Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

Summary

I have a brand new DELL Inspiron 1525 and have loaded Windows Vista Ultimate on it. It was working fine for 4 days, until it started downloading updates via Windows

Now it fails to boot up with the following symptoms:

• I get a message saying "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 the computer. Choose your language settings and click next.
• 2. Click "repair your computer"
• 3. It also gives me the following options:
  
  • 4. Safe Mode
    
  • 5. Safe Mode with networking
  
  
  • 6. Safe Mode with Command Prompt
  
  
  • 7. Last known good configuration
  
  
  • 8. Start Windows normally
  
  

My actions:

• 1. When I attempt to proceed using options 4-6, the screen turns black and just hangs there.
• 2. If I choose option 6, I also get a list of loaded files. The last loaded file message says: ... Loaded \Windows\system32\drivers\volmgrx.sys Loaded \Windows\system32\drivers\atapi.sys Loaded \Windows\system32\drivers\ataport.sys Loaded \Windows\system32\drivers\msahci.sys Loaded \Windows\system32\drivers\fltmgr.sys Loaded \Windows\system32\drivers\fileinfo.sys" [Please wait...]
• 3. I tried booting it with the Vista DVD inserted. It prompts me to choose an OS to start and displays "Microsoft Windows Vista" as the choice. Upon pressing ENTER, it takes me to Step 1.
• 4. I changed the boot sequence to boot up from the Dvd drive. It starts up the Windows installation upon reboot. Upon getting the Vista menu, I choose to Repair my computer.
• 5. A message comes up that says: "Windows found problems with your computer's startup options. Do you want to apply repairs and restart your computer?" I click on "Repair and restart".
• 6. Step 1 shows up again. I choose 8. Start Windows normally.
• 7. The screen shows the Vista icon and Windows Vista starts up ok.
• 8. I turned off windows Updates and rebooted the computer and it starts up ok.

* Update *

From the comments below, a lot of people are complaining that they do not have the Windows installation disks from their sellers. A lot of sellers do not give out the Windows disks nowdays. The good news is that you can create a system recovery disk directly from Windows and burn it to a DVD in case your OS crashes. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open Backup and Restore by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Backup and Restore.
  
• In the left pane, click Create a system repair disc, and then follow the steps. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  

Note

If you're prompted to insert a Windows installation disc, it means that the files needed to create the system repair disc can't be found on your computer. Insert a Windows 7 installation disc.

To use the system repair disc

• 1.Insert the system repair disc into your CD or DVD drive.
• 2. Restart your computer using the computer's power button.
• 3. If prompted, press any key to start the computer from the system repair disc.
• 4. Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
• 5. Select a recovery option, and then click Next.

Note:

If your computer isn't configured to start from a CD or DVD, check the information that came with your computer. You might need to change your computer's BIOS settings.