My computer won't start!

My computer won't start.

1. It can't get past the Windows XP loading screen (where it has that green loading bar) - It just goes to a blue screen that causes the computer to restart immediately.

2. Safe mode doesn't work - It just hangs half way on that DOS screen that shows all the files, and just restarts the computer

3. Last known configuration doesn't work - same thing as what happens when starting up normally

Possible causes:

1. I installed some new drivers for my video/graphics card before all of this. I think the drivers I installed might not be compatible with Windows XP somehow, so I may need to uninstall them..

2. I kicked the plug on my computer accidentally before all this happened, and as soon as I started up my computer, I got the blue screens, etc. and everything explained above.

What can I do?

- I have the Windows XP CD, but I don't want to format because I have some important files on that computer.


Can anyone please help? I'd highly appreciate any help given!

Do you have another desktop PC?

Well, no, but I'm on my laptop now.

Get another desktop pc and plug in the harddrive, set it to slave and see if you can still copy files from it, then i'd consider reformating and reinstalling the OS to make it work.

Sounds like it's bust and files are missing for it to start-up.

Oh Is that the only option for me right now?

I've never actually opened up the tower, taken out a hard drive, set it as slave, or done anything like that, ever.

What do you mean when you say you "kicked the plug?" It could be a hardware problem, or it could be, as you said, something to do with your Graphics card drivers.

I would try and backup your hard drive, like BlueRiver explained. Then, if you need to, you can reinstall Windows.

Get a live CD of some kind (they are all over the place, I have a nice one that works pretty well) and copy all the important files to an external media device (External HD, CD-R, whatever.)

Can't you simply re-install windows without having to format?

It's hard to say if this is a software or a hardware error, can you post the blue screen? Codes etc.

If safe mode doesn't work then it wouldn't be a driver issue. You have most likely broken your HDD when you "kicked the plug", that could of caused a power surge (unlucky though). I've had this happen before in the past, you should be able to recover your files but you will need a new HDD.

Did you try the window's self fix with the CD?