HeLLLLP my parents are in their 70's and have been given a packard bell laptop from a friend. they have loaded all their photos on to the lap TOP and now cannot start it.

They were looking on the internet for the first time when it all froze so the turned the power off.
Now when they turn it on the screen says it did not start successfully and choose a mode to start in we choose all the modes and it keeps going to the black xp screen then starts again with the did not start successfully screen again. It is just stuck in a loop.

What can we do to help I am just a much a novice as they are?Boot to the XP CD and choose the first repair option. That will take you to the Recovery Console. Once there, type chkdsk /r and press ENTER. It will take a while to finish, let it do so. When the SCAN is complete type EXIT and press ENTER. Let's see if that helps. If not, we'll try a repair installation.Did you try SAFE mode? You can pressing F8 to go in safe mode.
Clean your registry, all will be OK.

Link RemovedYou may safely ignore the above postHave a nice day.Dear Allan

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately I still have the same problem.

I was able to logon on to the recovery system and followed the commands as you instructed.

The checking process only took 5 minutes. The laptop only has a few treasured photos on it but not any other files or software programs.

I cannot eject the cd either now.

Any more advice?The only one solution is to reinstall it. If it still dosn`t works call microsoft for help. QUOTE from: Johns on November 27, 2009, 09:29:08 AM

The only one solution is to reinstall it. If it still dosn`t works call microsoft for help.