PC keeps restarting and Recovery Disk not helping

[Hackbridge]

My daughter had been using the PC and when I checked on it she said it had had a virus and shut down.

When I got to it, I had the standard Windows "We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hadward or software change might have caused this.

If Your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly, or was automaticallyshut down to protect your files and folders, choose Last Known good Configuaration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous startup attempt wa interrutped due toa power failure or because the Pwoer or Rest button was pressed, or if you ar ent sure what caused the problem, choose Start Windows Normall.

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Known Configuaration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

Okay, well I tried those options before finding the recovery disk and no matter what I did, it would bring me back to this window.

I've gotten the recovery disk, but when I pressed "R" to restore the damaged file, I'm presentted witha "C:\" and asked to "exit" This isn't helping me to get back into the PC.

I have installed an Epson DX7400 printer scanner of late, and before that I got the software for an Agfa 1212pu scanner but I didn't realise that it was only really compatible with a Windows 2000 PC. I've had other software installed but all from reputable sources.

I have gone down the road of re-installing the software and wanted to come to an option that would repair the fault but I'm getting a screen that says I should select the item to reinstall the software (O/S) but I'm not sure if it will erase everything and I can't do that and I don't have a back up for anthing!

I've had a message to run CHKDSK in the pass but not for a while.

If the worse comes to worse, can I save the information on the hard drive. I have 100s of £ worth of information/software I'd need to save.

All help so very much appreciated.

Brian

[RichieP]

If it's a hardware fault, reinstalling Windows isn't going to help, and you have the problem of recovering your data.

Your recovery disk may actually be a standard XP installation CD by the sounds of it.

Rather than select R for the recovery console, select to install Windows.

After accepting the license agreement you should get the option to do a repair install by presing R.

This reinstalls the operating system but leaves your data and programs intact. You will need the license key to enter during the reinstallation.

If you're lucky it will work. Back up your data immediately if it works.