Can't start Windows XP

[Ellen]

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

 

[db]

use the windows cd and
boot to recovery console.

at the prompt run:
chkdsk
fixmbr
fixboot

then exit and try rebooting
again.

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

 

[Ellen]

Hi DB,

thanks for the advice... I will do so as soon as I will visit her which is not yet but in Sept. (Since I live in Europe and she in the US. I advised her to try to find somebody local, but she prefers to wait till I get there and till then she will work on her old PC with W98.)

But bear with me.
As I recall on the top of my head, if you start your PC using the Windows CD, you will get 3 options.

1. is Windows Restore
2. is Windows Repair
3. I do not remember..

I selected before in a similar situation option 2 and basically this seems the same thing as #1.
So how do you select Recovery Console?

Ellen
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message use the windows cd and
boot to recovery console.

at the prompt run:
chkdsk
fixmbr
fixboot

then exit and try rebooting
again.

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

 

[glee]

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

Running Recovery Console without installing it
http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_2000_xp_2003_recovery_console.htm

<quote>

Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM
drive if you are prompted to do so.

When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, choose the installation that you
need to access from the Recovery Console.

When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the
administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.

At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and repair your
Windows XP installation.


For a list of commands that are available in Recovery Console, type recovery console
commands or help at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

For information about a specific command, type help commandname at the command
prompt, and then press ENTER.

To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the command
prompt, and then press ENTER.

</quote>
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/



Hi DB,

thanks for the advice... I will do so as soon as I will visit her which is not yet
but in Sept. (Since I live in Europe and she in the US. I advised her to try to
find somebody local, but she prefers to wait till I get there and till then she will
work on her old PC with W98.)

But bear with me.
As I recall on the top of my head, if you start your PC using the Windows CD, you
will get 3 options.

1. is Windows Restore
2. is Windows Repair
3. I do not remember..

I selected before in a similar situation option 2 and basically this seems the same
thing as #1.
So how do you select Recovery Console?

Ellen
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
use the windows cd and
boot to recovery console.

at the prompt run:
chkdsk
fixmbr
fixboot

then exit and try rebooting
again.

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

 

[glee]

If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30 seconds
it shows an error message and she has the option to select Safe-Mode, Safe-mode
with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

What is the error message, exactly?

 

[db]

actually the options are
1) install and
2) recovery console.

the install option will
give you the options to
1a) re-install the o.s. from scratch or
1b) repair an existing o.s.

the recovery option will
get you to the 2a) prompt.

Hi DB,

thanks for the advice... I will do so as soon as I will visit her which is not yet but in Sept. (Since I live in Europe and she in the US. I advised her to try to find somebody local, but she prefers to wait till I get there and till then she will work on her old PC with W98.)

But bear with me.
As I recall on the top of my head, if you start your PC using the Windows CD, you will get 3 options.

1. is Windows Restore
2. is Windows Repair
3. I do not remember..

I selected before in a similar situation option 2 and basically this seems the same thing as #1.
So how do you select Recovery Console?

Ellen
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message use the windows cd and
boot to recovery console.

at the prompt run:
chkdsk
fixmbr
fixboot

then exit and try rebooting
again.

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

 

[Ellen]

Thanks.........

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

Running Recovery Console without installing it
http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_2000_xp_2003_recovery_console.htm

<quote>

Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the
computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from
the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.

When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery
Console.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, choose the installation
that you need to access from the Recovery Console.

When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the
administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.

At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and
repair your Windows XP installation.


For a list of commands that are available in Recovery Console, type
recovery console commands or help at the command prompt, and then press
ENTER.

For information about a specific command, type help commandname at the
command prompt, and then press ENTER.

To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the
command prompt, and then press ENTER.

</quote>
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/



Hi DB,

thanks for the advice... I will do so as soon as I will visit her which
is not yet but in Sept. (Since I live in Europe and she in the US. I
advised her to try to find somebody local, but she prefers to wait till I
get there and till then she will work on her old PC with W98.)

