[trishh]

My laptop has yet another problem. It is a Dell Inspiron 1525 that has Windows Vista. It seems to get a new problem every 2 months. This time, Windows has failed to start. This is what it says:

Windows has failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer
2. Choose your language settings and click next
3. Click "repair your computer"
If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.
file: \windows\system32\winload.exe
status: 0xc000000f
Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt.

I have done what this says and nothing happened. Am I going to need to re-install windows for about the 4th time on this computer? Or is this something you can help me with? Thanks so much.

Edited by trishh, 30 June 2010 - 10:34 AM.

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What happened in 3 other cases, you had to reinstall Windows?
You may have some hardware problem.

[Broni]

What happened in 3 other cases, you had to reinstall Windows?
You may have some hardware problem.

[trishh]

The other cases were all different including hardware problems (hard drive), and BSOD. Things like that. Right before Windows failed to start, many programs started freezing up and not responding. I restarted the computer, then Windows got stuck on the loading screen. After restarting once more, I came to the black screen that I quoted in my original post.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Broni]

Is the computer bootable at this point?

[trishh]

Once I turn on the computer, it goes directly to a black screen with that text saying windows has failed to start up.

EDIT: I don't believe I am able to access windows at all.

Edited by trishh, 30 June 2010 - 11:02 PM.

[Broni]

If you have Vista DVD...

http://www.vistax64....tall-vista.html

If you don't have Vista DVD...

1. Create Vista Recovery Disc.

Option 1:
http://www.c4consult...0SOLUCTIONS.htm

Option 2:
Download Vista Recovery Disc iso image: http://neosmart.net/...-disc-download/
Burn it to CD, or DVD: http://neosmart.net/... to a CD or DVD

2. Boot from created disk.
At first screen click on Repair your computer:

This will bring you to a new screen where the repair process will look for all Windows Vista installations on your computer. When done you will be presented with the System Recovery Options dialog box:

After this, it will present you with a list of options including startup repair, system restore and command prompt:

Try System Restore, first.
If that doesn't work, try Startup Repair.

[trishh]

I have tried both ways and the system restore did not work. The startup repair didn't do anything either. When it was done, I restarted the computer and it said the same thing (that windows has failed to start).

[Broni]

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

================================================================================
=======================

A. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run.

The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

[trishh]

Okay, thank you so much! I will do all that tomorrow ASAP.
Thank you again! I will respond as soon as it is done.

Edited by trishh, 30 June 2010 - 11:41 PM.

[Broni]

Cool

[trishh]

I'm not sure what manufacturer made my hard drive so i'm going to do the RAM test right now.

EDIT: I'm not sure how to tell how many passes it has gone through. It says

Pass: 29%
Test: 71%
Test #4

Am I on the 4th test for the first pass?
There are no errors yet.

Edited by trishh, 01 July 2010 - 03:16 PM.

[Broni]

Am I on the 4th test for the first pass?

It looks like. Look at the pictures, I posted.

Also, remember this:

A. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

As for your hard drive, since the computer is not bootable, you'll have to open the case and take a look.

[trishh]

Okay, I believe I cannot do option A, so I did the memtest. When it is done, I will tell you the results after 5-6 passes.
After that, I will look at my hard drive to see which manufacturer it is and I will run the hard drive diagnostics.

[Broni]

I believe I cannot do option A

...because you have only 1 RAM stick, or....?

[trishh]

Yes, because I have 1 RAM stick.