Windows doesn't start up: Black screen, then the load bar freezes?

Question

This happened to me before and I chose Last Known Settings That Worked. Now it doesn't work worth a diddley-poop. I go past the black screen, and then the Windows load bar freezes. This has happened the last three attempts to start it up. Anyone know how to fix this? Thanks, your answers are very much appreciated!

It's a Dell Dimension 4600 desktop that's 2 years old. 2.8 GHZ Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB HD, and it runs Windows XP Home Edition.

Answer 1

First thing to try is pressing f8 while the machine is booting. You will get a screen that gives multiple options, "safe mode," "safe mode w/ networking," etc. Try "last known good." If this doesn't work, try the same thing, except boot into "safe mode." As a computer tech for almost 20 years, I can tell you right off you probably have a hard drive failing. If you are able to get into the system, BACK UP YOUR DATA. Once a drive gets too bad, recovering photos, music, etc, is VERY expensive. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Restart your computer- hit the F8 key while the machine is starting up (You might want to just continuously hit f8 when starting up), this should bring you to a menu option where you can choose a few different boot up modes.

Try starting the machine in "Safe Mode- With Networking". If you can get that far, you might want to uninstall any recent programs that you have downloaded or installed and try restarting the machine again.

If no luck with this then you may have corrupt memory.

Answer 3

System restore blows. You are going to have to have someone retrieve whatever data you need from the computer, format it, write zeros across the hard drive(helps alot!), and then reinstall windows.

Please keep in mind that formatting your computer causes all files and programs to be gone. You will have to reinstall stuff like office,etc. To retrieve your data you simply have to stick that hard drive in another computer. The drive will work fine as long as you just look at it vs. trying to boot to it.

Once your computer gets that bad you have to wipe it out because your bootsector is a mess.

hope that helps
Nigel

Answer 4

Try to start in safe-mode( while the bios is starting up with windows, press F8) then select the option Load last good working configuration., if it fails or you failed to start that way, then you probably have to reinstall the operating system.

Answer 5

i know what to do
run in safe mode if that does not work then insert your operating systems cd and then reboot the computer hit r for repair
in the msconfig write
chkdsk /p then press enter let that finish then write/
fixboot then press enter then press y then enter
let it finish type exit and enter and your computer should be running

Answer 6

Put your windows cd in your cd rom it will give you the option to install or scan your pc for repairs. Your windows might need repairs and this might help.

Answer 7

How olds your computer