Error: Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might have caused the issue after you install Windows Updates
Hello, this is my first post here.
My friend's laptop displays this message as I try to start it, I've tried both 'startup repair' and 'last good known conf' in the Advanced startup after pressing F8. In both cases it seems to be starting up Windows, but as the 'starting Windows' screen proceeds to the screen where you have the blue default Windows 7 background for logging in users, it stops right there. The mouse indicator is on the screen and I can move it, but the screen stays blank. Sometimes it automatically starts rebooting.
This happened as he (my friend) angrily smashed his Samsung laptop with the palm of his hand a few times when he was being an unpatient idiot. He described it to me where he hit it, and I think he struck it about right on the HDD every time he hit it. So I suppose the HDD could be damaged. I've also tried the Samsung recovery solution v4 which is included in the system, but it still read 'please wait' while nothing had happened yet after more than 20 minutes.
My question now is, should I try using another HDD, or try fixing the OS with a bootable disc? I'm quite convinced the HDD could be damaged, but how can I be sure of this? I don't hear anything rattling or bad about the HDD, it sounds normal.
Hello, this is my first post here.
My friend's laptop displays this message as I try to start it, I've tried both 'startup repair' and 'last good known conf' in the Advanced startup after pressing F8. In both cases it seems to be starting up Windows, but as the 'starting Windows' screen proceeds to the screen where you have the blue default Windows 7 background for logging in users, it stops right there. The mouse indicator is on the screen and I can move it, but the screen stays blank. Sometimes it automatically starts rebooting.
This happened as he (my friend) angrily smashed his Samsung laptop with the palm of his hand a few times when he was being an unpatient idiot. He described it to me where he hit it, and I think he struck it about right on the HDD every time he hit it. So I suppose the HDD could be damaged. I've also tried the Samsung recovery solution v4 which is included in the system, but it still read 'please wait' while nothing had happened yet after more than 20 minutes.
My question now is, should I try using another HDD, or try fixing the OS with a bootable disc? I'm quite convinced the HDD could be damaged, but how can I be sure of this? I don't hear anything rattling or bad about the HDD, it sounds normal.