Sibbe--
Good tips/links from Dean and Jon.
As Dean said check your cable configuration and make sure that it's correct.
Also, make sure that in the bios you have it configured for the Vista DVD in
the bios setup which you reach 85% of the time by tapping F2. Depending on
your mobo manufacturer, there can be different keys to reach bios setup and
sometimes multiple ones for the same box.
On older computers, I've noticed that the bios setup will list the DVD
internal or external drives as "CD" even though they are DVD drives that of
course can burn CDs, and things will still work correctly.
As to F8 which is a menu that basically lists safe mode options which are
doors through which you can reach system restore, and Last Known Good
configuration which is also a registry snapshot, make sure that you are not
pressing it and holding it, but rather tapping it about once per second like
the tick of an alarm clock. If you have a Vista DVD, and your cabling is
correct and your bios setup boot order is correct, you should then see a
screen that says "loading files" and then after 2-3 minutes you will see the
language choices for Vista setup>click next and in the lower left hand
corner will be the Recovery hyperlink.
Also check some of the usual hardware causes for that error,including the
seating of your memory sticks.
Hopefully these links will help you:
***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***
How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista):
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstart...index.h
If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):
Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:
http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your...mputer.
You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstart...index.h
It will automatically take you to this on your screen:
http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your...mputer.
That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.
The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winvista/images/repair/staruprepair/Image17.gif
Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.
You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:
***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips...ug92.ms
***Using the F8 Environment***
***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:
The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).
Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
You could also:
Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration
Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.
These methods are outlined in
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx
System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449
Good luck,
CH
"Sibbe" <Sibbe.2wlw3e.DeleteThis@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
news:Sibbe.2wlw3e@DoNotSpam.com...
>
> My computer has been working fine until just now. When I trie to start
> it up i get an error message:
> -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 then click "Next."
> 3. Click "Repair your computer."
>
> If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or
> computer manufacturer for assistance.
>
> File: \Boot\BCD
>
> Status: 0xc000000f
>
> Info: An error occured while attemtping to read the boot configuration
> data.-
>
> I have already tried to do as it told me. When i insert my Windows
> Vista disc, nothing happends. The computer starts, and I get the same
> error message.
>
> I have also pressed DEL to change settings in the BIAS so it will start
> up from the cd. When I do that, the computer enters a screen saying it
> is loading from the cd, then a few seconds later i am back to this
> error message.
>
> I have spent hours googling without any success. I need help!
>
> Please help, kind reguards, Sibbe.
>
>
> --
> Sibbe
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sibbe's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/member.php?userid=30773
> View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=814838
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>
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