I Really Really Need Help...life And Death Here

I bought a laptop over ebay. It is a toshiba portege with windows xp professional. It has been having boot problems for a long time and i have not been able to close the computer without having to power down. I put it in standyby mode because it boots faster, and now it is really messed up! It gives me a screen that says

"We apologize for the inconveinence, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.


If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders, choose last known good configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the power or reset button was pressed, or if you arent't sure what caused the problem, choose start windows normally.

Safe mode
Safe mode with networking
Safe mode with command prompt

Last known good configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start windows normally

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice. "



No matter which one i choose, it reboots itself automatically and then it takes me to an all blue screen with text on it. It flashes for about 4 seconds and then reboots the computer. From what i can see, it says something about the computer restarting itself to protect my files, and UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT.EXE


if i leave it on start windows normally, it will keep repeating this cycle until the cows come home




my whole law firm is on the line here...HELP!!!!!!!!

 

If you can get into safe mode, you can go to Control Panel>System>Advanced>Start up and recovery settings and untick the box for the auto restart. That endless loop should not be the default, because it doesn't give the user a chance to interrupt- but that's a rant I'll save for another thread. Safe Mode will only load absolutely necessary things, but you may be able to try a System Restore. (Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools> System Restore) and choose a date before you began getting this loop. Since the computer has had boot problems for some time, you may want to be specific and post this on the Hardware forum. Those guys there know their stuff! If you have an external hard drive, or a way to back up your data to your desktop- use it if you can, ASAP. Get what's most necessary first- because I see a "reinstall of last recourse" in the future in my crystal ball. (Only way to rule out Hardware issues... )

There's a moral here, too, for everyone who reads this, and we all know it and some of us are lazy about it...
Back Up Back Up Back Up

and that could have been prevented. But now you've got a problem, and we can't cry over spilled milk. I think I can speak for everybody that we'll try to get you through this with your info and data intact. Of course, since you're a lawyer, all disclaimers apply!

btw, do you have a legit XP Pro disk with this laptop?

Johanna

 

i wish it were that easy



it wont let me get into windows at all, and no the seller did not send the xp disk


the blue screen says the error is
Unmountable Boot Volume Error


i ran a google search on the error and a website said

"When booting up to Windows XP you may get an error that reads: "Unmountable Boot Volume ".

This is probably because your boot.ini file is messed up. Here is a possible remedy:

You can boot to the XP cd and when you see the "Welcome to setup" message, press the letter R.
You will then get a DOS prompt.
Then type: chkdsk /p [enter]
When that is done type: fixboot [enter]
Type: Y at the next prompt [enter]
Then type: exit [enter]
The system will now reboot into Windows.

If for some reason that didn't work, you can boot to the recovery console (example above).
Type: "chkdsk /r" [enter]
When done type: exit [enter].
This takes a bit longer, but the system should boot back into Windows. "

I know more than the average joe about computers, but not about xp

Would what the website said work???

 

Post this in Hardware. Those guys can extract data using tweezers, if necessary. Best of luck to you.

Johanna

 

Did you get a good deal?

OK, all kidding aside - go buy yourself a legitimate copy of XP. Either Home, Pro or Corporate version - whatever is installed on your machine and buy the right one. Then you can try what you posted. Will it work? In "legaleeze" - it all depends. Johanna gave you some good advice - back that puppy up. And, now that you are sweating bullets - you can have the hard drive pulled and all your data should be readable from another machine. Keep your shirt on - the firm isn't in any kind of trouble you can't get out of.

 

Look at it this way, your going to need that CD. You may be able to squeek by, for a time, but the need for that CD will always come up, "sooner, later or often ". Many repairs/fixes can not be done without it.

 

*breath of fresh air*


LIFE IS GOOD!!

my neighbor has xp home and i have professional, but what i posted earlier worked!!!

thats right, i am reporting to you from the "hopeless" computer!!!!



*pops a cork of a champagne bottle*


the boot.ini file was corrupt, and i cant figure out why it let me use the home disk for professional. Also, i did get a DOS prompt during the revival, and my steps said to type chkdsk /p

i know what chkdsk does, anyone know what the /p does?


and all of this from me, a 14 year old kid. My dad was the lawyer.
(i teach my computers "teacher" things)

 

According to Microsoft for both W2K and XP but only from the recovery console