Laptop dead - got XP disk - help required

nikki_angel

PS -are you saying I could have tried this two years ago without the disk???

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Yes But having the disk is always handy.

If and when you get it working, you might want to consider creating a backup image using disk imaging software, then if it ever fails in future, you will have the os and data intact, and also do the one you are using now.

nikki_angel

What do you mean if??? ARGH! DON'T SAY THAT! lol!!
It's just finished and is restarting but it is bleeping and wont stop! HELP!

nikki_angel

Nope. Not done it. Stopped bleeping but all I am getting the black screen with pointer.

I think I am going to cry.

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Not worth crying over, pc repair takes a bit of patience.

How did this problem start, you installed something?

Do you want your data back? There is a good probability you can get it back, but the process is long winded.

What is the label on the recovery disc, ie what is it called?

Are any of the keys on the keyboard stuck? (Bleeping)

nikki_angel

I installed a wireless adapter by Netgear one day and literally the next day I couldn't boot up properly.

If I have to lose it then so be it

It is a disk my friend done for me that he has just written on 'XP Boot Disk'. He was going to talk me through it tomorrow but I really wanted to do it myself. He is my ex husband and I wanted to show him I don't have to rely on him - stubborn boot aren't I!?

No keys stuck.

My daughter is finally asleep in her cot so don't want to risk the beeping again but would you mind telling me what I should do next? Oh and sorry I keep spelling it disk! Just noticed you are spelling it disc, is there a difference?

Thanks so much for your help and patience!

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1st of all, boot it using F8, and try every option on the list one at a time, see if you get any further than the black screen with safe mode on.

At the black screen, try ctrl alt del, and task manager, if task manager starts, select new task , explorer.exe to see if explorer will start.

As I said, your data is probably all there, and retrievable, but the process to get at it is long winded, involving creating bootable cd's (unless you are prepared to buy a usb disk caddy for around £10), so it's upto you whether you want to spend a few quid or a few hours to get it.

The CD you have may be useful, but whats on it is a little vague, to see, either go into the bios and change the boot order to CD first, or try holding down F12 at boot, with the CD in, you might get a boot menu, not sure though on your particular system.

Do you have any external hard disk drives to backup to, or a large capacity usb stick

If you aren't bothered about the data at all, do the F10, and select the second or third option on the menu, it should put the system back to the delivery state.

nikki_angel

You are a star, thank you so much.

Will let you know how I get on.

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When does it beep, before it gets into windows?

nikki_angel

as it's turning on for about a minute. yep, before windows.