Problem starting xp after power failure

[tech challenged]

My PC went down after a power failure. When it trys to restart I get the
screen stating the machine shut down improperly and do I want to start in
Safe mode, start with previous settings or start normally

Regardless of which choice i make the pc seems to try to reload windows, but
ends up on the same screen

I have an emachine desktop. I tried to intercept the reboot using f2, which
works on my laptop

I would appreciata any advice on how I can get at least into safe mode so i
can restore start up back to a good previous point

 

[David B.]

And this "same screen" would be?

 

[Daave]

And this "same screen" would be?

Presumably, "the screen stating the machine shut down improperly and do
I want to start in Safe mode, start with previous settings or start
normally."

To OP:

Try System Restore (pick a date prior to the problem) in "Safe Mode with
a Command Prompt." For reference:

"How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

 

[tech challenged]

The "same screen", is the original start up requesting safe mode, previous
settings or normal, again when i choose and continue it cycles right back to
do i want safe mode etc

 

[Malke]

My PC went down after a power failure. When it trys to restart I get the
screen stating the machine shut down improperly and do I want to start in
Safe mode, start with previous settings or start normally

Regardless of which choice i make the pc seems to try to reload windows,
but ends up on the same screen

I have an emachine desktop. I tried to intercept the reboot using f2,
which works on my laptop

I would appreciata any advice on how I can get at least into safe mode so
i can restore start up back to a good previous point

If you can't get into Safe Mode or use Last Known Good Configuration from
that menu, then there is no magic button that will get you into Safe Mode.
Probably the operating system has been corrupted because of the power
failure.

1. If you have neglected to back up your data, do this now. It is possible
to back up data even when you can't boot into Windows. Let me know if you
need details.

2. Do a Repair Install of Windows. You will need a real XP install CD that
is the same version as the installed system; i.e., if eMachines gave you a
real OS disk and not a restore image or for ex. XP Home generic OEM.

3. If the Repair Install doesn't work, do a clean install of Windows and
then restore your data from backup. Consider purchasing an Uninterruptible
Power Supply. I like the Belkin 550s for home user.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm - Repair Install
How-To
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[tech challenged]

Thanks for the info, but I cannot get to a place to do that. When I choose
restore to prior point, it just boots back to the screen asking to the
original screen stating the same choices again.