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Windows failed to start, unable to run system repair, help!
Ok, I have been combing through threads here hoping to find a solution, but none of the things I've tried have worked, so I'm going out on a limb hoping for some suggestions!
I have a Samsung netbook (n145) which has had a few issues starting up over the past couple months - it would prompt to run chkdsk before booting, I would let it run, and it would boot. However, yesterday I got the 'windows failed to start - a recent hardware change may be responsible' error message, and giving the option to try starting windows normally (which fails: there is a flash of BSOD and then screen goes black, and computer restarts, arriving at same 'failed to start' error). The other option is to run system repair, which also does not work: it takes ages to bring up a dialog box that searches for errors, but I have let this run for hours and it remains stuck. Tapping f4 to bring up samsung recovery also results in a stuck screen. Tapping f8 to boot to safe mode does not work either.
My main concern is having a working computer, and I can't really afford costly repairs or a new netbook. I got this one used about 1 1/2 years ago and it has no cd drive/OS boot disk (windows 7 starter came already installed). What should I do? Can I fix the hard drive, or should I replace? I am not at all technically skilled and have limited knowledge but an endless capacity to learn. I called samsung and they suggested I replace the hard drive to the tune of $100-$300 for parts alone, which is too expensive for a $100 netbook. I may be totally out of my depth but if anyone has any advice, it would be warmly appreciated.
Best wishes,
Lilliputian