Windows Vista - OS problems?

[Baron von Blitztank]

I'm having problems with my main computer. Not quite sure where I should turn to so I'm gonna try my luck here.
For some reason my computer isn't able to get anywhere past a green loading bar that turns up after I turn it on. The bar itself is normal (for me anyway) and normally lasts a few seconds at most but as of 5pm this evening it doesn't seem to go anywhere from that. After turning it back on, a notice came up at the top of the screen reading:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1- Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer
2- Choose your language settings and click "next"
3- Click "Repair your computer"

As far as I can tell, I've never had an OS installation disc for the computer since Windows Vista came pre-installed.


Any ideas as to what to do or whatever it is I'm doing wrong?

 

[SinisterGehe]

The retailer has to always provide the installation/recovery disk (on laptops) and keycode.
Do you have a laptop or tower? Because if you have laptop you can ask for the recovery disk from the manufacturer. Prebuilt tower you need to contact the retailer.

Have you made any changes to hardware?
Try switching the old parts back.

Also can you provide details about your computer. So we have a bit of an idea what you have.

 

[SnowyGamester]

If you've got a genuine copy of Windows that came preinstalled and it's all legit you can download and burn an installation disk from the internet and you won't get in trouble. Once you get that use it to do a repair or system restore. You could always try booting into safe mode and doing a restore from there.

 

[thesilentman]

I'm having problems with my main computer. Not quite sure where I should turn to so I'm gonna try my luck here.
For some reason my computer isn't able to get anywhere past a green loading bar that turns up after I turn it on. The bar itself is normal (for me anyway) and normally lasts a few seconds at most but as of 5pm this evening it doesn't seem to go anywhere from that. After turning it back on, a notice came up at the top of the screen reading:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1- Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer
2- Choose your language settings and click "next"
3- Click "Repair your computer"

As far as I can tell, I've never had an OS installation disc for the computer since Windows Vista came pre-installed.


Any ideas as to what to do or whatever it is I'm doing wrong?

Does Vista immediately reboot sometimes? I'm thinking that there's a solution if it's doing that.

Otherwise, check for a repair disc/partition that came with your computer, and boot into that to run a system restore. If you do not, do what Snowy said and get a Vista ISO and fix it from there. And check your hardware. For all you know, it could just be faulty RAM.

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

If you've got a genuine copy of Windows that came preinstalled and it's all legit you can download and burn an installation disk from the internet and you won't get in trouble. Once you get that use it to do a repair or system restore. You could always try booting into safe mode and doing a restore from there.

I'll try leaving it on safe mode and see if it gets anywhere from there.
Any places you'd recommend where I should look to find an installation disc?

 

[SnowyGamester]

If you've got a genuine copy of Windows that came preinstalled and it's all legit you can download and burn an installation disk from the internet and you won't get in trouble. Once you get that use it to do a repair or system restore. You could always try booting into safe mode and doing a restore from there.

I'll try leaving it on safe mode and see if it gets anywhere from there.
Any places you'd recommend where I should look to find an installation disc?

Honestly, the pirate bay will have what you want. Its where I got my disk, and I bought my key from microsoft. Nobody ban me please.

 

[thesilentman]

If you've got a genuine copy of Windows that came preinstalled and it's all legit you can download and burn an installation disk from the internet and you won't get in trouble. Once you get that use it to do a repair or system restore. You could always try booting into safe mode and doing a restore from there.

I'll try leaving it on safe mode and see if it gets anywhere from there.
Any places you'd recommend where I should look to find an installation disc?

Try Digital River. They are a digital retailer for Microsoft, and you should be able to download the ISOs, unless they changed their policy or something.