Common Windows Startup problems

[bosky101]

1."disk failure"

First, open the case and check that the cables on the disk are connected firmly. Check the data cable at both ends (the hard disk and the system board) and the power cable to the disk.

2."Windows Protection Error"
Windows Protection error messages can occur under any of the following conditions:

-If a real-mode driver and a protected-mode driver are in conflict.
-If the registry is damaged.
-If either the Win.com file or the Command.com file are infected with a virus, or if either of the files are damaged.
-If a protected-mode driver is loaded from the System.ini file and the driver is already initialized.
-If there is a physical input/output (I/O) address conflict or a random access memory (RAM) address conflict.
-If there are incorrect complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings for a built-in peripheral device (such as cache settings, CPU timing, hard disks, and so on).
-If the Plug and Play feature of the computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) is not working correctly.
-If the computer contains a malfunctioning cache or malfunctioning memory.
-If the computer's motherboard is not working properly.
-If you installed Microsoft Office 97 and you are using the Novell Client 32 software.
source

3."a file needed by Windows is missing"
See if the name of the missing file yields any clue to the application that might be causing the problem. If the name doesn't seem familar to you, try an Internet search to see if anyone else has had trouble with that file. Then try to uninstall, reboot, and reinstall that application.

4."This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor"
This behavior can occur if the Shdocvw.dll file is missing, damaged or the wrong version on OS's till NT.

5.Windows Restarts Continuously with Blue Screenhttp://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;174630&spid=1131&sid=global
This behavior can occur if the following conditions exist-

-A fatal system error (STOP error) causes the computer to stop.
-The Automatically Reboot option is enabled under Recovery on the Startup/Shutdown tab in System properties.
-The Windows paging file is smaller than the amount of physical memory installed in the computer or there is insufficient free space on the system hard disk to write the error dump file (Memory.dmp).

6.Computer stops responding with a black screen when you start Windows XPhttp://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;314503&spid=1173&sid=global
This issue may occur if one or more of the following elements are corrupted-

-Master boot record
-Partition tables
-Boot sector
-NTLDR file

7.Difficulties Using AMD K6-2 or Athlon on a windows 98http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q192841/

Other Useful Resources
How to Troubleshoot Windows Protection Error Messages
How To Troubleshoot Startup Problems in Windows 2000
Understanding the XP Startup process
Startup Phases for Itanium-based Systems