[highlight]We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.[/highlight]

I keep getting this error and I can't get into safe mode or any of the other options. I get a quick flash of a blue screen then it goes back to the error screen  :-/

The computer os is WinXP. I'm not too sure about the rest of it's info since it's not my computer.After having the message does the PC power its self down ?This will require some in depth troubleshooting. You're going to need the owners permission and we're going to need more info such as what happened LEADING up to this. Did you download or install anything for instance?I restarts over and over, trying to load windows but ends up returning to the error screen.

I was told that the power cord got knocked out while trying to plug in a printer. This isn't the first time this error happened, but it always started as normal when selected on the screen.Toodles:

Try this:

Turn the computer off, wait 5 seconds, and turn it back on.

While it is starting, keep pressing the F8 key.

When you see the Windows startup MENU (it has a black background with white text) use the down arrow key on your keyboard to highlight "Last Known Good Configuration" and press the Enter key.

Windows will try to restore the settings to what they were the last time you successfully started your computer.

Let us know how it goes,
DocThe windows start up menu is what I keep getting and what the computer keeps restarting to.

[highlight]We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

Start in safe mode.
Safe mode with networking.
Safe mode with command prompt.
Last known good configuration setting (most recent setting that worked).
Start Windows normally.[/highlight]

And none of these options work  :-? It just restarts back to this same screen. There's a blue screen that shows first, but it goes away so quick and I can't see what it says.As I said earlier, this will require some in-depth troubleshooting knowledge. It will also require a full XP CD as opposed to a restore CD plus the administrator PASSWORD (If set).
It's also very doubtful that it can be solved without a hands on presence.

You could try unpluging all peripherals such as printers ETC and going for Safe Mode.Unplugging printers and things didn't work.

I can't get into dos or anything. It just keeps going to that black "Windows did not start successfully" screen. Quote

The windows start up menu is what I keep getting and what the computer keeps restarting to.

[highlight]...
Start in safe mode.
Safe mode with networking.
Safe mode with command prompt.
Last known good configuration setting (most recent setting that worked).
Start Windows normally.[/highlight]

And none of these options work  ...