C said:
I didn't ask my question so well - what I need to know is - how do
I go back - get out of this setup is restarting loop. I can get
get to the DOS prompt via the CD but I don't know what files to
remove or change to get back to the XP home being able to boot
correctly. I've already decided to wipe the drive clean and start
fresh after investigating the hardware issues with Inspiron 6000.
I just need to be able to back up the data. Is there a way to get
data off a laptop without booting to XP? Since I can't remove the
HD and piggy back it to another system. Thanks experts for the
help.
First - please keep your question in the original thread... Strating a new
one won't really help those who answer here see you any better than
continuing with the old thread.. This is a newsgroup - not a forum.
I gave you that answer originally... In that you should (either way you go)
backup the data - the entire drive - now.
Ghost it, image it, clone it.. Then use the utility from said software to
pull the data from the cloned image file(s).
Other options would be a BartPE CD - so you could boot and read the NTFS
drive from a Windows Explorer interface - even with network..
I am surprised a repair install of Windows XP Home will not work.
What about a parallel install instead? That would install a parallel
(clean) copy of Windows XP on the same drive and then you could pull data
from the old areas after taking ownership, etc.
You don't have any options to boot into a safe mode, do you?
There are hardware issues with the Inspiron 6000 and Windows XP
Professional?
After all that - here is the original thread - it may help someone help
you.. (With some advice left out.)
C said:
I'm doing an upgrade on a dell inspiron 6000 - xp home sp2 to pro
sp2 using new sp2 disk purchased new. First time through it went
to a black screen and then sat there for over an hour with not hd
light flashing and no noice from cd drive. I shut down - now it
boots to restarting setup screen - works for a while but eventually
stops and is still on the same " restarting setup" screen forever.
This guy has data on the drive - most is backed up but I'm afraid
he didn't really backup everything so would like to not reformat if
possible. Is there any way to get out of this install and go back
? I've been looking from the DOS prompt at log files and think
this is either an antivirus problem or a hardware problem. I
appreciate any input. Thanks in advance.
I would remove all but the critical hardware to push that out of
the way. I would also check into a BIOS upgrade - as that has been
known to cause some issues. However - before doing anything else I
would make an image of the drive in its entirety - to be safe.
Ghost/TrueImage/BootItNG/other..
If the removal of the hardware does not work (which seems to be the
most likely path) - you may need to perform a repair install on XP
Home edition - get in there and uninstall the AV - then upgrade.
(Obviously - I missed that it was a laptop there! hah)
