Windows won't start up

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Guest

I have a Dell Inspiron 4100, pentium 3, running Windows XP for home, exactly two years old. I have not added or deleted software or hardware recently; in fact, I've only been using Windows Explorer and Word in the last few days. This morning it worked fine for about 30 minutes and then when I tried to open a PDF file the computer froze. Each time I have restarted since then I have had the same problem. It shows a blue Dell screen, then a black-and-white screen apologizing for the inconvenience but saying that Windows did not start properly. The screen indicates several choices of how to restart: various Safe Modes, Last Known Good Configuration, and Start Windows Normally. Regardless of which I select, Windows starts to boot up for about 5 seconds, then a blue-and-white screen with an error message flashes on the screen for exactly one second, and then I am returned to the black-and-white startup options

The error message on the blue screen has a lot of text. The third line I have been able to read is UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. I don't want to keep restarting it just to see the blue screen for one second at a time so I can read more of the message--I'm afraid of damaging the machine more

Please advise
Thank you.
 
Your PC may already be damaged. It's possible the harddrive has a fault and
windows cannot load, if you only have a recovery CD with the system you may
have to contact Dell for instruction.
Otherwise, watch this post.
Neil
Kate said:
I have a Dell Inspiron 4100, pentium 3, running Windows XP for home,
Click to expand...
exactly two years old. I have not added or deleted software or hardware
recently; in fact, I've only been using Windows Explorer and Word in the
last few days. This morning it worked fine for about 30 minutes and then
when I tried to open a PDF file the computer froze. Each time I have
restarted since then I have had the same problem. It shows a blue Dell
screen, then a black-and-white screen apologizing for the inconvenience but
saying that Windows did not start properly. The screen indicates several
choices of how to restart: various Safe Modes, Last Known Good
Configuration, and Start Windows Normally. Regardless of which I select,
Windows starts to boot up for about 5 seconds, then a blue-and-white screen
with an error message flashes on the screen for exactly one second, and then
I am returned to the black-and-white startup options.
The error message on the blue screen has a lot of text. The third line I
Click to expand...
have been able to read is UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. I don't want to keep
restarting it just to see the blue screen for one second at a time so I can
read more of the message--I'm afraid of damaging the machine more.
 
KATE

I HAD THE SAMEM PROBLEM ,WITH MY HP. HAD THEN SAME MESSAGE
DID YOU GET IT TAKEN CARE OF

I CONTACTED HP, HE INDICATED IT WAS A HARD DRIVE PROBLEM. HE IS SENDING ME A RECOVERY DISC
LET ME KNOW IF & HOW YOU FIX THE PROBLEM,
THANKS, NICK
 
i am having the same problem. i just recieved custom
built comp from a friend running windows xp pro. i have
the same exact message coming up, blue screen flashes then
shut down then start up to xp loading then bam!....blue
screen flashes, shut down start up....its a continuous
loop. anymore advice out there?
-----Original Message-----
I have a Dell Inspiron 4100, pentium 3, running Windows
Click to expand...
XP for home, exactly two years old. I have not added or
deleted software or hardware recently; in fact, I've only
been using Windows Explorer and Word in the last few days.
This morning it worked fine for about 30 minutes and then
when I tried to open a PDF file the computer froze. Each
time I have restarted since then I have had the same
problem. It shows a blue Dell screen, then a black-and-
white screen apologizing for the inconvenience but saying
that Windows did not start properly. The screen indicates
several choices of how to restart: various Safe Modes,
Last Known Good Configuration, and Start Windows Normally.
Regardless of which I select, Windows starts to boot up
for about 5 seconds, then a blue-and-white screen with an
error message flashes on the screen for exactly one
second, and then I am returned to the black-and-white
startup options.
The error message on the blue screen has a lot of text.
Click to expand...
The third line I have been able to read is
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. I don't want to keep restarting
it just to see the blue screen for one second at a time so
I can read more of the message--I'm afraid of damaging the
machine more.
 
firefighter75 said:

i am having the same problem. i just recieved custom
built comp from a friend running windows xp pro. i have
the same exact message coming up, blue screen flashes then
shut down then start up to xp loading then bam!....blue
screen flashes, shut down start up....its a continuous
loop. anymore advice out there?
Click to expand...

Jim's shutdown and restart troubleshooting site may help you...
http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm
 
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