giving options to start in safe mode, safe mode with networking etc. when i select the safe mode options just a blank blue screen comes up and nothing happens. if it select start windows normally it loads up, goes to a blue screen which flashes for about half a second then goes back to the first screen with the start up options! its driving me craaazy. please help. many thanks.

Do you have the bootable setup CD for the OS you are running?

I am talking about, example a WinXP Setup CD.

If you do....

These are the 2 Windows Setup CD Repair Options:

REPAIR CONSOLE:

1.Boot to your WinXP Setup CD
2.At the 1st window with the Repair option on the bottom Statusbar, use that to open the Repair Console
3.When you get to the Repair Console's Command Prompt enter CHKDSK C: /R (the R is not a typo)
4.Let CHKDSK do its thing, then reboot

Also, running CHKDSK from the desktop (via Start menu, Accessories, Command Prompt) by entering CHKDSK C: /F (the F is not a typo), occasionally. This should be part of your general system maintenance routine. Note that this will require a reboot to actually run.

REPAIR REINSTALL:
Please do this:

1.Boot to your WinXP Setup CD
2.At the 1st window with Repair listed in the bottom Statusbar, select to install (skip first Repair option)
3.Setup should show you C:\Windows (you have Windows already installed) and you'll get a window with a 2nd Repair listed in the bottom Statusbar, use this to start a Recovery Reinstall.

A Repair Reinstall will reinstall all the original system files but leave your hardware configuration your applications as is.

NOTE, you will have to redo ALL Win Updates. Highly suggest you, use [Custom] Mode, and only install 3 to 5 at a time:

1. Do ALL Service Packs (SP) last and one at a time
2. For all other updates, De-Select ALL
3. Select the first 3 to 5 updates
4. Download and install
5. IF all install correctly, REBOOT asked to or not
6. Repeat until all updates are installed (now do any remaining SPs)

WARNING: If you have installed SP3, this makes your original WinXP Setup CD useless.

Keep us posted,

kind regards,