HP Pavillion a1520n/XP Media CENTER Edition 2005

PC seemed to work fine yesterday. Son said it "froze" last night so he shut it down by holding in the power button. Today when I tried to boot it, it takes me to a black screen that says "we apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully....." When I try to start it normally, it just goes through some processes and then comes back to the same window. When I choose "safe mode" it runs through some processes and comes back to the same window.

Please help!

Thanks, Karol Do you have a current back up???Unfortunately...not!How about an XP install disk?I have the recovery disks (that I made) but don't want to do a reformatUnfortunately, most restore disks are equipped with a .SIF file which tells windows how to install. Auto partitioning and formatting is generally included as well. If you can manage to find a clean install disk, you can dual partition, yet retain your old files.

You may also download Linux Ubuntu from another PC and use the live OS from disk to retreive your files.I have NOOO idea how to do any of that!  I would need step by step instructions.  I do have access to a second pc...but it runs vista, not xp media.You may be better off having a computer savy friend help you out, but here's the nitty gritty

Reinstall Windows Without LOSING Data

Recovering Files with Ubuntu

If you don't have a windows install disk CHOICE 1 won't help. Use choice 2 to recover any data you didn't have backed that you can afford to lose. All idea's I had involved an installation disk.Unfortunately...I don't want to lose ANY data!  I have about 2000 Itunes songs....ughhhh! Quote from: SAGEBRUSH on January 03, 2010, 03:51:53 PM

If you don't have a windows install disk choice 1 won't help. Use choice 2 to recover any data you didn't have backed that you can afford to lose. All idea's I had involved an installation disk.

If I do an HP Recovery, I will lose all of my data, correct?  Are there any other options?