Windows XP Prof Edition - Software Issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael B
  • Start date Start date
M

Michael B

Recently, due to a thunderstorm, my computer was
improperly shut down and I haven't been able to
reboot/start it back up since. The Windows XP opening
page displays for about a second, then shuts down again.
A error screen appears and asks to "Start up windows
normally, in Safe Mode, or the Last Successful
Configuration" attempt. I've tried every option and the
same thing occurs - shuts down. A friend of mine believes
that the software may have a damaged boot file or
something, due to the lightening from the thunderstorm.
He also stated that the Windows software will have to be
re-installed, which means everything will be wiped away on
my hard drive. I have a lot of important documents on the
hard drive and don't want to wipe it clean. Does XP
Installation disk have a repair feature? Or am I stuck
having to wipe my hard drive clean? Please help with any
info on this matter. Thank you...........
 
Yes you can repair xp and keep all your personal stuff.
Repair install:

Boot from the XP cd, and when prompted hit enter to begin setup. Press F8 to
accept the license agreement. It will then search and find your existing XP
install. Select it, and choose R for repair.

Note: you may have to re-install updates from windows update.
 
Hi

Depending on what kind of XP CD you have, see the following article
regarding a 'Repair' install:

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


| Recently, due to a thunderstorm, my computer was
| improperly shut down and I haven't been able to
| reboot/start it back up since. The Windows XP opening
| page displays for about a second, then shuts down again.
| A error screen appears and asks to "Start up windows
| normally, in Safe Mode, or the Last Successful
| Configuration" attempt. I've tried every option and the
| same thing occurs - shuts down. A friend of mine believes
| that the software may have a damaged boot file or
| something, due to the lightening from the thunderstorm.
| He also stated that the Windows software will have to be
| re-installed, which means everything will be wiped away on
| my hard drive. I have a lot of important documents on the
| hard drive and don't want to wipe it clean. Does XP
| Installation disk have a repair feature? Or am I stuck
| having to wipe my hard drive clean? Please help with any
| info on this matter. Thank you...........
 
Hi, Michael.

Lightning can do straaange things - to computers and other things,
especially electrical things.

Assuming you've concluded that a reinstallation is the way to go, read this
article from the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

This will reinstall WinXP itself, but will preserve your installed
applications and data. It will take as long as a fresh install, and you
will need to visit Windows Update as soon as you get your firewall and
antivirus working again. Even with broadband, it can take an hour or more
to download just SP1 if you need that. Better plan on half a day for the
in-place upgrade.

RC
 
Michael said:
my hard drive. I have a lot of important documents on the
hard drive and don't want to wipe it clean. Does XP
Click to expand...

If they are important then you have at least two forms of backup you
made that you can use right?
 
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