How can I get windows working again

Ainsley1

This problem is really doing my head in and any help you can give will be most appreciated!

This problem started a few weeks ago and I am not aware of any change that brought it on. The PC will boot into the windows booting screen(XP home) then (as is common) goes black for a few seconds then instead of displaying the windows logon screen the PC re-boots.

I have tried a lot to find the source of the problem (PC hardware diagnostic checks, Seagate tools to check hard drive, rebooting into safe mode and rebooting into 'last known good' configuration. All to no improvement. Master Boot record(s) check out OK (as you might expect getting as far as booting into XP)

I suspect it is a windows XP problem that needs repairing.

Unfortunately this PC (a Packard Bell) was sold without an XP CD rom. I have tried to do a recovery using an XP pro CD but it either stops after selecting 'which windows to log on to (C:\windows or E\Minixp - latter from memory so may well be called a different name) or latterly I get the blue screen of death when booting from my XP CD ROM.

Could lack of memory be the issue ( quite small really about 250MB ram and only 40Gb drive - but half free I think).

However I suppose my question says it all. Without an original XP CD ROM how can I affect a repair? It does have an i386 directory on the hard drive.

Maybe I should just jump off the roof with it :j!

-TangleFoot-

Does it work if you select Enable VGA mode from the menu?

TakeThis

Model number?

Ainsley1

Thanks for eplies.
Haven't tried VGA mode., Will give it a go thanks.

Model is ALT - Col2

TakeThis

Ainsley1 wrote: »

Thanks for eplies.
Haven't tried VGA mode., Will give it a go thanks.

Model is ALT - Col2

That isn't the model number. XP Home or Pro?

marsbar989

XP then try and start the PC in safe mode.

>>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

you can try with/without networking and last known good configuration.

If none of that works I think you need the recovery disc.

Ainsley1

Sorry TakeThis. I thought you meant the PC model! It is XP home edition on the PC. It is a friend's PC. I run XP Pro (on my machine) so have that CD to hand only.

closed

do you need to recover any data? http://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-express/download_old.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWiE5GedHc0

boot, hold down F11

Ainsley1

Thanks for your help so far. I have a few things now to try out.

That Paragon software looks good, Closed. I have already copied the data on the disk into a backup file on another PC. Wasn't sue if the boot fixes on the free edition would fix XP or just the PC boot process (which I think is fine). Can you advise?

Marsbar, I have not tried with/without networking ( it would seem I need to try all boot options given your and Tanglefoots posts?). I have already tried Last known good config with the same problem originally found.

Just waiting for a virus check to finish at present.....

closed

It's more use for recovering data.

have you tried F11 at boot to see if it [still] has a factory restore partition?

If not, TakeThis may come up with an xp home disc for you, but probably needs to know if it's oem or retail xp.

It's not clear what you did with your XP pro disc? Does it boot or not?

If it boots, try running chkdsk c: /R

on the c drive, from the windows recovery console.

TakeThis

Ainsley1 wrote: »

Sorry TakeThis. I thought you meant the PC model! It is XP home edition on the PC. It is a friend's PC. I run XP Pro (on my machine) so have that CD to hand only.

I did mean the PC model number. But I'm guessing that it's an NEC/Packard bell machine anyway.