My wife has an HP Pavillion used for surfing and home that gives us an error screen when we try to turn it on. It says it did not boot correctly the last time we tried to turn it on. This screen suggests that I boot in "safe Mode", "Last known Good Configuration" and 3 other possible methods but it does not matter which I select, it comes back to this same screen. I have made a set of recovery discs but, when I use them, it just takes longer to go to the same screen. FWIW: I know of no hardware or software changes made recently other than the installation or a new HP printer but the computer has worked fine since the installation. We are running the free version of AVG and a version of McAfee for virus protection.

"We are running the free version of AVG and a version of McAfee for virus protection" Why run both? McAfee sucks...dump it! When's the last time you blew the dust out of the fan intake / exhaust vents?

McAfee comes free from my ISP. My wife uses lots of air on her keyboard so I assume that she blows the vents also.

well you should ONLY use ONE AV at a time, using 2 will cause adverse effects. Jam was right McAfee is pretty bad. You may want to borrow an XP install disc and do an sfc /scannow I really don't know which version you have because you put in ??? You will need either a pro or a home CD to complete the above. You cannot mix and match, it doesn't work. Sounds like some files got corrupted. Also, if you HAD Norton on before the other 2 you mentioned, you may want to go to the Norton website and use their removal tool because as long as there are remnants of Norton on your PC, no other AV will function properly. Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers

Thanks - I will get rid of the McAfee if I can get it up. My version is a home version but I don't know if there are more than one of those. Sorry. This computer did have a version of Norton over a year ago and I only used the Windows delete program to remove it. I will go to Norton when it is fixed. Thanks for the hint. I have checked the fans and vent and they are very clean. Good wife. The laptop came with no discs so the only recovery disc I have is one that I made and I am pretty illiterate. It slows down the error messages but does not let the system boot. Where should I go to get a good disc?