"We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully" Message When Starting Windows XP

"We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully" Message When Starting Windows XP.

When starting Microsoft Windows XP after an improper shutdown, the following error message may display:

"We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this."

This screen is called the Automatic Recovery screen, and normally occurs after a failed startup attempt.

Operating Systems Affected:

Windows XP

Cause:

This issue occurs when the computer has an improper shutdown. This may occur if the computer is unplugged, the surge strip is turned off, or some type of power loss occurs when the computer is either in Windows XP or starting Windows XP.

Solution:

Improperly turning off the computer can cause issues such as this. It is recommended that Windows be shut down properly after every use. Follow each method below one at a time until the issue is resolved.