Re-installing windows after it failed

[Guest]

So at some point I ran a windows update that failed. I restarted and the boot
screen came up and then the windows loading screen and then just a blank
screen with the cursor, and nothing else. I tried everything, safe mode, etc.
Eventually I decided to take out the harddrives, plug them into my buddy's
computer, move everything important to the data slave drive, and figured I'd
format and re-install windows on the master drive. So I out the hard drives
back in, get the recovery disc that came with the computer, put it in, set to
boot from cd, the windows install comes up. It says the drive already has a
version of windows and that it needs to format the drive. I say ok and it
formats, then it copies the windows install files. When that finishes, it
says it needs to restart and then installation will continue. I say ok, and
it restarts. But then it just does the boot-screen, goes black, then restarts
to the boot screen and again and again. So the windows installers gives me an
endless boot-loop. What should I do?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Physically disconnect all peripheral hardware devices from your
computer, except for your monitor, keyboard and mouse. Also,
disconnect your slave drive. Your internal hardware configuration
must be exactly the same as it was the day you purchased your
PC in order for the recovery CD to work properly.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

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:

| So at some point I ran a windows update that failed. I restarted and the boot
| screen came up and then the windows loading screen and then just a blank
| screen with the cursor, and nothing else. I tried everything, safe mode, etc.
| Eventually I decided to take out the harddrives, plug them into my buddy's
| computer, move everything important to the data slave drive, and figured I'd
| format and re-install windows on the master drive. So I out the hard drives
| back in, get the recovery disc that came with the computer, put it in, set to
| boot from cd, the windows install comes up. It says the drive already has a
| version of windows and that it needs to format the drive. I say ok and it
| formats, then it copies the windows install files. When that finishes, it
| says it needs to restart and then installation will continue. I say ok, and
| it restarts. But then it just does the boot-screen, goes black, then restarts
| to the boot screen and again and again. So the windows installers gives me an
| endless boot-loop. What should I do?

 

[Michael Stevens]

So at some point I ran a windows update that failed. I restarted and
the boot screen came up and then the windows loading screen and then
just a blank screen with the cursor, and nothing else. I tried
everything, safe mode, etc. Eventually I decided to take out the
harddrives, plug them into my buddy's computer, move everything
important to the data slave drive, and figured I'd format and
re-install windows on the master drive. So I out the hard drives back
in, get the recovery disc that came with the computer, put it in, set
to boot from cd, the windows install comes up. It says the drive
already has a version of windows and that it needs to format the
drive. I say ok and it formats, then it copies the windows install
files. When that finishes, it says it needs to restart and then
installation will continue. I say ok, and it restarts. But then it
just does the boot-screen, goes black, then restarts to the boot
screen and again and again. So the windows installers gives me an
endless boot-loop. What should I do?

You probably have a hardware related failure, remove everything except the
hard drive, video, cd drive, floppy, keyboard and mouse. Make sure all
connections are properly seated and then try the reinstall. I would suggest
you opt for the Repair Option if it is available. See links below for step
by step instructions on both a clean and repair install.
How to clean install XP.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
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