Can you help me fix my laptop?

Help, please! My laptop (Toshiba equium) isn’t working and I have no idea why. It has so much of my work on it and im desparate to get it up and running again, if any one can help I would be so so grateful.

It comes up with this on start up –
_________________________________________________________
Windows Error Recovery
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware of software change might be the cause.

If windows files have been damaged or configured incorrectly, Startup repair can help
diagnose and fix the problem. If power was interrupted during startup, choose start
windows normally.
(use the arrow keys to highlight your choice.)

Launch startup repair (recommended)
Start windows normally
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If I choose ‘Launch startup repair’ then it comes up
‘windows is loading files…’
then a loading screen then a window comes up saying –
‘startup repair is checking your system for problems…’
after just a couple of seconds this disappears and then a window that says
‘windows cannot repair this computer automatically’ comes up with theses options –
‘view diagnostic repair details’
‘view advanced options for system recovery and support’
‘finish’
And ‘cancel’
__________________________________________________________

If I choose ‘Start windows normally’ then a load screen appears for a few seconds before it simple restarts and goes back to the ‘Windows error recovery’ screen.

Please help.
The diagnositic repair retails are miles long, to long to type out.

I do not want to lose my information, I have important work on my laptop – please help.

Windows Failed to Start?

So this morning when I attempted to turn on my computer I was given a screen that said "Windows failed to start" something about a software or hardware change or losing power during start up. It then gives me the options of "Launch Start Up Repair" or "Start Windows Normally". Regardless of which one I choose it brings me to the loading screen and after about 3 or 4 seconds the whole things just shuts down. I haven’t recently done anything to my computer, at least not that I know of, and I have never experienced this problem before. The computer won’t even stay ON. Why did this happen and how (if I can) do I fix it?

Right my mates windows wont startup. It starts in the screen which says "start windows normally, safe mode, last good configuration".

He says the computer restarts after the windows loading screen , whichever option he chooses.

He did not reinstall any hardware yesterday (when it was working )

the only software he can think of that was installed was his dad installing a media player or something so he could listen to BBC radio 1, through the site.

Thats all the information I’ve got, ive advised repairing his windows installation/reinstalling windows, but have you lot got any better suggestions?
This is windows XP by the way 🙂
He cant do system restore….because windows wont startup
Anyone else available for answer?

the first answer just stated that he couldnt do anything else, and the second didnt know what they were talking about/hadnt read the question 🙁