Is there a way to force Windows to start, if it's not starting with the computer?

Make sure that first of all you start the old laptop with the drive UNPLUGGED. Plug it in after you boot up. It is possible that the laptop is hanging because it is looking to boot off the USB drive.

If that is not the problem, then you will have to boot the laptop using something else. You can download a Linux "Live CD" such as Ubuntu that will give you a file browser and allow you to copy files from one drive to another. That should solve your problem.

Good Luck! :)

You possibly have a harddrive with wiped out memory basically altering all files. The only thing that you can do is try and reinstall the original file back to the motherboard c:// drive by buying yourself likely a new harddrive. You can never force the system to install and read if the stem of the problem is lost files because somewhere the computer deemed itself useless at that point. Plus if the system is not going into a safe mode or anything that usually means it has caused a minor mini shift in software. The only thing I could suggest is to first try 3 times by REbooting the system simultaneously giving it at least the full 3 mins or so to see if anything shows up. Always hit the F8 button when it loads. Now if it gets you there, check your model numbers but do not change anything. Then repeat the reboot again. If if goes into a safe mode, boot one last time and click F6 I think or F2 it should take you to a drop down list that asks if you want to start in standard mode. if you find that, check that it says normal without safemode. this will allow your computer to go back to its orignal settings before any information got lost. Now if none of these techniques work, do as I said, consult a geek squad specialist and get the new drive. I g2g now. Any further help contact me and I will talk to my buddy who knows more about that kind of stuff. Ciao!

Try to boot to safe mode by holding f8 when the system starts first, then if that doesn't work, try holding f10 to enter the BIOS options type screen. Now look for something like "startup" and hit enter, now change the boot sequence so that it boots to C: (if it's still not working, try safe mode now.) Hope this helps!

Hold down f8 after you turn the system on and see if it allows you to boot up in safe mode. If not then it sounds like your PC is dead!

yup u can download make a xp boot disk....download d iso file from site...http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

then burn it and start it with that disk...

2> try installing a fresh copy f windows.......