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My laptop decided earlier to blue screen.

Now when ever I try to start it up it just goes to the blue screen again with some message about disk space and BIOS. I cant get past this screen

If I try to start it up in safe mode I just get a blank blue screen, which again I cant get past.

Laptop is about 3 and a half years old and has been slowing down the past few months, think its now dead.

Any ideas anyone

What does it say about BIOS and disk space?

Can you boot it from a boot CD/flash drive?

Does it get past self test/BIOS and try to boot Windows but then fail. Or not even try to boot Windows?

It could be anything from dead BIOS battery/corrupted BIOS to a failed hard disk, or virus/malware or anything in between. Need more info. Plus Si Pie will have ideas I'm sure.

This is why I fucking hate fixing computers. What a well written and thought out post. You have described every step... oh except the fucking error message! Good work.

Right, from the off I turn on the laptop.

Then I get a black screen with white text that says

We apologise for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start up successfully. Recent hardware or software changes might have caused this

If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders, choose last known good configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous start up attempt was inturrupted due to a power failure or because the power or reset button was pressed, or if you arent sure what caused the problem, choose start windows normally.

safe mode
safe mode with network
safe mode with command prompt

last know good configuration

start windows normally

Then once I've selected one I get a black screen with Windows XP logo on it and a bar which indicates its loading.

If I selected any of the safe mode options after the windows screen I get a blank blue screen.

If I choose last know good configuration or start windows normally I get a blue screen with white text that reads

a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to stop damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen restart your computer. If this screen appears again follow these steps:

Check to be sure you have adequate disk space. If a driver is identifiedin the stop message, disable the driver or checkwith the manufacturer for driver updates. Try changing video adapters

Check with your hardware vendor for any BIOS updates. Disbale BIOS memory options such as catching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select advanced startup options, and then select safe mode.

Technical Information
***STOP: 0x0000007E (0x0000005, 0x8227DAD2, 0xF8897298, 0xF8896F94

without going into too much detail...its fucked.

im gonna go out on a whim and say its your harddrive. (corrupt)

Maybe a fan has broken.

This is commonly known as the blue screen of death. Although this message is not exact you yours  the 0x0000007E is the common fault

Example
STOP: 0x0000007E (0xC0000005, 0x804E518E, 0xFC938104, 0xFC937E04)
SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

WUSB54GCx86.sys- Address 92D89498 base at 92D7c000, Datestamp 45c04cc9

Cause

This issue might occur if a system thread generates an exception that the error handler does not catch. This exception can be caused by any of the following:
If this issue occurs after the first restart during Windows Setup or after Setup is complete, the computer might not have sufficient hard disk space to run Windows XP.
The computer BIOS might be incompatible with Windows XP, or it might have to be updated.
The video adapter drivers might be incompatible with Windows XP.
A device driver or a system service might be damaged.
If the issue is associated with the Win32k.sys file, it might be caused by a third-party remote control program.

Have you recently updated any of your computers Drivers?  If so this could be the fault.

There could be a number of things that is causing this problem so i will list a few suggestions which may help & shamelessly stolen from another thread

Other possible causes

Other likely causes could be a failed video graphics card, cpu fan, or a failure on your hard drive

Possible Solutions

Method 1: Make sure that you have sufficient hard disk space
First, make sure that you have sufficient hard disk space. The Stop error can be caused by insufficient hard disk space.

If you can use safe mode or the Recovery Console to start the computer, delete any unnecessary temporary files, Internet cache files, program backup files, and files that contain saved file fragments from disk scans (.chk files). You can also install Windows XP on another hard disk that has more free space.

If you cannot start the computer, go to the next method to update the computer BIOS.

For more information about safe mode or the Recovery Console, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
315222  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/ ) A description of the Safe Boot Mode options in Windows XP
314058  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/ ) Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
Method 2: Update the computer BIOS
If freeing space on your hard disk did not resolve the problem, the BIOS might have to be updated. Use the hardware and software vendor contact information articles that are listed in the "References" section to contact the computer manufacturer to obtain the most recent BIOS update.

