[Natalie_Rachel]

I have a Toshiba Satellite A100/A105 Series Laptop. It was working fine last night; logged off and shut off the monitor as usual. Just now, I tried to log on but it keeps rebooting indicating the following message:
[i]"We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. a recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders, choose Last Known Good Configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the Power or Reset button was pressed , or if you aren't sure what cuased the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode
SAfe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Know Good Configuration ( your most recent settings that worked)
Start Windows Normally

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.
Seconds until Windows Starts: 30 "

I tried all above options and in all cases, it keeps rebooting. I have the Toshiba labtop recovery/application CD, and I also have a Dell Reinstallation CD for MS Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Operating System). My laptop is networked to my main desktop Dell computer. Please help...I'm a full-time college student and all my work is on the laptop. I have 3 terms papers on my laptop that I must have that's due on Monday!!! Anyone...please help. Thank you! - Natalie Rachel

[Saga Lout]

Please start the laptop up and tap the Function 8 ket before Windows loads to see the full extended version of the Safe Mode menu you've already seen. That includes "Disable automatic restart on system failure" so highlight that one and it will enable the full Stop Error message to appear on a blue screen. Post the main detail of that message back here - 0x0000?? etc. and accompanying text - then someone will be able to advise.

It's extremely unlikely you've lost your files but this is a wake up call to learn good backup practice. Three terms sounds like a lot of work to me and I'm amazed you kept all those eggs in one fragile basket. Whatever you do, don't go near the Toshiba with the Dell CD or even its own recovery disk, which might revert the system to the day you bought it. Before Sunday is over, you can have your files back but for the time being, just reproduce that blue screen for more advice.

If all else fails, there will be a download you can obtain later today - site's down for maintenance at the moment - of a Linux Operating System to enable you to retrieve your work. You'll also need a CD burning programme so if you don't have one, pop off to http://www.imgburn.com and download ImgBurn in case you need it later to get PCLinuxOS.

[Natalie_Rachel]

I can't thank you enough for replying. I just followed your direction about tapping the F8 key but it doesn't respond to it and goes right to the message I posted in my 1st email. I turned it off and on again to try again, but the same thing happened. What should I try next? Should I take my laptop to a computer repair place and if so, can they fix something like this the same day? I'm on a tight student budget and I'm hoping you or someone can help me. My papers are due tomorrow and this happens...why God???? I've been working on them so hard.

[Saga Lout]

In view of the urgency and your tight time scale, you may need to find a professional fixer for this one, if only to retrieve your data. Don't stress the urgency too much or the price may rocket - just ask if they could do it while you wait. They'll take out the hard disk and slave it to another machine and transfer to another disk for which they'll charge you. You might get away with an 8Gb flash drive, depending on the size of your files. Alternatively, you could download ImgBurn and then go to http://www.pclinuxos.com to get a download of that Operating System. Once on a CD (burned, not copied) run it as a Live CD - the first option on the screen. At the desktop, go to My Computer then Storage Media and navigate to Documents and Settings>{yourname}My Documents and take what you need.

One more idea - if you're handy with a screwdriver look underneath the laptop to identify the cover plate hiding the hard disk and take it out yourself. Downside of that is you might not be able to buy the necessary converter to connect via USB to your other computer on a Sunday.

[Natalie_Rachel]

Thanks for your advice and additional tips. I'm not handy at all with computers so I'll have to get it serviced. Again, thank you for your helpful advice and info.
Gratefully,
Marilyn

[oilers]

Sago Lout:

Can't thank you enuff for the advice. I downloaded something yesterday and today my laptop wouldn't boot. I got the BSOD with the Stop 0x0000007B error. I was reading all kinds of information and I couldn't seem to get ahead. Finally I found your info and I did like you said. I burned a copy of PCLinuxOs and use it to boot to my laptop and VOILA! It worked! I am able to copy my data off of the HD and now I can go back and reformat.

THank again!!