Windows XP will not Start

[Guest]

I was having problems with Kodak EasyShare. One solution suggested to take
it out of the MSCONFIG file. I ran MSCONFIG, clicked the Kodak EasyShare,
clicked Apply. It then told me that I needed to reboot my computer. I did.
Now the system comes up Start Windows Normally or Start from last Known
Settings that Worked. No matter what I click, it goes back to this screen.
What did I do?! How can I fix it?

Please help - cf

 

[Guest]

I suggest you start in safe mode and do a system retore to a time when the
computer was starting correctly.

Mike

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I was having problems with Kodak EasyShare. One solution suggested to take
it out of the MSCONFIG file. I ran MSCONFIG, clicked the Kodak EasyShare,
clicked Apply. It then told me that I needed to reboot my computer. I
did.
Now the system comes up Start Windows Normally or Start from last Known
Settings that Worked. No matter what I click, it goes back to this
screen.
What did I do?! How can I fix it?

Please help - cf

Try booting into Safe Mode, then use System Restore to go
back a few days.

 

[Guest]

It will not go past the Safe Mode Screen. No matter what I select it goes
back to it. Any ideas how to get around it? Thank you for any assistance.

cf

 

[R. McCarty]

Do you have a Windows installation CD ?, if so you may have to
boot to the Recovery Console and do a manual roll-back of the
Registry. ( Not an easy process & potentially could make things
worse ). I wouldn't attempt this unless the PC is imaged or your
personal data is backed up.

Warnings aside, the process is detailed here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

 

[Just.some.guy]

I have that *same* problem!!! I am anxiously awaiting the solution.

 

[Guest]

PC is not imaged. Some files are backed up. Sounds like I am screwed :-(

cf

 

[Guest]

Okay, you try the recovery console first and let me know how it works

cf

 

[Anna]

I was having problems with Kodak EasyShare. One solution suggested to take
it out of the MSCONFIG file. I ran MSCONFIG, clicked the Kodak EasyShare,
clicked Apply. It then told me that I needed to reboot my computer. I
did.
Now the system comes up Start Windows Normally or Start from last Known
Settings that Worked. No matter what I click, it goes back to this
screen.
What did I do?! How can I fix it?

Please help - cf

Assuming you have a non-OEM-branded XP installation CD at your disposal and
not merely an OEM recovery CD or recovery partition situation you might
consider running a Repair install of the XP OS at this point in time in view
of your other futile attempts to get the system up & running.

I assume you've never done this before so here's some general info on the
process...

Undertaking a Repair install of the OS is a relatively straightforward
process. It would be roughly akin to making a fresh install of the OS, but
in nearly every case your existing programs & user-created data would be
retained. Notice I said "nearly". While it would be a rather rare situation
where data would be lost or corrupted as a result of the Repair install, and
as unlikely as it may be, it *could* happen.

So if there are any programs and/or other data on your present drive that
are absolutely crucial to you and you could not tolerate its loss, then I
would strongly suggest that before undertaking this Repair install operation
that you first either make a clone of your existing HDD (using a disk
imaging program) or, if possible, install the HDD in another machine as a
secondary HDD so that you can pull off whatever data you want.

As I've indicated it's a rare event that a loss or corruption of data will
occur even when the Repair install is unsuccessful, but it can happen. So I
want you to be aware of this.

There are a number of websites that contain step-by-step instructions for
undertaking a Repair install. Let me assure you that it's not a difficult
process and not terribly time-consuming. If you do a Google search on "XP
repair install", you'll be pointed to many of these sites. Here are a few...
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#RI
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm

Assuming the Repair install is successful, you should use your A-V program
to immediately check out your PC for any virus infestation. Also, you will
need to download/install *all* the MS critical updates since SP2. (I'm
assuming that if you undertake this Repair install of the XP OS, you will be
doing so with a XP CD that contains SP2). That, of course, is one of the
downsides re undertaking a Repair install in that it's usually an onerous
task to download all the Critical Updates from MS especially if you have a
dialup phone connection rather than broadband.

