Computer won't boot

[GA laptop]

My computer is giving me this message when I turn it on:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Inset your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have this disc, contact your sustem administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.



I have tried several things -- including checking my hard drive and memory using the BIOS function. Is there any option left for me except to start all over and reformat my hard drive using the recovery discs? I haven't backed up my data in a couple of months, so I would love to avoid reformatting if anyone knows of any other options.

By the way, this is an HP dv9500 that is about 18 months old. I have never had this issue with a computer before, and I usually keep my computers much longer than this.

Thanks for any help!!!

[erico]

Have you tried starting your laptop in Safe Mode? Tap the F8 key during startup and choose safe mode. In safe mode go to system restore and try to restore you laptop back a few days to when it was working. Windows System Restore won't affect your documents and data. It just sets the clock back, in a manner of speaking. It doesn't always work, but when it does, I am happy.

[GA laptop]

Right now, it is only listing the F1 (to enable system information), F2 (to startup check), F9 (to enable boot device order), F10,(to enter setup) and F11(for system recovery).

When I tap the F8 key, it will just go to a black screen. 

Is there any other way to try to start it in safe mode? 

[melanchete]

Sorry, but it sounds like the hard drive is trashed.  You could try a repair with your recovery discs.  You could pull the hard drive and slave it on another system to get your data off the hard drive.  Then wipe and reload your system. 

[GA laptop]

Is it possible for the hard drive to be bad even if it passed the "Primary Hard Disk Self Test" from the PheonixBIOS setup utility?

[melanchete]

I am talking about the OS and boot sector.  The integrity of the OS and file system could have been compromised.

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GA laptop wrote:

Is it possible for the hard drive to be bad even if it passed the "Primary Hard Disk Self Test" from the PheonixBIOS setup utility?

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[erico]

It is probably not your hard drive. The error message means that the Vista Boot Loader is corrupt. Do you have the original installation media and/or did you create a backup image?

[GA laptop]

I have the Recovery DVD's that I created when I got the laptop. 

When I insert the  first recovery DVD, the only option that it gives me is to restore it to its original factory condition.  And as I understand it, this will wipeout everything on the hard drive and start over.  Is this correct?

I am willing to try this, but I would love to know if it is possible to attempt to repair what may  be corrupt without having to reformat the hard drive.

And if that is not possible, I wonder if it is possible to recover any data before cleaning off the hard drive.  Unfortunately, I have not backed up data in a couple of months.  I read in a different post (that I can't seem to locate right now) that it may be possible to use Ubuntu to create a CD for starting up the computer and then saving any data.  Would that work in this case, or would it possibly make things more difficult?

A huge thanks to you guys who are helping with this!

[melanchete]

Read the following (long): http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2264

Someone on this board has a link to a crash recovery disc, that you can make.

[Rob161]

Can u acess the recovery manager through f11 if so go to advanced options computer checkup and then command prompt >Type: bootrec /RebuildBcd then try bootrec /FixBoot then bootrec /FixMbr. If its asks any thing just say yes.Then restart and se what happens post back if there are any issues