Can't Boot without XP CD plz help

  • Thread starter Thread starter mark.handley
  • Start date Start date
M

mark.handley

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
 
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
Click to expand...

What happens when you change the Administrator's password
while Windows is up and running?
 
Pegasus said:
What happens when you change the Administrator's password
while Windows is up and running?
Click to expand...

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... :(
 
Back
Top