Windows XP gives black screen...

[faraaz]

Hi...I just wanted to ask if you guys could help me out...here's the thing...

Half an hour ago, Windows and Linux both were working fine. I'd just shut down my laptop because I was carrying it from my house to the university building...

When I switched it on 10 mins later, Windows doesn't load..as in, I just get a black screen when I try to boot it, like as if the laptop monitor is switched off, but the laptop is still running, ya know?

I loaded it up in Safe Mode, and it worked fine...I tried restoring...but it just hung like that only for a good 20 mins, so I force shutdown'd it and tried restarting normally...didnt work.

Now, the thing is my Ubuntu installation is still working perfectly...but I need Windows, because the university printer is on our wireless network, and it wont work with Ubuntu...I tried making it work with Windows through a VM with VBox, but that didn't work either...

Can someone please tell me whats wrong with my Windows XP installation and how to fix it? Re-installing windows is not an option because I have a sh!tload of assignments due this week and I cannot afford any downtime of my laptop!

Really need help quick! Thanks guys,
Faraaz

[Lakshmi kanth]

Whas ur actual problem.......
have u installed any s/w's before shutdown?

[faraaz]

no i have not installed any programs or anything like that...i was just watching some videos, shut down the computer, opened it again 10 mins later, only to find that the computer boots but the screen doesn't turn on...

[Lakshmi kanth]

Have u tried with last known known good configuration.......?
by this u may loose some matter..

Now i'm leaving..........sorry.

[faraaz]

Tried it...didn't work...

[Lakshmi kanth]

Hi.........for general systems....its better 2 remove ram n fixing..
but urs is labtop....so once create other user account by using safe mode....
then delete the exiting 1....better copy the file from ur os drive into some other drive...........
make ur new user account as computer administrator

[infra_red_dude]

There is really no reason why windows should stop working. We can rule out any problems with the hardware as linux runs fine. I guess its the problem with some drivers. Just keep all the drivers handy and then boot into safe mode. look for any problems with the drivers. remove the gfx card drivers, and all the devices which haf non-MS drivers and then try installing it one by one. I can't think of any other solution!

[clmlbx]

Try Repairing Xp With Windows Cd

It Happened To Me Once But There Problem Was I Incidentally Set The Resolution That Was Not Supported By My Monitor .

[faraaz]

@infra_red_dude: Tried re-installing graphics drivers in safe mode...didn't work. I tried to Repair the windows installation with the OS Cd...and that worked fine...except it wouldn't let me log in without activating windows...which is kind of a problem seeing as my network card wasn't configured yet and I can't do that UNLESS I log in...

Plus I can't exactly call Tech Support in Switzerland (they speak German and it was 2 in the morning)...meh, I just backed up my data with Ubuntu and then formatted my Windows install...

Of course, my MBR got over-written so now I'm not able to access Ubuntu...any ideas how I restore my GRUB?

[infra_red_dude]

refer to these threads for reinstalling grub:
Grub Lost!!!
boot loader
http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Restore_Grub

After activation, you can back up the relevant files. so that the next time you reinstall you don't hafta activate it again. simply restore the activation data. backup and restore activation data as explained here:

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/wind...twinxp0829.htm and
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kba...ctivation.html

Well, windows provides you a stripped down environment (reduced functionality mode) to activate using which you can gain access to the full system, configure your network card and then activate. here is the procedure:
http://www.pctipsbox.com/recover-fro...ionality-mode/