My daughter's laptop was working fine til yesterday when she switched it on. It came up with the screen saying Windows XP had shutdown abnormally and to start in Safe Mode, last known good configuration etc, etc. Whatever option I select, it tries to start booting and then very briefly displays a blue screen with lots of errors and writing (too quick to read) and then reboots and back to the original abnormal shutdown screen, and so goes round in circles. I can get to the BIOS and Setup screens, but nothing I change makes any difference. Please can someone help?

Well to the looks of it the Os is already been corrupted or broken. So I think the solutions is to reinstall the Os which means to reformatting it or tryt to see if system repqir wiht the Os can still do something. Want A Weekly Update on Latest System Security Problem http://www.systemsecurityinstitute.org

"...then very briefly displays a blue screen with lots of errors and writing (too quick to read) and then..." ... this time select Disable automatic restart on system failure" ... post the error message here..... thx . . ... Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/... Grrrr... ....more

... and do NOT go re-install/repair routine - yet! Wait until folks here have had a further look-see etc. at whatever additional info you can post...

and if you do have to go with the re-install/repair routine, do the repair option first. It preserves your programs and is less of a hassle than reinstalling the operating system, unless that is absolutely necessary.

Many thanks for all your replies. Someone lent me a Windows XP install disc (I had mislaid mine!) and I got into the Repair Console. I did a chkdsk /r and it found and repaired the hard disk errors and I'm back in now - hurrah!!! Thanks again.

Good news... However... might be wise to make a backup (an image) of the drive as is to optical media.I ssggest using Acronis to this end; it's simple to use and "duz wit sez on the tin/label". Amazon often have a deal on it too... At the least ensure all data etc. is copied off to optical-media; and sed copies verified OK on at least one other system; and then regularly update the copies etc... That way if things do finaly go pear-shaped with the drive... data at least is secure? Might also be wise to regularly check the HD - and if errors start a-popping up.. replace it sooner than later.