Win7 Netbook Won't Boot

Dell Inspiron Mini
Windows 7 Starter

I'm trying to help a friend, whose daughter's Dell netbook has the following
message (white letters on black screen):

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the
cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert Windows installation disc and restart computer
2. Choose language settings > Next
3. Click "repair computer"

File: \Boot\BCD
Status: 0xc000000f

This netbook does not have a CD/DVD tray so there is no way I can try the
Windows disc option. I have tried to press the F8 key but it won't take me
to the screen with advanced start-up options. I also tried going into
Setup, and loading System Defaults. Still no luck and still stuck on this
message.

Any suggestions? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

"Dell Christopher" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Dell Inspiron Mini
> Windows 7 Starter
>
> I'm trying to help a friend, whose daughter's Dell netbook has the
> following message (white letters on black screen):
>
> Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be
> the cause. To fix the problem:
> 1. Insert Windows installation disc and restart computer
> 2. Choose language settings > Next
> 3. Click "repair computer"
>
> File: \Boot\BCD
> Status: 0xc000000f
>
> This netbook does not have a CD/DVD tray so there is no way I can try the
> Windows disc option. I have tried to press the F8 key but it won't take
> me to the screen with advanced start-up options. I also tried going into
> Setup, and loading System Defaults. Still no luck and still stuck on this
> message.
>
> Any suggestions? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

When the computer is booting, is there an option for a Boot Menu/Boot
Options? Maybe this would get you access to a recovery partition. Also,
when trying the F8 key, have you tried tapping it until the Advanced Screen
appears. Holding it down will sometimes result in a keyboard error, and
just pressing it once is not likely to be at the exact moment it needs to be
pressed.

On 10/3/2011 4:11 PM, Dell Christopher wrote:
> Dell Inspiron Mini
> Windows 7 Starter
>
> I'm trying to help a friend, whose daughter's Dell netbook has the
> following message (white letters on black screen):
>
> Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be
> the cause. To fix the problem:
> 1. Insert Windows installation disc and restart computer
> 2. Choose language settings > Next
> 3. Click "repair computer"
>
> File: \Boot\BCD
> Status: 0xc000000f
>
> This netbook does not have a CD/DVD tray so there is no way I can try
> the Windows disc option. I have tried to press the F8 key but it won't
> take me to the screen with advanced start-up options. I also tried going
> into Setup, and loading System Defaults. Still no luck and still stuck
> on this message.
>
> Any suggestions? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

get a usb memory stick and using a working computer make it bootable and
put a copy of windows 7 started on it and then use the memory stick to
boot the dell mini.

Dell Christopher wrote:

>This netbook does not have a CD/DVD tray so there is no way I can try the
>Windows disc option. I have tried to press the F8 key but it won't take me
>to the screen with advanced start-up options. I also tried going into
>Setup, and loading System Defaults. Still no luck and still stuck on this
>message.

This will do it.

http://mintywhite.com/windows-7/7mai...t-thumb-drive/

On Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:04:41 -0400, Christopher Muto wrote:

> On 10/3/2011 4:11 PM, Dell Christopher wrote:
>> Dell Inspiron Mini
>> Windows 7 Starter
>>
>> I'm trying to help a friend, whose daughter's Dell netbook has the
>> following message (white letters on black screen):
>>
>> Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be
>> the cause. To fix the problem:
>> 1. Insert Windows installation disc and restart computer
>> 2. Choose language settings > Next
>> 3. Click "repair computer"
>>
>> File: \Boot\BCD
>> Status: 0xc000000f
>>
>> This netbook does not have a CD/DVD tray so there is no way I can try
>> the Windows disc option. I have tried to press the F8 key but it won't
>> take me to the screen with advanced start-up options. I also tried going
>> into Setup, and loading System Defaults. Still no luck and still stuck
>> on this message.
>>
>> Any suggestions? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
>
> get a usb memory stick and using a working computer make it bootable and
> put a copy of windows 7 started on it and then use the memory stick to
> boot the dell mini.

Also, an external USB CD/DVD drive will allow the same choice, so they
can boot from the Windows CD that way.

