always on safe mode

[Guest]

Using xp and hardly go to internet using dial up and mainly used by kids for
games.
Now, when power on, it always goes to the safe mode (think 4-6 options) and
choosing any of the options, will bring back to the safe mode menu again.

Tried to boot up to the boot menu (F8) and it will show (think 8 options)
and again, choosing (safe mode, LKGC, boot normally) it will only bring back
to the safe mode menu.

By choosing any of the options, it will show the xp logo and the indicator
moving L to R and then back to the menu.

What can I do to bring this pc back to life, besides reformatting? Thank you.

 

[Rock]

Using xp and hardly go to internet using dial up and mainly used by kids
for
games.
Now, when power on, it always goes to the safe mode (think 4-6 options)
and
choosing any of the options, will bring back to the safe mode menu again.

Tried to boot up to the boot menu (F8) and it will show (think 8 options)
and again, choosing (safe mode, LKGC, boot normally) it will only bring
back
to the safe mode menu.

By choosing any of the options, it will show the xp logo and the indicator
moving L to R and then back to the menu.

What can I do to bring this pc back to life, besides reformatting? Thank
you.

As a matter of terminology what you see the the Advanced Options Menu, not
Safe Mode. Safe Mode is one choice on that menu. Safe mode is a boot up
into windows were many of the unneeded drivers are disabled, so it's minimal
boot for troubleshooting purposes. Unfortunately you cannot get into that.

First make sure there is a backup of important data. If not, then install
the hard drive in another XP or Win2000 computer and copy the important
data. \

After that reinstall in the original computer and boot with the XP CD (if
needed enter the BIOS first and set the CD as the first boot device). Take
the first R for recovery to enter the recovery console. Type in the windows
installation #, normally 1, then when asked type in the password assigned to
the built in Administrator account. You could also assume the password is
blank and just press enter. If that brings you to the command line then run
a chkdsk.

chkdsk /p

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

This will take some time. After that's finished exit the recovery console
and reboot without the XP CD. If it boots good, if not try a repair
install.

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

 

[Guest]

Try tapping the F8 key on start-up,look close you should also see "start
windows normal mode" ,click on that.Also,if you have a retail copy of
xp,install
the cd,boot to the cd (you may need to adjust for this in the BIOS,boot
priority
or similiar),once at xp cd boot screen,press r For recovery,at
recovery,select 1
For C: Press enter for password,type:CHKDSK C: /R When its thru,15-20 min,
type:EXIT Let xp start up by itself...

 

[Ayush]

---------------
/F Fixes errors on the disk.

 

[Rock]

Many thanks for all the help and its working now. Just wondering what is
the
difference between chkdsk /r and chkdsk /p?

Great, so running chkdsk from recovery console worked? Thanks for posting
back.

/p only works within the recovery console. From the KB article.

Chkdsk The /p switch runs Chkdsk even if the drive is not flagged as dirty.
The /r switch locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. This
switch implies /p. Chkdsk requires Autochk. Chkdsk automatically looks for
Autochk.exe in the startup folder. If Chkdsk cannot find the file in the
startup folder, it looks for the Windows 2000 Setup CD-ROM. If Chkdsk cannot
find the installation CD-ROM, Chkdsk prompts the user for the location of
Autochk.exe.