PLEASE HELP, windows wont boot

pennypinchingmum

here's the situation, windows wil not boot even in safe mode, i havent got the windows c.d since we had the computer made it didnt come with it. I havent got all my files backed and i desperately dont want to lose the inforation on my computer. Any hints?

DatabaseError

any error messages? like STOP:000000C8 etc..?
If things really are broken, without a operating system disk there's not a lot you can do, contact the shop which supplied the Pc and request the media (disk) to match your product key (should be on a sticker on the case somewhere),if the pc was bought new without a product key it is most likely a pirated copy.
when you try to boot in safe mode, what happens?

pennypinchingmum

hi nothing works in safe mode either. a blue screen flashes up with an error message but i cant read it as it's too fast. Not sure if i've just lost this disc but i dont think so. if i buy a new disc can i still repair my windws or will it just wipe off hte old one? I cannot see why the thing decided to break since we havent changed anything.Could it be a virus?

IlPrincipe

Which windows operating system are you running?

IlPrincipe

looks like my computer is going on the fritz so I will just risk sending another message. There is a site I like called computer-juice.com, they have a good techie forum where people will talk you through step by step.

Hope this gets through, and good luck.

pennypinchingmum

i'm running xp, or trying. i found the windows disc Hurray! Now i just cant seem to get it to find the other windows, could it be that it's to corrupted and i've got to wipe and reinstall?what is a recovery console. grr i hate computers!!!

pennypinchingmum

now i'm completelybaffled by the recovery console. Could someone explain how it helps?

fwor

pennypinchingmum wrote: »

now i'm completelybaffled by the recovery console. Could someone explain how it helps?

In my experience, it usually doesn't! You can run chkdsk from it, and that would be a good idea in your situation. But you need to know quite a lot for it to help much more than that.

Have you tried booting from the Windows CD and choosing Install, then seeing if it finds your (broken) installation and allows you to repair it?

IlPrincipe

I am praying you have access to the following:

http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/recovery_console/recovery_console.shtml

It takes a bit of reading but it truly is step by step. I don't know how confident you are working in dos which is where you will be, but making sure you type exactly what you see will help - a simple type will not help here.

Good luck.

pennypinchingmum

the install cd doesnt recognise my broken installation. which i presume is not a good sign.

spakkker

If you can get a hirens boot cd made by somebody this will boot up your pc.
Failing this can you put your harddrive into another pc and read it / copy files