Windows Failed to Start

[ThickChick]

Hi everyone

Having a huge problem with my daughters laptop.

When we try turning it on it doesn't load up windows as normal. Instead we get a message come saying:

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

It goes on to tell me to use the windows installation disc and restart my pc telling me to click option "repair my computer"

Sadly, it doesn't work when I try putting the disc in. The same message just comes up.

I suspect my daughter has gone and downloaded something during the course of yesterday that has caused this to happen as it has been working fine up to now. But what is anyones guess!

I have absolutely no idea how to sort it out. I have tried starting in safe mode but it just gives the same message.

Any of you very clever people out there able to help me? I'm just a simple lass with little understanding of how computers work.

It's running Windows Vista

Thanks in advance.

Thick Chick

[Spools]

You might need to change the boot sequence at startup to read from the CD/DVD drive first rather than the hard drive (HDD).

What is the brand and model of the laptop? On many systems, pressing the Delete key immediately after powering up the PC will let you enter the BIOS screen. From there you need to navigate to the appropriate page where you can change the boot order.

When the boot order is set to read from the CD/DVD drive first, it should see the install disc and give you the option to repair your Windows install.

[ThickChick]

Thank you so much Spools!

That seems to have done something. It's talking to me now and has started up from the disc. It's running the repair system now. Will let you know how I get on. I'm praying it will sort it out.

Thick Chick