Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause...

ihateflying

Can you get into "safe mode with command prompt" ? you should see a black screen with something like a "C:\>" prompt.

Emuchops

Stooby2 wrote: »

You need to use the up/down arrows, PG up etc, to scroll through the options. If you read the instructions on the side of the screen it'll tell you how to change the options.

Thanks-I get a message to press f1 for 'select item help' but it doesn't seem to do anything-still can't access the 'set boot priority' button-it says'ok' so I press 'enter' but nothing happens.

Stooby2

Can you do anything with the keyboard? I'm starting to wonder if that's causing the problem. Might be worth trying another if you have one.

Emuchops

ihateflying wrote: »

Can you get into "safe mode with command prompt" ? you should see a black screen with something like a "C:\>" prompt.

Hello and thank you-yes i can. It churns out a load of data for about 30 seconds then reverts to: the original black screen/white type screen giving the launch startup repair option or the start windows normally option (both of which achieve nothing).

Emuchops

Stooby2 wrote: »

Can you do anything with the keyboard? I'm starting to wonder if that's causing the problem. Might be worth trying another if you have one.

Thank you-Possibly an option but no idea how to transfer laptop keyboards... The keyboard seems perfectly responsive-just not giving the options I need.

ihateflying

Try holding down the "Ctrl" key and pressing the "c" key. If you can get to a black screen and a white "C:\>" prompt then you're in with a good chance. From there you can type "d:" which is usually the CD drive (sometimes it may be "e:" depending on how your hard disk drive is partitioned). Once on the CD drive, with your windows CD in the drive you can type "setup" which should load up the windows disk for a reload.

waddler_8

From the F8 menu do you see the option

"Repair your computer"

If so, choose that option, and at the System Recovery Options, choose "System Restore"

Restore to an earlier date.

NiftyDigits

How is it going?

Johnmcl7

Emuchops wrote: »

It tries to start Windows-shimmery coloured squares- then theres a flash of blue screen (a millisecond) then it goes back to the black screen/white type screen with the 2 options 'launch startup repair' or 'start windows manually' -back to square one.
Cannot access 'boot'menu.

What do these coloured squares look like exactly and when do they occur, is it only briefly while trying to load windows or are they more constant?

John

Emuchops

ihateflying wrote: »

Try holding down the "Ctrl" key and pressing the "c" key. If you can get to a black screen and a white "C:\>" prompt then you're in with a good chance. From there you can type "d:" which is usually the CD drive (sometimes it may be "e:" depending on how your hard disk drive is partitioned). Once on the CD drive, with your windows CD in the drive you can type "setup" which should load up the windows disk for a reload.

Hello-thanks for that but the Ctrl/C thing isn't doing anything.