Start up problem

[Guest]

We thought we had a defective video card; when a new card was installed we realized it was a monitor problem. We removed the new video card, replaced with the old card but failed to remove the software for the new card. Initially the computer rebooted fine. The next day, after we had returned the new video card, we received the following message

We apologise for the inconvenience that Windows did not
start successfully a recent hardware or software change
might have caused this. If your computer stopped
responding, restarted unexpectedly or was automatically
shutdown to protect your files and folders, choose last
known good configuration to revert to the most recent
setting that worked. If a previous start up attempt was
interrupted due to a power failure or because the power or
reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what
caused the problem, choose Start Windows normally

Safe Mod
Safe Mode with networkin
Safe Mode with Command promp

Last Know good Configuration ( your most recent settings
that worked

Start Windows normall

Use up and down arrow keys to highlight your choic

30 seconds to choose an option then computer restarts and
goes back to this screen

We are unable to boot up in any mode. I do have the Windows XP (Professional) CD. I do not know if it is set to boot from CD-Rom. I have looked at the webtree website, which was referred to someone earlier with the same error message, however, I am not clear how I should proceed. Any suggestions?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

 

[Guest]

well my problem is the same i got a new card and i get
the same messages only problem is my pc did not come with
a xp cd so now what do i do??

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Without an XP CD your options are limited to whatever recovery routine your
PC manufacturer has supplied you.

 

[Guest]

i dont have a windows xp cd, while booting up it gos
threw the windows loading and after the windows xp logo
comes up it loads then gos to a blank screen, i have
reinstalled the old vid card and i am still getting the
same problem, i have 2 of these pc's and the only
difference is that one has a bigger hard drive is there
any thing i can make from the one that works (boot disc)
or do i need to get a windows xp disc?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

The XP boot floppy disks are designed to boot a system for XP installation
that doesn't have the capability to boot from the CD. While it does have
the ability to start the Recovery Console, the functionality is quite
limited.

If the other system has a retail XP CD or possibly an OEM CD that is simply
the full version of XP and not some proprietary manufacturer's recovery CD,
you can try using that to get to the Recovery Console as I will instruct
below. NOTE: you cannot use the disk to do a repair install as I previously
outlined because that will require the CD key and you can't use a key from
another setup on this computer. Even if you can input the key, once
installation is complete, you won't be able to activate.

Below are the instructions for getting to the Recovery Console and what to
do however, if this doesn't resolve the issue, you can consider the current
setup unfixable given your current tools and there's nothing available on
the XP boot floppies that will help:


Be sure your system is set to boot from the CD. If you are not sure, when
the system first boots you usually see message about how to enter setup or
something similar and tells you to hit a key, sometimes it's del, sometimes
it's esc, just hit the key. This takes you to the system bios, you need to
navigate to where the boot sequence is set, put the CD-ROM drive first in
line.

Place the XP CD in the drive, save your settings and exit. The system will
reboot and should boot from the CD. If you see a message to hit any key in
order to boot from the CD, do so, otherwise, assuming your system supports
it, the system should boot from the CD on its own as it can't find
an OS on the hard drive.

XP Setup will begin by examining your system, don't worry, just let it run,
it's just copying some files to a temp folder. Ultimately, you'll be
brought to a menu. Choose, "Repair a Windows XP installation using the
Recovery Console, press R.

You will be asked for an administrators password. This is not any of the
accounts you've created for XP. It's a hidden system account for which
users are asked only to create a password during setup. Most leave this
blank. If you left it blank, when asked for a password, just leave blank
and press enter.

At the prompt type bootcfg /rebuild and press enter.