[sadava]

Have asked about this problem before and had computer fixed at shop however the problem has re occurred. I cannoy get into the operating system it flashed up a warning message feom windows then it shut down.Since restarting all I keep getting is the Compaq screen then a black screen with white writing saying start in safe mode,enable VGA mode etc.
I am not computer literate but I cannot afford to keep taking this to a shop to be repaired, if anyone can help to get me onto the operating system which is windows XP professional, I would be very grateful.

[Curlyben]

So it says to start in Safe Mode, what happens when you do this ?

[ScottGem]

Ummm, if the shop fixed the problem, what did they say was wrong? And if they claimed to have fixed it and its reocurring then they should fix it again for free since they didn't do the job the first time around.

[sadava]

Nothing happens when I try to start in safe mode, and all the shop said at the time that it had some corrupt files but did not go into any deatails didn't charge a fortune only A tenner and said he had ran a disc to clean it up.

[Curlyben]

What do you mean by "nothing happens when I try to start in safe mode"
Please expand.

If it only cost a tenner then, as Scott suggested, take it back and get them to explain exactly what they have done.

[sadava]

When I try to start it in safe mode it refers me back to the Compaq welcome screen then counts down to windows starting then goes back to Compaq screen.
But thanks I will take it back to shop tomorrow.

[NeedKarma]

Sounds like a corrupted Registry to me.

[sadava]

How do I go about fixing this?

[ScottGem]

how do I go about fixing this?

What you will probably need to do is boot to the Windows CD and run the Repair option.

[sadava]

I know this sounds silly but I do not know how to do this.

[sadava]

Just spoke to shop they have asked to return computer. I will let you know what happens.
Many thanks for your advice.

[Curlyben]

Make sure that when you get it back from the shop you ask them exactly what the problem was and how they fixed it.
This will help you a great deal as and when it happens again.

[sadava]

I will and I have also asked him to provide me with a recovery disc this time.
Many thanks.
Will let you know what happens

[ScottGem]

Shut down your PC, place the Windows CD in your drive and turn it back on again. It should boot to the CD and offer options just follow instructions to get to the Repair option.

[sadava]

Have received laptop back it is now working fine with no data lost.
I asked what the problem had been and they said I must have been turning it off by button instead of logging off, when I explained that I always log off correctly they then said a power surge could have caused it.
I think they just done a non destructive recovery, which is the screen that I cannot get onto and I don't have a windows cd to boot from.
I have heard you can get them from eBay so will have a look on there.
Many thanks for your help but I think without knowing how to get to the recovery screen this shop will keep making money off me every other week or so!

[ScottGem]

I strongly suggest you get yourself an external DVD burner or hard drive and a copy of Norton Ghost or Acronis Tru-Image. What you can then do is create your one recovery disks. Either of them will allow you to make an exact copy of your hard drive onto an external drive or a DVD Or set of DVDs. If you encount such problems, you can replace your current configuration with the cloned image. You will need to keep your data backed up, but this will give you a chance to start from a clean configuration.

[sadava]

Okay many thanks