Window xp laptop will not start successfully.

Window xp laptop will not start successfully. I've been shutting down my
laptop incorrectly w/ the power switch. Now I got a black screen asking to
choose the following choices; Safe Mode (etc) BUT none of them work. What do
I do now?

-The laptop screen appeared something like
We apologize for the inconvenience, 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 yor files and folders, choose Last Known
Good Configuration to revrt to the most recet settings that worked.

If a previous startup attemot was interrupted due to a power failure or
because the Power or Reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what
caused the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

[Safe Mode]
[Safe Mode w/ 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.

I heard I have to do something w/ go to BIOS and reset it to default.
I'm so clueless on what to do & cluess about computers. Can someone please
help me? Does it mean I lost all my data on my laptop?

On Jan 15, 12:28 am, Cluess <Clu....TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Window xp laptop will not start successfully. I've been shutting down my
> laptop incorrectly w/ the power switch. Now I got a black screen asking to
> choose the following choices; Safe Mode (etc) BUT none of them work. What do
> I do now?
>
> -The laptop screen appeared something like
> We apologize for the inconvenience, 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 yor files and folders, choose Last Known
> Good Configuration to revrt to the most recet settings that worked.
>
> If a previous startup attemot was interrupted due to a power failure or
> because the Power or Reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what
> caused the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.
>
> [Safe Mode]
> [Safe Mode w/ 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.
>
> I heard I have to do something w/ go to BIOS and reset it to default.
> I'm so clueless on what to do & cluess about computers. Can someone please
> help me? Does it mean I lost all my data on my laptop?

BIOS is not going to change anything as this is a problem with your
Windows installation. There is a reason Windows has the "shutdown"
option and its to prevent files and other processes from going
corrupt.

When you say these other modes "don't work" do you mean Windows won't
load at all? What happens exactly when you try Safe Mode? These
other modes are meant for diagnosing problems, so if you don't know
what you are doing, you shouldn't even bother running Windows in
them. They are basically Windows with reduced functionality and
disabled services.

If those won't load then you may need to reinstall Windows, but this
can be done without losing any data on your laptop. As long as your
hard drive is functioning physically, then any data can be salvaged.
If you do reinstall Windows, make sure you DO NOT format your hard
drive in the process as this WILL erase all information. A fresh
install of Windows will appear to have all your information missing,
but in reality its just stashed out in other folders on the hard
drive.

In the future, shutdown properly as this will prevent these problems.