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Hi guys. I'm trying to help my Mom with the problem of her PC not starting. Upon start up, it shows the "Windows will start normally in "x" seconds screen". Start Windows normally is highlighted, and the seconds tick down as if it's going to start. Then it comes back to this same screen, but won't start up. The direction arrows on her keyboard don't work and the mouse won't function either. Pressing Enter on the highlighted option to start normally doesn't work. This is a XP machine around eight years old. Do you have any ideas?
Hi KB - Welcome to the DCT Forum! Sounds as though an incorrect shutdown may have corrupted system files.
Let's try a couple of simple things first:
Do you have a spare keyboard and mouse which you know work okay? Try replacing the existing keyboard and mouse with those and see what happens.
Can you boot into Safe Mode? Just before the system begins to load, start tapping the F8 key continuously.
Let us know how you get on.
Cheers... Jim
Hi Jim,
When tapping f8 I can get to the start in safe mode screen. When choosing to start in safe mode, you get a message "We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this. The the message continues....If a previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power outage or if you're not sure, choose Start Windows Normally. When you start Windows Normally, it appears to boot but comes back to this same "We apologize" screen continuously. There is also the option to start in the " Last Known Good Configuration". If chosen, it reverts back to the "We apologize" screen also and won't go any further.
Did you try bare-boning the hardware? Disconnect everything which is not essential; USB devices, optical drive, graphic card, extra drives, and if more than one RAM card try with just one card - each card, one at a time.
Are you using a wireless mouse or keyboard? If so, try with a wired mouse and/or keyboard.
If you don't have an installation disc it narrows your options down considerably, to practically zero actually. Can you get your hands on an XP installation disc? (it must be the exact same edition as the original OS).
http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/10/27/how-to-fix-the-we-apologize-for-the-inconvenience-but-windows-did-not-start-successfully-error/
Sorry I can't be more help,
Cheers... Jim
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