Bad Startup + Sleep Mode

[Strong Lead]

I'm trying to fix a friends computer. It's a HP Pavillion and when you startup it goes to the "Last Known Good Config screen"

I'm sure you all know the options: Safe mode/Windows with networking/with prompt/last know good.../Startup Normally.

No matter what you hit the screen then "loads" a bunch of things, what they are I couldn't say, then a quick flash to a white box that saying, going to sleep mode, then it goes back to the same startup config screen.

What I plan on doing is putting in a WindowsXP CD and hopefully I get a repair option. If this doesn't work what do you suggest?

Also, If i can't get this to boot up, can I just pop out the drive and put it into my computer and get some of his necessary files he wants to save off of that?

Thanks.

[ktkendall]

Yes you can do the file thing by putting the drive in your machine. Just put it in as a slave drive and you should be able to access all the files on it. As far as the startup problem, if a repair installation does not help, (although I think it will), next option may have to be a full format and reinstall. I am wondering though if setting the BIOS back to full defaults may help or at least go into the BIOS and check especially the power settings page. That constant sleep mode has me wondering if the BIOS is causing that problem..