Error screen when booting up

[kilmeedy]

I am having a problem with my Dell Dimension 2100 which has a Windows XP
home edition operating system. When I switch on the PC, the Dell screen
appears as usual but then a different screen appears next. It is a
black screen with white writing. It goes like this:
We apologise for the inconvenience but Windows didn't start
successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused
this.
You are then given 5 options to choose from:
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with command prompt
Safe Mode with networking
Start Windows normally
Last known good configuration.

I chose the last 2 in turn and Windows trys to load but returns to this
option screen again. It's a family PC so a couple of people use it and
the option screen at logon initially occured to someone else.
I have been advised to format the hard drive again and to reinstall the OS. Does this sound right ?
Also, what has caused the error screen to appear ? A virus ?

 

[gargouille]

Have you tried safe mode and seeing if System Restore can find a safe point to restore?
You can (failing everything else) boot to the CD and choose to Repair the install.
It's in that loop because something has made it forget (corrupt file, HD failing, corrupt memory, maybe software issues, too) how to boot.
You also might explore the mbr repair commands...there are lots of things I'd try before I gave up and did the format thing.
If nothing else, boot to safe mode and try Windoze built in diagnostics.

 

[linney]

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.mediaworkstation.com/htm/homeset1.htm

Click on Tutorial then the Charlie White article on XP crash.
This is a laymans version of Q307545 in simple language.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

You are not alone in having this problem, but solving it seems a bit harder.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...ve+caused+this"+windows+xp&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1021829674