Note When you update the BIOS, you might have to disable BIOS memory options, such as caching or shadowing, temporarily.
Method 3: Disable or update device drivers
If you have updated the BIOS successfully and the problem persists, the video adapter drivers on the computer might have to be updated or disabled. Follow these steps to troubleshoot the video adapter drivers:
If a driver is listed by name in the Stop error message, disable or remove that driver.
If the error occurs during the startup sequence and the system partition uses the NTFS file system, you might be able to use safe mode to rename or to delete the faulty driver.
If the driver is used as part of the system startup process in safe mode, you must use the Recovery Console to start the computer.
If the Stop error message does not indicate a specific driver, update the video adapter drivers to the latest versions.
Disable or remove any drivers or services that you recently added.
Check the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) to determine whether the PCI devices in the computer are compatible with Windows XP. For information about the HCL, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx)
Method 4: Remove unsigned drivers
If you have updated the video adapter drivers and the problem persists, or if you cannot start Windows in safe mode, the problem might be caused by a different, unsigned driver. Remove all drivers that are not digitally signed by Microsoft. For more information about how to do this, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
316434  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434/ ) How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
Method 5: Remove all third-party drivers
You might be unable to determine which third-party driver causes the error. If removing unsigned drivers does not resolve the issue, try moving all third-party driver files from the %Windir%\System32\Drivers folder to a different location. Follow these steps to move the third-party driver files:
Use the Recovery Console to start the computer, or start the computer from a different installation of Windows if you have performed a parallel Windows installation.
Create a temporary folder to hold the driver files. For example, you could create c:\DriverTemp.
Move all files that do not have a creation date for Windows XP of 8/13/2001 from the %Windir%\System32\Drivers folder into the temporary folder that you created in step 2.

Caution If the computer relies on third-party IDE or SCSI controller drivers for correct operation, you must identify those driver files and then leave them in the %Windir%\System32\Drivers folder.
Restart the computer.
Continue the Windows Setup program. You can add the driver files back to the computer one at a time to identify the faulty driver.
Method 6: Remove third-party remote control services
If you still have the problem after you use the previous methods and the Stop error message contains the Win32k.sys file name instead of a driver file name, the problem might be caused by a third-party remote control program. To remove the service, use the Recovery Console to start the computer and then delete the third-party remote control service file.

if there was ever a google exam, you'd pass with flying colours.

I'm going with the fan.

Rodney, turn it on again and hold your ear close. You should hear be able to hear a fan starting up, if not then that is your probable cause.

Pretty certain the fan is working.

Ok i'll simplify it.

Have you updated your drivers recently? If so this is more than likely the cause

If you are unable to boot into Windows through Safe Mode a deeper problem may lay.

Try using your Windows XP CD to repair if this does not work the chances are you have hardware failure more than likely, GFX Card, Memory or Hard Drive

No, I have not updated my drivers recently. No, I am not able to boot Windows.

I'll be damned if I know where the XP CD is...

still gonna go with harddrive

that doesnt help me fix it though does it.

If you can find your windows XP CD it will help immensily.  The fact that you can't get to Windows even through safe mode means a deep problem.

I would try & repair your copy of windows before working on the hardware route it will save some much pain especially as you probably don't want to lose all your files.

If this does not work then as Hard Drive, GFX Card or memory could be the problem.  

If it's hardware then you will need a specialist to look at your laptop if your not technical minded

oh i am sorry for not posting step by step instructions on how to fix a corrupt harddrive, how rude of me

www.justfuckinggoogleit.com (http://www.justfuckinggoogleit.com)

Thanks.

Download one of the Windows Boot CD recovery / utility iso's that you'll find on your favourite torrent site. This is basically a CD that will boot off CD in to Windows with loads of utilities included, which together should enable you to figure out what the fuck is going on. You'll be able to see if disk space is an issue (and delete files if it is) and you should be able to sort out any driver problems.

I think the one I used before was by a bloke called Bert.

Happened to my laptop a few months ago.

The hard-drive is knackered. All you have to do is replace the hard drive with a new one. I say all,but you're gonna have to dismantle the laptop. Obviously you'll lose any data or programs that are on it, but at least you wont have to fork out for a new laptop.

It wouldn't be getting that far in the boot process if the hard drive was fucked, would it?

Might be some corrupted files, but a total failure would stop Windows from putting up the error messages it is.

There wasn't a driver file listed under the error was there? It'll be in the format of xxxxxxx.sys.

I take it you had enough hard drive room? Have you recently installed anything?

Also what service pack were you on? Have you run any updtes of windows recently?

I think it's corrupt files, like jonny said, maybe not windows files, but I reckon a repair install of XP will fix it.

I can burn you a copy of an XP cd but I'm not in Swindon until Saturday. Just make sure you have the installation key - it's usually on a sticker underneath the computer.