I went out today and left the computer on. When I got back, there was a black screen with white writing at the top: 'Please insert boot media device and press any key' (something like that). I pressed a key and it repeated itself. So I pressed the on/off button on my CPU, and it starts up to the screen where you have to choose 'Start in Safe Mode', 'Start in Command Prompt', 'Use last working settings', 'Start Windows normally'.

 

 

 

I choose 'use last working settings', and the Windows logo on the black screen with the blue loading bar under it comes up. Then, the screen goes black like it's restarting and goes back to the screen where you have to select what mode to start the computer in. I choose 'start windows normally' and the same thing happens over and over again. I choose 'safe mode' and some stuff starts typing itself out and the same things happens again.

 

 

 

Someone help me please? What might've happened? I've got a Windows XP disc, could I use that to fix it?

Something in the boot sequence, probably a bad driver or a virus, is bringing windows to a halt when it tries to load. Have you tried safe mode? Otherwise you'll probably have to back up your data and reinstall windows. Try system restore if you can get into safe mode, though.

 

 

 

(Another valuable vista tool - startup repair, it'll automatically fix problems like this :P )

I would get into safe mode if all possible and then reinstall your graphics driver.

Thanks for the replies, but choosing any kind of safe mode (with Networking/with Command Prompt/just safe mode) just results in looping back.

Thanks for the replies, but choosing any kind of safe mode (with Networking/with Command Prompt/just safe mode) just results in looping back.

 

What do you mean by that?

I mean when I select either 'Start in Safe Mode', 'Start with last known working settings', or 'Start Windows normally', it pauses for a moment, the acts like someone pressed the Reset button on the CPU. Then the same interface with the black background and the white writing comes back up with the same options 'Start in Safe Mode', 'Start with last known working settings', and 'Start Windows normally'. That's what I meant by looping. Repeating itself.

Looks to me like you have a BSOD, but without being able to get in your windows, I don't see how you could get to see it.

You might be out of luck, if you can't even boot into safe mode.

Got onboard graphics?

 

 

 

Take out you're GPU and try that.

 

 

 

If not, I'd reformat. (If you've got Photo's/Important Documents try and get a PC tech to try the HDD on their PC's, and get the remaining DATA of it)

Sorry, completely off topic, but firanzo, you should make the backround in your sig transparent. Right now it only works on every other post (the backround alternates different colors every other post).

 

 

 

Edit: VVVVV Dracion speaks the truth :thumbup:

Best thing I can suggest is to make a copy of the entire hard drive and use the XP disk to fix it, just so you don't lose anything. If that doesn't work, your best bet would probably be to reinstall Windows.