totally locked up computer

[john l r]

I have an interesting problem that I made much worse by trying to fix it. I
have been running XP for several years, having upgraded this machine from 98.
After downloading a new version of Spybot, the machine would not reboot and
gave an error that it could not locate the FAT32 files. I tried going into
any mode that would get me back to an earlier system restore point, but could
not get past the boot problem and bring up Windows.

So I thought I would use the XP upgrade CD and try and repair the problem.
The process seemed to be going well, then I got a dialog box that said I
needed the "asms" file from the CD. I tried to click the box to concur, but I
have no mouse cursor and the enter key does nothing. The machine is just
sitting waiting. I turned off the computer, but each time I repower it it
comes back to the same dialog box in the repair process.

Any insight into how I can get back to square one in the repair process, or
actually get Windows activated and get to an earlier system restore point
would be welcome.

 

[Andrew E.]

Tap the F8 key on pc start,safe mode,enter xp as administrator,install xp cd,
locate the file,copy to windows folder to install.If you cant get that
far,boot to
xp cd,press r For recovery,select 1 For C: Press enter for
password,install file
in recovery,to do that read kb307654
Also,FAT32 on XP....You should convert to xp default NTFS file system.....