message "Welcome to Windows XP" on 1 yr old computer

[Guest]

My son loaded and started playing Lego Star Wars on my computer. During the
game the computer shut down on its own and when it restarted it brought it to
a point that says "Welcome to Windows XP". It then asks for me to name the
computer, give my location, time zone, etc... as if I were setting up my
computer for the first time. I tried to start in Safe Mode and it wouldn't
let me. It told me I had to complete the Windows Installation first. Help! I
don't have a recent back up and I don't want to lose all my files. Should I
complete this installation or is there something else I can do? Thanks!

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

My son loaded and started playing Lego Star Wars on my computer. During the
game the computer shut down on its own and when it restarted it brought it to
a point that says "Welcome to Windows XP". It then asks for me to name the
computer, give my location, time zone, etc... as if I were setting up my
computer for the first time. I tried to start in Safe Mode and it wouldn't
let me. It told me I had to complete the Windows Installation first. Help! I
don't have a recent back up and I don't want to lose all my files. Should I
complete this installation or is there something else I can do? Thanks!

You will be able to backup your files to external USB devices such as
memory sticks or external Hard Drives using a Knoppix CD, just make
sure the USB devices are plugged in and turned on before you boot the
Knoppix CD.

Knoppix
http://www.knoppix.org/

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help! I just tried the F5 and "good" but it did not work.
It said Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt: \WINDOWS\system32\config\system.

Could I just do an F10 and do a system recovery? I don't mind reloading the
software. I just really don't want to lose any of my files.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

Thanks for your help! I just tried the F5 and "good" but it did not work.
It said Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt: \WINDOWS\system32\config\system.

Could I just do an F10 and do a system recovery? I don't mind reloading the
software. I just really don't want to lose any of my files.

Back your data off via the Knoppix method. If the F10 system restore
resets your machine back to the factory defaults then, in all
likelyhood, your data will be destroyed. Some manufacturers restores
totaly wipe the hard drive.