I should say *should* allow the same choice. The only netbooks I've used
will let me boot from the USB optical drive, and I assume that's
standard these days.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 10/3/2011 5:48 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
> On Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:04:41 -0400, Christopher Muto wrote:
>
>> On 10/3/2011 4:11 PM, Dell Christopher wrote:
>>> Dell Inspiron Mini
>>> Windows 7 Starter
>>>
>>> I'm trying to help a friend, whose daughter's Dell netbook has the
>>> following message (white letters on black screen):
>>>
>>> Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be
>>> the cause. To fix the problem:
>>> 1. Insert Windows installation disc and restart computer
>>> 2. Choose language settings> Next
>>> 3. Click "repair computer"
>>>
>>> File: \Boot\BCD
>>> Status: 0xc000000f
>>>
>>> This netbook does not have a CD/DVD tray so there is no way I can try
>>> the Windows disc option. I have tried to press the F8 key but it won't
>>> take me to the screen with advanced start-up options. I also tried going
>>> into Setup, and loading System Defaults. Still no luck and still stuck
>>> on this message.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
>>
>> get a usb memory stick and using a working computer make it bootable and
>> put a copy of windows 7 started on it and then use the memory stick to
>> boot the dell mini.
>
> Also, an external USB CD/DVD drive will allow the same choice, so they
> can boot from the Windows CD that way.
>
> I should say *should* allow the same choice. The only netbooks I've used
> will let me boot from the USB optical drive, and I assume that's
> standard these days.
>

yes, an external optical drive (cd/dvd) would also server as a boot
device for the dell mini, but it is more costly than a usb memory stick.
8gb sticks go for between $10-15 these days and fit an entire copy of
even windows 7 ultimate, drivers, office, and plenty of room to spare.
and 4gb card is not large enough for windows 7 ultimate but perhaps
starter edition would fit on it.

On Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:48:12 -0400, Christopher Muto wrote:

> On 10/3/2011 5:48 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
>> On Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:04:41 -0400, Christopher Muto wrote:
>>
>>> On 10/3/2011 4:11 PM, Dell Christopher wrote:
>>>> Dell Inspiron Mini
>>>> Windows 7 Starter
>>>>
>>>> I'm trying to help a friend, whose daughter's Dell netbook has the
>>>> following message (white letters on black screen):
>>>>
>>>> Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be
>>>> the cause. To fix the problem:
>>>> 1. Insert Windows installation disc and restart computer
>>>> 2. Choose language settings> Next
>>>> 3. Click "repair computer"
>>>>
>>>> File: \Boot\BCD
>>>> Status: 0xc000000f
>>>>
>>>> This netbook does not have a CD/DVD tray so there is no way I can try
>>>> the Windows disc option. I have tried to press the F8 key but it won't
>>>> take me to the screen with advanced start-up options. I also tried going
>>>> into Setup, and loading System Defaults. Still no luck and still stuck
>>>> on this message.
>>>>
>>>> Any suggestions? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
>>>
>>> get a usb memory stick and using a working computer make it bootable and
>>> put a copy of windows 7 started on it and then use the memory stick to
>>> boot the dell mini.
>>
>> Also, an external USB CD/DVD drive will allow the same choice, so they
>> can boot from the Windows CD that way.
>>
>> I should say *should* allow the same choice. The only netbooks I've used
>> will let me boot from the USB optical drive, and I assume that's
>> standard these days.
>>
>
> yes, an external optical drive (cd/dvd) would also server as a boot
> device for the dell mini, but it is more costly than a usb memory stick.
> 8gb sticks go for between $10-15 these days and fit an entire copy of
> even windows 7 ultimate, drivers, office, and plenty of room to spare.
> and 4gb card is not large enough for windows 7 ultimate but perhaps
> starter edition would fit on it.

Your point is excellent, of course.

My perspective is warped by the fact that I got an external drive for my
netbook anyway, before even thinking about the above use :-)

While we're here, we could even note that the size of a USB stick is
more compatible esthetically with the form factor of a netbook.


--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)