Solved Laptop will NOT boot

My wife has a Compaq Presario CQ60 with 3 gb of memory.

It has not been used in a couple months and today when she tried to start it, it will NOT boot up. It gets to the point where the screen asking for her password (only lasts for a split second) then goes back to options to start:

Safe Mode or Normal Start

IT will start up in Safe Mode without internet connection
IT will keep recycling back to Start Options when trying to start normally.

I am not exactly sure where to go from here.

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated

It sounds like you may have a few corrupted boot sector files. I'd suggest a Startup Repair to begin with.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

Thanks TypeR for responding.

What you suggested makes perfect sense IF I could get it to boot up so that I could get into Repair Startup.

Start Options:



As you can see there is NO option to start the repair. BTW that image did NOT come from her laptop.

I tried to do a normal start pressing F8 continously which is supposed to boot it into the repair mode. IT DID NOT.

I then booted into Safe Mode and went to Accessories --> System Repair and got an error message I did NOT even undestand.

The question is HOW do I get the repair options to come up..

Do you have an installation disk?

Welcome
If you dont have an install CD, as suggested, this may help

If you create a recovery DVD, you may be able to boot to recovery options
Create Recovery DVD.
Hard Disc Controller must be set to IDE in BIOS and Bios must be set to boot from the CD Boot Priority - Change

The Vista recovery disk is used to boot Vista when it won't boot - to run Startup Repair, System Restore, access a Command Line, Recover using a Vista Backup Image, etc.
System Recovery Options. Choose an option tht will not cause you to lose your stuff.

If Vista will not start now, boot the Recovery CD to run Startup Repair which automates System Restore as well as numerous other tests including System File Checker which can repair system files which are not corrupted beyond repair.

If Vista still will not start, try booting into Safe Mode to run sfc /scannow to repair System files.
Special Thanks Given to Seven Forums.




Below is a bulletin distributed by MS to explain the start up procedure when Windows will not boot.

• Startup Repair. Startup Repair is a Windows recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting. Startup Repair is located on the System Recovery Options menu, which is on the Windows Vista installation disc. If your computer has preinstalled recovery options, it might also be stored on your computer's hard disk. For more information, see Startup Repair: frequently asked questions and What are the system recovery options in Windows Vista? If your computer does not include Startup Repair, your computer manufacturer might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.
• Change restart settings in safe mode. If your computer is stuck in a loop where Windows fails, attempts to restart, and then fails again repeatedly, restart your computer in safe mode and select the Disable automatic restart on system failure checkbox. For more information, see Advanced startup options (including safe mode).
• Reinstall. If no other options have solved the problem, and you are sure that your computer's hardware is functioning normally, you might need to reinstall Windows. A custom (clean) installation of Windows will permanently delete all of the files on your computer and reinstall Windows, so only use this option if all other recovery options have been unsuccessful. After the installation, you will need to reinstall your programs and restore your files from backup copies. For more information, see Installing and reinstalling Windows**.

Do you have an installation disk?

Click to expand...

I do NOT have the installation disk, but I have calling around to friends to see if anyone does have the install disk. I should be able to borrow one.

richc46

If you created a recovery DVD?

Click to expand...

When she first got her laptop, I am pretty sure I made the recovery disk and gave it to her for safe keeping. Does she still have it it? The lord only knows.

I am not a fan of laptops mainly because I know nothing about them. One could say I really hate them and every time something goes wrong with her's; she expects me to snap my fingers and fix it.

I will get back to you when I find if she still the recovery disk or if I find an install disk I can borrow.

OK I found the recovery disks I made. I guess it is because it is a Compaq, there is a set of disks for recovery. I do say that it works nothing like the recovery disk (only one) for my Windows 7 desktop.

I first just tried a simple recovery from the oldest restore point on the pc. It said it did recover, but the end results were the same. It still does NOT boot.

Right now I am running the factory recovery starting with recovery disk 1. It just asked (after about 5 minutes) for disk 2. Another 5 minutes and asked for disk 3. This is just formatting part.

WAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOO After about an hour and a half, Windows booted up just like should

Now I have one more question for now. How many SP's has Microsoft published for Vista???

Vista has an SP2
Service Pack Center - Microsoft Windows