Unable to start Windows. HELP!

I opened my computer case because I did not have graphics; found that the video card was loose and everything else inside the computer was tight and connected. When I restarted it first asked me to check all drives; check came back fine. When trying to start Windows, it goes to a screen starting with "We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this". I have tried Safe Mode, Last Known Good Configuration, and Start Windows Normally options, but it keeps coming back to the "We apologize..." screen.

The computer was not connected to the network before of after the cleaning, and it was fine last night when I left. The whole problem started today.

Hardware: E-machines with Athlon 64 (single core), 2 GB RAM.
Software: Windows XP, all updates to date. AVG 7.5, Spy Sweeper, Zone Alarm

Thanks in advance,

Jorge

 

If you have a recovery disc, you might try this to get going again
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/
And Welcome to MG

 

Thanks, Musksnipe. I was going to do that but I only have a recovery disk from EMachines, and I think that if I use it I will lose a lot of data because it will bring the computer back to the state it was when shipped to me. Is my concern real, or am I just being paranoid? I also have a Windows XP disk from another computer, but I do not think that it will be accepted in this one. Am I right? I just don't want to mess up anything... or as they say in the military, get it FUBAR.

Jorge

 

It won't be excepted because if it's like mine it is licensed for one PC, I think you can change it to another but I am not sure what happens to that one. I don't know if it invalidates the OS before you can transfer the license is what I'm trying to say. I s the other being used?

 

No, that computer does not exist any more, so I suppose I can try and use that XP disk in my troubled one.

 

If you put an XP cd into the CD drive and bootfrom it SETUP will detect any existing windows installations and offer to do a 'repair install'. You don't need the original for this any XP of the same type (home or pro) will do.
Let it run the repair installation which will re-install XP over the existing, but preserve your data. If required inpu the COA number from the existing (failed) winXP from the side of the machine. Some of the programs, particularly antivirus will be 'broken' and require re-installation, as will some drivers, but your data will not be touched.
This method is no good to recover from viruses because they will still be there.
Hopefully you have fully resolved your hardware issues first.
Studio T