Anyway, give this some thought if you can't get your system back to a
functional state any other way.
Anna

 

[Alias]

PC is not imaged. Some files are backed up. Sounds like I am screwed :-(

cf

Take the hard drive out. Put a new one in. Install XP and your programs.
Change the jumpers on the old hard drive to slave and connect it as a
slave to your computer. Move the files that you didn't back up to the
new hard drive. I would then buy an external USB case for the old hard
drive and, after formatting it, use it as a back up drive.

Alias

 

[Guest]

Thanks, all, I'm going to try this when I find my desks. At this point the
computer is totally useless so losing some stuff is not as bad as losing
everything. We recently moved and all the software is in a box - somewhere -
.. One more question, sorry for the ignorance, what is OEM?

 

[Guest]

original equipment manufacturer. Some supply OEM disks that return you PC to
how it was when you bought it. You can't do an installation repair if its
simply a recovery CD

 

[Guest]

So is my Dell PC purchased with Windows XP and OEM?

cf

 

[Alias]

So is my Dell PC purchased with Windows XP and OEM?

cf

Yep, and repair is out of the question. Read the suggestions in my post.

Alias

 

[Guest]

I will have to get assistance on that suggestion. I am intimidated by it as I
think it is above my skill level.

cf

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

So is my Dell PC purchased with Windows XP and OEM?

Your copy of Windows is a Dell OEM copy. It is locked to that
original computer's motherboard.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Removing EasyShare item from MSconfig would not have caused the problem you
are seeing. It is possible that your initial issues were related to a
hardware problem like a failing drive or bad sectors on the drive and the
fact that it doesn't boot now is simply coincidental to the removal of
EasyShare from MSConfig.

Is your computer still under warranty?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

So is my Dell PC purchased with Windows XP and OEM?

You didn't quote anything, so I'm not sure what this is about, but,
no, you are apparently misunderstanding what "OEM" means.

"OEM" stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer." An OEM is a
*company*, one that builds computers and sells them to the public. In
your case, your OEM is Dell.

The term "OEM" is also used for some software. When you buy an OEM
computer (for example, from Dell) the copy of Windows XP that you get
from them is called an "OEM version." You can also buy generic (not
supplied by a particular OEM) OEM versions that you can install
yourself.

OEM versions of Windows are sometimes identical to retail versions,
but are sometimes customized by the particular OEM. OEM versions (not
the generic ones) are also sometimes BIOS-locked to a particular
computer and can't be used on any other.

An OEM version can only legally be sold with hardware, although these
days, any piece of hardware, even a power cord, qualifies. Although if
you get a complete generic OEM version, it contains the same software,
it (and any OEM version) has the following disadvantages as compared
with the retail version:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.

 

[Alias]

I will have to get assistance on that suggestion. I am intimidated by it as I
think it is above my skill level.

cf

It's not as hard as you think. Computers are just fancy erector sets.
All you need is a screw driver and a pair of tweezers. Dell's cases are
easy to open. On top of the hard drive, it will tell you where to set
the jumper for Master and for Slave. The ribbon that your current hard
drive is connected to is where you put the Master. The other connection
on the same ribbon is for the slave drive.

So, a new hard drive will probably be set as Master already so all you
have to do is set the old one as a slave. A jumper is a little plastic
thing that covers pins on one end of the hard drive. Use tweezers to
pull out the little plastic "jumper" and move it to where the hard drive
says will convert it into a slave.

Once you have the new hard drive screwed into the case, boot into the
BIOS (usually Del or F2 will take you there) and set the CD to boot
first. Slip in the recovery CD from Dell. Exit, saving changes, from the
BIOS and let the CD do its thing. When it's done, your computer will be
set up just like it was when you bought it.

Turn off the computer and pull out the plug to the electrical socket.
Always pull the plug out of the computer before removing or installing
hardware. Put the slave drive in. