HELP!!!! My laptop won't boot up.?

Question

It was installing a windows update and it shut down when the battery went dead. When I plugged it up and turned it back on it had an error message on it. It says " Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem: 1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer. 2. Choose your language setting, and then click next. 3. Click repair your computer." It also says that a file called " \windows\system32\winload.exe " is missing. I tried doing what it said but when I restarted the computer it said the exact same thing. Didn't give me the language or repair computer options. Can anyone give me any information?

Answer 1

This happened to me, your computer has crashed, you will need an external floppy disk drive and 5 floppy disks and download the files from another computer to make the CD boot up...i would give you the link to download the files but it didn't say what your OS is.

External floppy disk drives are very cheap, no more than £21

Answer 2

If you still have your Windows install CD, boot from it.  Tell it to install XP, then it searches the hard drive.  It will find the old version and ask if you want to repair it.  Do that.  All your programs and files will remain intact.  At the end, it will make you type in your Windows XP serial number again.  After the install, you will need to update with all the service packs again.  Make sure you are plugged in to AC this time.

Answer 3

somewhere bill gates is snickering silently.

this EXACT same thing happened to me. although i didnt know what caused it.

i just installed vista over xp, which saved my 10,000 + photos and 5,000 + music files and over 2,000 word docs.

phew. it was bad.

i hate how it says insert the installation disc, because like anyone takes the time to not buy a preloaded computer these days, which ill sure never do again.

good luck i know exactly how stressful this is  

Answer 4

I had run into similar problems before.

Do you know how to use BIOS, it allows you to designate what device you're going to boot with. You can switch the order so that the your optical device is the first in the priority. Entering BIOS program can be different depending on the motherboard that you use for the computer.I think, in most cases, it's either F2 or DEL. It shows you what key you have to press in orer to enter the BIOS program when you're booting the computer. Let's try to boot with the Windows CDor DVD.

If the problem persists, you may have blown up your hard disk but I doubt it at this moment unless it reboots suddenly for no reason.

Hope this help and if you still have the problem, please contact me.

I want to know why also.

Answer 5

try to run in safe mode? if that doesnt work, you may have got a virus.

the same thing happened to my friend a while back. she had the same exact problem! she took it to her friend who is A MAJOR computer expert and he told her she would need to reinstall windows or something like that.

she did and it was fine, but she ended up losing all of her information.

that windows update may have been fake. be careful next time. hopefully you were smart and have everything backed up.