Computer will turn on but won't boot up

[pb1203]

Hi, recently my computer stopped booting up.
It is a Sony VAIO.
It will turn on and come to the screen that allows you to start windows normally, safe mode, last good configuration.
I have tried all the options and none of them work.
It usually goes to the windows xp loading screen and then it will return to the same screen.
I can enter the BIOS so i don't think it is a hardware problem.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[raybay]

Hard Drive failure, is my guess.

 

[Lardy1664]

If it sounds like a hard drive fail try to identify the drive manufacture and go to thier web site if you have access to another pc. You should be able to find a downloadable programme that goes onto a floppy that allows you to run a diagnostic test from boot up on the drive which should tell you if there's anything wrong with it.

Have you still got the windows install disc . If so try to boot from this and run the recovery console option. This will give you several options and possible ways to go .

Try this link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654
Some of the commands to look for are
Chkdsk /r
Fixboot
Fixmbr
If your unsure then try more research before carring out the above.
Be carefull not to install windows again as you will loose your data on the drive.

Also you might want to try a new hard drive and load windows from scratch and then see if you can access the old drive with all you old info on.

Also try this for info http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/f9c50a72-04ec-4088-9fd4-a4f979eef5a71033.mspx#EJB