Failure to boot after automatic update

[Peter B]

The computer asked to install a number of updates including SP3 when the
shutdown command was given informing me that it would shutdown when the
updates had been installed. This I suppose it did, because it had shutdown on
inspection sometime later.

On the next and subsequent attempts to start up it fails. It very very
briefly flashes up the following messages which I think says:
boot.ini error
loading C:\windows
ntdetect failed
It then shuts down and tries again repeatedly.

I can boot the computer with the original windows home edition cd and using
the repair console I can access the disk.

I have replaced the boot.ini, the file ntdetect.com and rewritten the
bootsector using fixboot without any change in the situation.

I do not know what else to try. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I donot want to have to rebuild the drive if I can help it.

 

[TERRY]

Hi P.You can try taking the cover off the side of the pc.Unplug the hard
drive start the pc.It will say can,t find boot program.Shut the pc off.plug
the drive back in and try again.might work.Just a thought.TERRY.