Won't boot into Windows

A friend asked me to take a look at his Notebook because it won’t boot into windows. It won’t boot in safe mode or any other mode and when I got into the Bios I noticed that the memory was listed at 633 KB for System, and 895 MB for extended. I am pretty sure there is a Gig of memory, and just to compare I looked at another of his Laptops and it read 640 KB and 1038336 KB. What I am thinking is that 1 of the memory chips failed though if that is the case than wouldn’t it read 640 KB system, and 519,168 Extended? Also why is it 633 KB and not 640?

Thanks,
Sue

 

Sorry put this in the wrong place!

 

Well, I guess it is the right place. I thought that I had replied to a thread instead of starting a new one. To early in the morning I guess.

Now I am really sorry,
Sue

 

Video card might be using some of that as shared memory.

 

For arguments sake, lets say that is true. is the 895 extended memory correct? There are 2 - 512 chips in the machine.

Thanks,
Sue

 

It would be about right, assuming the video card is using 128mb of it.

 

640KB is a System Memory that has nothing to do with the RAM. Apparently, as @$n!pR said, the video card allocate 128MB of the RAM therefore leave your system with less RAM.
All this has nothing to do with the Windows not booting problem. Does any error message pop up when trying to start Windows? What exactly happens - freezing, blue screen, missing/corrupted file..?

 

Thank you so much for the answer and quick reply. I was thinking that it would not boot because it lacked enough memory. The Video card is using 128, so it must be something else. Could just be a simple software problem and not a hardware problem, though I am a mere hack at best.

Is there anyway to boot this from the CD? I looked in the BIOS and did not see a setup for this, and when I tried to boot from the CD it just tried to boot from the HD.

Thanks,
Sue

 

What is your laptop's model?

Again, what happens exactly when the laptop is trying to boot into windows?

No Boot or Boot Priority section in BIOS?

 

It starts to load Windows then gives me the apology screen telling me that “Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.” I have all the options for safe mode and last known good configuration though can’t get into plain Dos for a C: prompt. However no matter what option I choose I come back to this screen. I did once get it to check the disk which showed no errors, and it will totally crash if you use “safe mode with command prompt”.

 

Acer Aspire 5100-3583. Ok, the Boot is:

1: IDE 0 It says (PM, which I assume is the HD)
2: IDE 1 (This is the DVD, so it is setup right.

 

Might need to do a repair install.

 

Yes I am thinking that you are right. If I do that will I loose his Data?

 

And, how do I do that? I always just format and reinstall for a clean running mean machine. This is his work machine and petrified of loosing anything, as it can't be replaced.

 

You'll need a Bootable Windows Install CD.
If you just reinstall/repair, you shouldn't lose any data. But I can't guarantee it 100%, there is always a possibility that something can get screwed up during reinstallation/repair process

 

I do understand that, but it will not boot from the CD, so do I need to use some special keys on the machine or something?

Thanks again,
Sue

 

Ok, I got the CD working and It setting up Windows. Hope it gives me the recovery screen! I might just have to abort. Well it did let me hit Recovery and it shut down the machine.

He might just have to bring this machine to the shop, as I don't understand why it is misbehaving.

Thanks,
Sue

 

Setup will ask you if you want to do Recovery or set up a new install. Are you setting up XP btw ?

 

Yes, but it is my personal disk and am not sure if I should even use it. Once I hit recovery the machine turned off! Whats that about? Maybe I can get into Dos this next try. I want to see if I can get some of his data off.

 

no F2 option at the splash screen.odd

are there any recovery DVD's been burnt.?

oops manners: afternoon all

 

It said hit R to for the recovery then turned off. I don't know about any DVD's that he might have. I will have to ask him, but for now, I no longer have the same problem as it want to do a reinstall or recovery when I boot.

 

I might be getting somewhere, as it does now give me the options that it should. 1:\Minint or 2: Or c:\windows. What is Minint? is that a partition?

 

that is one i have never seen on a start-up Minint.
will take a look around for you
have a read of this
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883390

 

Yes that is interesting and might just be what I need to do, though I am just a little afraid of making this worse as I said I am a hack. I might try to use some dos commands like bootcfg and check the disk again now that I can at least get a command prompt.

You are a great help,
Sue

 

have you tried a/the TREE command just to see if the file structure is still in place ?
just a thought
Phil

 

You really are a big help, I was trying to remember the command to do just that when the machine shut down again. It is looking more and more like there is a Hardware problem as the machine just shuts off for no reason. It is time for Stan to bring the machine to the shop to diagnose. I love a challenge but I think this one needs professional help.

Thank you so much Phil, your a real man!

Sue