Unable boot XP Home on desktop with SP2

[Guest]

When booting, system 'freezes' on 'Start Windows in normal way'. Unable use
keyboard to select 'Safe Mode' or other mode. I can enter Setup (del-key)
and Boot (F8-key) - where keyboard works. Tried to set boot sequence from
CD-Rom with my original WinXP or SP2 disc. 'Searching for Bootrecord from
CD-Rom - ... Not found' and after 30 secs it re-boots.
Hard drive is almost full. Got a warning, and system suggested to remove
old/temp files etc. During this operation it froze, and when rebooting got
above problem. Have laptop and able burn CD.
Help! Anyone!
Piato

 

[lvee]

you don't say what brand of computer you have, so I'm not sure what key/s
you need to hit to access your BIOS, but mine for example is a Dell, so I
hit the delete key to get into the BIOS options, some are the Esc key, I
think. You can change your boot sequence from there, and you don't need the
disk for this method.
Then you should be able to boot from your cd.

 

[lvee]

Looking at your post again, do you mean that when you see this,
'Start Windows in normal way' it's a Advance startup mode screen, Black with
white lettering?

 

[Guest]

I can change the boot-sequence, but even when setting boot from cd-rom, the
system doesn't find the boot-up files. I have inserted both the orginal XP
installation CD and also tried the SP2 CD - both in vain.
I wrote that I couldn't use the keyboard. I have now replaced my cordless
keyboard with an old serial connected keyboard, and I can now highlight 'Safe
Mode' however still with no success. The system loops back into the boot
sequence. Same result when trying 'Safe mode with command prompt' and other
options.
You are correct, the screen is the B&W version.

 

[lvee]

you might want to try booting from a boot disk. From another pc with the
same os, format a floppy and then find the files..well, here is a link,
http://www.theeldergeek.com/create_xp_boot_disk.htm

and this..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q305595

Then, set your Bios to boot from the floppy drive and follow the prompts, if
any.

 

[Guest]

Ivee,
thanks, made a boot disk from a friends computer (XP-Proff but basically
guess they should be compatible?). Able to boot and get the a: prompt. When
trying to change to c: drive, get the message 'Invalid drive specification'.
B: prompt gives me same as a: prompt, and all other drive letters are invalid.
The start disk contains only ega and keyboard-files, mode, command.com,
display.sys, autoexec.bat and config.sys - None of them let me get any
further.
Would you have other tricks in your bag to try out? Start getting a feeling
that the situation may be worse than critical.
Considering buy a new HDD, and install OS on that and access the old HDD as
just a drive, and copy pictures, files etc on to new HDD. But if I only get
'Invalid drive specification' now, would it be easier to access from a new
HDD?

 

[Guest]

Ivee, I purchased a new HDD and installed a fresh XP on this disk. Then I
connected the old HDD and was then fortunately able to access that disk with
a new drive letter, and can now copy my files. Furthermore I get the bonus
of having 2 HDD's for backup purposes.
What originally caused my grief - I don't know, but my suspicion is lack of
space. I had roughly 100MB left, so that might be the cause of malfunction.
Thanks for your efforts.
Piato

 

[lvee]

no problem

Ivee, I purchased a new HDD and installed a fresh XP on this disk. Then I
connected the old HDD and was then fortunately able to access that disk
with
a new drive letter, and can now copy my files. Furthermore I get the
bonus
of having 2 HDD's for backup purposes.
What originally caused my grief - I don't know, but my suspicion is lack
of
space. I had roughly 100MB left, so that might be the cause of
malfunction.
Thanks for your efforts.
Piato