Windows Error Recovery Windows failed to start. A hardware or software change might be the cause.

Hi guys,

I have a HP dv2617 with Vista 32-bit and Intel centrino. The recovery
is partitioned off on the hard-drive.
About a week ago I was using the wireless network at home and was
suddenly dropped from it. No big deal, right? That happens once every
two weeks, so, as usual, I restarted the computer. Upon restarting I
get:
______
Windows Error Recovery
Windows failed to start. A hardware or software change might be the
cause. If Windows files have been damaged, Startup Repair can help
diagnose and fix the problem. (Use the arrow keys tio highlight your
choice.)
1) Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
2) Start Windows normally
______

Naturally, I tried the first option. I get a white progress bar that
says that "windows is loading files" which at the end of progression,
hangs for about 30 seconds. After which, I get the green prgress bar
that zips by multiple times with the Copyright Microsoft directly above
it. Then after that screen, a window pops for about a millisecond, and
then I get a blue screen with a nothing but the mouse arrow cursor. I've
tried Start Windows Normally, Safe mode, Safe mode with prompts, last
known good configuration via F8 and F11, and still I get the same
thing.

Also, I did order a recovery disc from HP, but would that delete all
the content from hard-drive? I really do need to recover files from it
so I would like to avoid having to wipe my hard-drive.

I did find this link
'Download: Windows Vista x64 Recovery Disc — The NeoSmart Files'
(http://tinyurl.com/3o8u2l)
will this solution also wipe HD or would it be able to repair Vista?

I'm doing everything from having to buy a Vista disc since I'd rather
spend that money on upgrading to Windows 7 once this is resolved.

Thanks in advance for all you advice/input!


--
ih8_vista
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

On 2/23/10, ih8_vista posted:
> Hi guys,

> I have a HP dv2617 with Vista 32-bit and Intel centrino. The recovery
> is partitioned off on the hard-drive.
> About a week ago I was using the wireless network at home and was
> suddenly dropped from it. No big deal, right? That happens once every
> two weeks, so, as usual, I restarted the computer. Upon restarting I
> get:
> ______
> Windows Error Recovery
> Windows failed to start. A hardware or software change might be the
> cause. If Windows files have been damaged, Startup Repair can help
> diagnose and fix the problem. (Use the arrow keys tio highlight your
> choice.)
> 1) Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
> 2) Start Windows normally
> ______

> Naturally, I tried the first option. I get a white progress bar that
> says that "windows is loading files" which at the end of progression,
> hangs for about 30 seconds. After which, I get the green prgress bar
> that zips by multiple times with the Copyright Microsoft directly above
> it. Then after that screen, a window pops for about a millisecond, and
> then I get a blue screen with a nothing but the mouse arrow cursor. I've
> tried Start Windows Normally, Safe mode, Safe mode with prompts, last
> known good configuration via F8 and F11, and still I get the same
> thing.

> Also, I did order a recovery disc from HP, but would that delete all
> the content from hard-drive? I really do need to recover files from it
> so I would like to avoid having to wipe my hard-drive.

> I did find this link
> 'Download: Windows Vista x64 Recovery Disc — The NeoSmart Files'
> (http://tinyurl.com/3o8u2l)
> will this solution also wipe HD or would it be able to repair Vista?

> I'm doing everything from having to buy a Vista disc since I'd rather
> spend that money on upgrading to Windows 7 once this is resolved.

> Thanks in advance for all you advice/input!

Windows Repair at startup takes a very long time, over half an hour in
the times I've used it. Perhaps you didn't wait long enough. Maybe...

The recovery discs will wipe your drive. Some of the downloadable
solutions are more like the repair startup and others are more like the
recovery option, so I'm unsure.

You could try removing your hard drive from your computer and backing
it up via USB on another computer, like the one you're posting from.
I'd say use a SUB to SATA adapter or similar to read your drive, a USB
external drive as a destination, and the free edition of Macrium
Reflect as software. Then you could proceed with more confidence with a
recovery.

If you're a belts and suspenders sort of guy, download the free EASEUS
disk copy and make a second (clone) backup - on yet another drive -
before proceeding.

--
Gene Bloch 650.366.4267 lettersatblochg.com