Laptop Won't Load

I was using my brother's Compaq Presario V4000 laptop a few days ago, everything seemed fine but when I finished using it, it wouldn't shut down, I didn't know what to do so I just used the power button to turn it off. Then when I tried to turn it on, Windows (XP) would not load, it only gets as far as the screen with the Compaq logo. Between the time the Windows logo appears and the Compaq screen, a message appears that says something like "the computer did not shut down properly" or something to the effect, and it gives me several choices, but whatever choice I make I get taken to the Compaq screen and no further. If I choose safe mode a bunch of gibberish appears all the way down the screen and after a few seconds the screen goes black with the words "Safe Mode" appearing in four corners of the screen, I can move the mouse pointer around but nothing happens.

Would anyone know what the problem is and how I can fix it? This laptop is several years old but it's rarely used, I've only been using it the past several months to upload files to my web server so I doubt that it would be a virus or something like that.

 

Try using F8 (same as you do to enter safe mode), but instead of selecting Safe Mode select "Last Known Good Configuration".

 

the OS install may have been corrupted, you may have to either repair the installation using the OS CD or you may have to do a reinstall

 

I tried that and it didn't work, just took me as far as the Compaq screen, anything I choose takes me to the Compaq screen and no further.

How would I do a reinstall?

 

You would use your XP disc, boot from it and reinstall XP. To be able to boot from the CD, try pressing F9 at the Compaq screen.

 

The folks that posted are correct. The OS could have somehow been corrupted or your hard drive could be failing and you may have to reinstall the OS. Before I did the fresh install though (which will wipe your drive and you will loose any data and software that came with the computer), I think I’d at least BOOT to the BIOS (F10) and run the basic hard drive check that’s available. Then, provided the check passes, I’d try a repair before having to do a fresh install. This will at least provide you the opportunity to backup any data you might like to keep and to save the Software Setup (c:\swsetup) folder that contains most of the original software and drivers that came with the unit. To do the repair you will need an XP installation disk (the one that came with your computer if your have it).

BOOT to the disk and Windows will ask you if you’d like to install over the current installation or try to repair the existing installation. Choose “repair” and follow the instructions. If that fails, then provided you have a good hard drive, you can then try a fresh OS and drivers installation. I believe your unit came with an OS disk and a separate Software & Drivers disk. If you do not have the drivers disk, the drivers for your unit can be found here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us&submit=Go »