If its hanging at the Welcome screen I'd speculate it has a driver issue or a hung update. Might try powering up while holding down the F8 which will bring it to a list of choices. I might start in safe mode then look in event logs and device manager for errors.
You can also look in control panel under windows updates for failed update that may be trying to install - and also in control panel be sure to look in 'Problems and Solutions'

If its rebooting over and over on its own it should after three goes give you an option to enter repair mode,,, choose that. It should automatically tell you whats wrong and the fix.

Does it have an uptodate Antivirus program on it and not just the trial version of whatever it came with. If not, the trial version is probably used up and its full of viri

Thanks for your replies. I now have the PC with me and I keep getting the following error message when I put in the password:
Group policy client failed the logon. Access is denied.

This computer is a Compaq Presario C714NR Notebook PC /Windows Vista. I have tried holding down the F8 key on startup, But It still asks for the password-then gives me the error message. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

This may be helpful

Here is a link that might be useful: Group policy client failed the logon

Not much of a computer whiz...actually....know very little...but.....had a similar problem 2x's.
I unplugged the laptop...removed the battery....plugged it in again and put the battery back in.
Started up and finished loading.....both times. Might have just been a fluke...but worth trying.
Good luck.

The unplug and batt removal and reinsert has cured my hang-ups on a few ocassions. Grady

Thanks again for all of your help. I have tried all of the above and I still keep getting the error message. I can't seem to get the laptop to boot into safemode. Any other suggestions on what to do will be very appreciated.

Have you tried booting holding F8 and choosing the option for starting using
&nsbp; Last Known working configuration ?

If that doesnt work the F8 start screen should also have a
 Repair option. Which here it does an automatic thing, no user input required for my vista laptop.

Could the user fooled with bios settings ? F2 at boot probably, usually has a keystroke once there for set to Defaults.

Or just call the makers Support line and other than the Hold time, they'll probably talk you through insert cd and choose Repair .. to try to fix it. Or have you reload windows.

I finally got the laptop to startup by going into system recovery (F11), and then restoring it to the next to last restore point. I believe mikie was right about the update hanging. It looked like that was the last thing it tried to do. Thanks again for all of the help. Donna

Help it's doing it again!! The laptop worked ok for about a couple of weeks- then started doing the same thing. This time, when I push the F11 and It takes me to system recovery-it tells me there are no restore points. When I try to boot the laptop up it takes the password then goes to a welcome screen, but never past that or it gives me the above error message. This laptop is only a couple months old-it was purchased at Christmas. Should she just return it? Call Tech Support? Any help will be appreciated?

Call the Tech Support. HP has great support and they apparently own Compaq, hopefully they will get you going. HP had me on the phone till midnight once trying to get a new printer going. I had just bought it at 9pm and out of the box it was broke/defective. Nice friendly support gal.

I too had great success with the HP support. Unlike Mikie I used the 'live chat' feature where we typed back and forth and it worked great. The lady was patient and thoroughly, using live chat gave me 2 hands free to do the suggested repairs

Here is a link that might be useful: HP support contacts that may be useful

If you think it was because of an update, take the machine off Auto updates, so it doesnt try to download that problemn update again

Do a fresh backup, and stick in the system recovery DVD. Turn it off, and boot from CD. Do a clean install. It made my system run like new, and it solved all my problems. It isn't as hard as you would think it was.

Called Tech Support and they had me do a system recovery from the hard drive. After I did that, it worked ok for a couple days and started giving problems again. I called TS again and was told there was obviously a problem with the OS. They promptly sent me a System Recovery DVD. I inserted the DVD and followed instructions. Although I was told that it would take about 25 min to do the recovery- 2 hour later I had to again call TS. The PC was in a loop- it keep giving the message to wait while it loaded the software-then it would restart and do the same thing again. But again the TS was very prompt in giving me instructions out of my loop and back to recovery. I now have the PC restored to original. Have restarted windows twice and all seems well. I guess time will tell. Though it is pretty frustrating to spend more time working on the notebook PC than playing (Or using)it, I will say that the TS was really great. I'm am really hoping that is fixed now, though. Thanks for all the input. Donna