But bear with me.
As I recall on the top of my head, if you start your PC using the Windows
CD, you will get 3 options.

1. is Windows Restore
2. is Windows Repair
3. I do not remember..

I selected before in a similar situation option 2 and basically this seems
the same thing as #1.
So how do you select Recovery Console?

Ellen
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
use the windows cd and
boot to recovery console.

at the prompt run:
chkdsk
fixmbr
fixboot

then exit and try rebooting
again.

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

 

[Ellen]

Okidoki... this is not how I remember it.

Maybe the problem I encounter last time was caused by the fact that the girl didn't have the original CD and the store burned something for her (she had 6 CD's), after replacing her Hard-disk (which had crashed).
I sure I used the 2nd option offered by the CD, and it stepped me through the same process as a restore. All her data-files were gone... and this is why I am very hesitated to use the CD.

Hopefully my g/f has the original CD.
What if no Windows CD is delivered with the computer?
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message actually the options are
1) install and
2) recovery console.

the install option will
give you the options to
1a) re-install the o.s. from scratch or
1b) repair an existing o.s.

the recovery option will
get you to the 2a) prompt.

Hi DB,

thanks for the advice... I will do so as soon as I will visit her which is not yet but in Sept. (Since I live in Europe and she in the US. I advised her to try to find somebody local, but she prefers to wait till I get there and till then she will work on her old PC with W98.)

But bear with me.
As I recall on the top of my head, if you start your PC using the Windows CD, you will get 3 options.

1. is Windows Restore
2. is Windows Repair
3. I do not remember..

I selected before in a similar situation option 2 and basically this seems the same thing as #1.
So how do you select Recovery Console?

Ellen
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message use the windows cd and
boot to recovery console.

at the prompt run:
chkdsk
fixmbr
fixboot

then exit and try rebooting
again.

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

 

[Ellen]

Hi Lee,

It is a whole screen full... and as I recall it starts with "Sorry for any
inconvenience caused...."
It talks about recent changes to Hard and or Software and also about power
failure, but none of these took place as she told me.
I know she is in the habit to unplug everything when bad weather is
announced, so..

I need to wait till she has her old PC hooked up, so she can write down the
complete message for me.

 

[Guest]

Ellen, when she gets into windows, have her download bootsafe, it'a a
freeware program that allows you to boot into any sequence you choose. have
her select a different mode, such as "safe mod directory services repair".
once into windows , enter into boot safe again and select restart your
computer in normal mode, and reboot. By manually selecting your start mode,
it may wake your computer up and allow it to select on it's own. Hope all
works out.
ps, all this can be done from selecting a different mode when the computer
enters into safe mode set up. Download BootSafe if all else fails.

 

[Guest]

Ellen, Another thing came to mind, remove the battery for about five minutes
or so. Keep in mind all power to your computer should be OFF. Resetting the
cmos has in the past help me in somewhat of the same situation. Power was
removed while the computer was booting, after that I tried to reboot,
nothing. Just for the hell of it, I removed the battery, reinstalled after
five minutes, and WALLA! all was good. Try it, it's free.

 

[Ellen]

Hi Donk,

if my g/f has exactly the same problem as my friends daughter had a while
back, and it sounds she has, then the problem is that windows does not
start...
It looks like it does there for a second and you get the first screen when
you turn on the computer and then instead of getting your "welcome" screen
you get the error.

Now in this case with Bootsafe work too?? I will Google for it and
download the program so I can take it with me.

My g/f is no computer wiz and in her eyes I am .. LOL
I do not consider myself a wiz, but know a little bit more then she does
and have more interest in it.

Thanks,
Ellen

 

[Ellen]

Hi Donk,

that is so true..........trying is free.

Now I know a Laptop does have a battery, but I never heard a PC does...
In case of the PC, if it has no battery, you probably mean to unplug it
totally from all power ??

Thanks for my "Blond" Question ~smiles~

Ellen