If a Windows machine (Vista, XP) won't boot up (even in safe mode), there's almost certainly some hardware problem. Booting in safe mode (hit F8 during BIOS screen) should ALWAYS work (and will usually work even if it's a driver problem), since it's only loads essential drivers (and drivers are the only thing that would prevent booting). That's also the first thing you should try, so I hope you did. Incidentally, System Restore won't help if it's a hardware or driver problem, because System Restore doesn't unload drivers from startup - it only rolls back the registry and other system files.
Which means, in short, that it could (will) happen again.
Vista also has a half-decent built-in backup tool if you have an external hard drive (or another) that will scan for user files, and backup on a schedule. Or there are free online backups (Mozy comes to mind).
Sorry for the overly technical response that certainly doesn't help now - I was just scanning last year's SSHG Exchange and thought I'd take a gander at your LJ. I hope, at least, that this helps in the future if nothing else.
If a Windows machine (Vista, XP) won't boot up (even in safe mode), there's almost certainly some hardware problem. Booting in safe mode (hit F8 during BIOS screen) should ALWAYS work (and will usually work even if it's a driver problem), since it's only loads essential drivers (and drivers are the only thing that would prevent booting). That's also the first thing you should try, so I hope you did. Incidentally, System Restore won't help if it's a hardware or driver problem, because System Restore doesn't unload drivers from startup - it only rolls back the registry and other system files.
Which means, in short, that it could (will) happen again.
Vista also has a half-decent built-in backup tool if you have an external hard drive (or another) that will scan for user files, and backup on a schedule. Or there are free online backups (Mozy comes to mind).
Sorry for the overly technical response that certainly doesn't help now - I was just scanning last year's SSHG Exchange and thought I'd take a gander at your LJ. I hope, at least, that this helps in the future if nothing else.
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