Last night, while I was running Windows Update on a fresh install of
Windows XP, my system shut itself down completely. When I was able to
reboot the machine, I got the message that NTLDR is missing, so I
threw my install cd in (retail version) and tried to boot to that.
Install CD got as far as the blue "Starting Windows" screen and
wouldn't proceed any further. Didn't load any drivers or attempt to
proceed. So now I have a machine that is being extremely disagreeable
with me. Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed to even get
to the recovery console? Thanks.

Perhaps get the diagnostic utility from your hard drive manufacturer and
run it against the drive?

Tom wrote:

> Last night, while I was running Windows Update on a fresh install of
> Windows XP, my system shut itself down completely. When I was able to
> reboot the machine, I got the message that NTLDR is missing, so I
> threw my install cd in (retail version) and tried to boot to that.
> Install CD got as far as the blue "Starting Windows" screen and
> wouldn't proceed any further. Didn't load any drivers or attempt to
> proceed. So now I have a machine that is being extremely disagreeable
> with me. Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed to even get
> to the recovery console? Thanks.
>

That makes sense to me if one thing fits: when does the install utility
first try to read the hard drive? if it is immediately upon starting, then
it makes sense the hd could be bad. If the utility waits until later, then
this doesn't seem likely. Not trying to argue, just trying to reason this
out logically. Thanks.

Tom

"Bob I" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uuizfd$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Perhaps get the diagnostic utility from your hard drive manufacturer and
> run it against the drive?
>
> Tom wrote:
>
>> Last night, while I was running Windows Update on a fresh install of
>> Windows XP, my system shut itself down completely. When I was able to
>> reboot the machine, I got the message that NTLDR is missing, so I
>> threw my install cd in (retail version) and tried to boot to that.
>> Install CD got as far as the blue "Starting Windows" screen and
>> wouldn't proceed any further. Didn't load any drivers or attempt to
>> proceed. So now I have a machine that is being extremely disagreeable
>> with me. Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed to even get
>> to the recovery console? Thanks.
>>
>

"Tom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Last night, while I was running Windows Update on a fresh install of
> Windows XP, my system shut itself down completely. When I was able to
> reboot the machine, I got the message that NTLDR is missing, so I
> threw my install cd in (retail version) and tried to boot to that.
> Install CD got as far as the blue "Starting Windows" screen and
> wouldn't proceed any further. Didn't load any drivers or attempt to
> proceed. So now I have a machine that is being extremely disagreeable
> with me. Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed to even get
> to the recovery console? Thanks.
>

You may want to try a "Repair Install" first.
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;315341

or a System Restore.
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

Also see:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/...3&mode=a&adv=1


Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314058

How to enable an administrator to log on automatically in Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;312149

How to install the Windows Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;216417

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307654

How to remove Windows Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;555032

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.htm



--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

If you cannot boot with the win cd that would usually indicate a hardware
problem.
HD, cd, memory are the usuall culprits

"Tom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Last night, while I was running Windows Update on a fresh install of
> Windows XP, my system shut itself down completely. When I was able to
> reboot the machine, I got the message that NTLDR is missing, so I
> threw my install cd in (retail version) and tried to boot to that.
> Install CD got as far as the blue "Starting Windows" screen and
> wouldn't proceed any further. Didn't load any drivers or attempt to
> proceed. So now I have a machine that is being extremely disagreeable
> with me. Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed to even get
> to the recovery console? Thanks.
>