I can't load Windows. I get the error "strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for
setup utility". But if a Windows XP CD is in the drive it asks if I
want to boot from it, and if I let the time run out Windows loads up
fine.

I tried a Disk Check(with /r /f) and it came up clean. A Repair Install
of Windows(which I believe fixes the boot sector) also didn't help. No
change to the IDE drives. BIOS is newest version.

I also can't change the local Administrator password (Even Linux boot
cracks give the error: "writing beyond initialized size is not
supported") so I can't use the Recovery Console.

Anyone have any ideas? or is my hard-drive dead?

Much appreciated

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I can't load Windows. I get the error "strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for
> setup utility". But if a Windows XP CD is in the drive it asks if I
> want to boot from it, and if I let the time run out Windows loads up
> fine.
>
> I tried a Disk Check(with /r /f) and it came up clean. A Repair Install
> of Windows(which I believe fixes the boot sector) also didn't help. No
> change to the IDE drives. BIOS is newest version.
>
> I also can't change the local Administrator password (Even Linux boot
> cracks give the error: "writing beyond initialized size is not
> supported") so I can't use the Recovery Console.
>
> Anyone have any ideas? or is my hard-drive dead?
>
> Much appreciated
>

What happens when you change the Administrator's password
while Windows is up and running?

Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>
> What happens when you change the Administrator's password
> while Windows is up and running?

The Admin problem is now fixed, one of the Linux cracks seems to have
worked I just tried the Recovery Console again and it lets me in. But
in Recovery Console I can't seem to run a diagnostic .EXE file...gives
the error "The command is not recognised"? Also I tried FIXBOOT and
FIXMBR and they didn't help, I still need the CD in the drive to boot.
I'm thinking of just doing a complete re-install of Windows...