The newer laptop we have is locking up for some odd reason, with a blue screen - then shutdown/auto-reboot to a Windows Error Recovery black screen to choose Safe Mode - etc, etc, the System Restore that was set to over a month ago does not even restore the computer to operating normally. Going online - a bunch of other Gateway owners are having the same issue.... is this a well timed - "We're unhappy with Acer's benefit package" conspiracy, or is there a logical explanation? Please help before I turn this hunk of plastic into a Walmart employee enema............. Thank you.

This is caused by many reasons, the most common being bad memory stick or failing hard drive with bad clusters.

Did you install any hardware or windows updates? The reason its restarting is its getting a blue screen error but its setup to restart on error so its happening so fast you dont get to see the error..... Try hitting F8 right after the boot screen to get some windows options and try to enter into safemode.... If you can odds are its related to a windows update or something newly installed

Do you see an error message on the screen or, does it blue screen with an error message? When you boot up press F6 just as the PC drops out of BIOS mode. Select "Last Known Good Configuration". If that doesn't fix it, look up the error code on the blue screen with Google. Most blue screens are fixable. Some require a complete rebuild of your hard drive.

Before you use the Recovery CD you need to backup your data because to restoring your laptop will wipe your data off the hard disk.
To backup your data when you cannot boot up your laptop, remove the hard drive and connect it to an USB hard drive adapter. Connect this hard drive/USB adapter into the USB port of a working computer. The computer will see it as an external storage device, you can then open the folders and backup your data.
You can then fit the hard drive back into the Dell laptop and boot up with the Dell recovery CD to reinstall Windows etc.

I suggest you Google search BSOD fix windows XP, or Vista or 7 for a solution on fixing your problem.

Here asr some WEB sites -
http://www.professorshouse.com/Living/Technology/Computers/Articles/Blue-Screen-Of-Death---How-Do-I-Fix-It/

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/274030-bsod-fixing-tutorial/

http://www.fixbluescreenofdeath.com/

Hi, you have two options.
1. use the recovery disc to reinstall. This will erase all the data.
2. try BootSuite, burn a boot CD to enter your black screen windows and rescue data first of all and fix the error yourself.

It is your choice. Best regards.

hi......format the laptop . when your shutting down your laptop wait until it shutdown and then close the laptop

It is your harddisk bed indexing issue.
For that first boot your laptop with winxp bootable disk or recovery disk.
Then follow the procedure.
Then when it ask for winxp installation press enter then choose "R' for recovery console mode.
Then enter 1
then press enter
then type in prompt "chkdsk /r'
then it fix error on disk.
then check .
If after this still winxp not load thne you have to repair winxp
For that follow the same procedure but now you have to choose option "r" for repair winxp .

Let me know if you need more assistanse .
Thanks.

This article may help you....or these.
If you can turn off the auto restart to get a stop error code from the blue screen, that will help you to diagnose this error. See 'disabling restart..." here. Then reboot and note the exact error code reported. Write back with that info and we'll help you to sort it out.
You can look up codes here.
Also helpful links for blue screens here, here, & here.

I hope this information allows you to resolve this issue. If you need further assistance, please post back with a comment to this thread.
If I've managed to answer your question or solve a problem, please take just a moment to rate this post....thanks!

HP Notebook PCs - "Windows Unsafe or Sudden Shutdown" Blue Screen Error Occurs During Startup or Boot

Description
Windows XP may not start and the following error message may appear on a blue screen:
Windows Unsafe or Sudden Shutdown
This error occurs after Windows was not shutdown using a safe method. The notebook may have been turned off without clicking Shut Down or briefly pressing the computers Power button. The power may have been suddenly disconnected from the computer or the Power button may have been held for more than 5 seconds.
An unsafe shutdown can damage some of the Windows system files, preventing the computer from starting properly.
Solution
If the error occurs allow the operating system to complete a check of the hard disk. Windows will prompt your to run CHKDSK. CHKDSK scans the hard drive for damaged files and repairs the files if necessary. The scan may take up to an hour depending on the size of the hard drive and the number of damaged files. The computer will restart when the scan is complete and Windows should start normally.
If Windows will not start or the computer will not boot after the scan is complete see: HP Notebook PCs - Troubleshooting a Startup or No Boot Problem (In English)

use the link to know how to use recovery option with hp laptop
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=18703&docname=c00608578#
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Thanks and Regard
dilipbagdi
Technical Associate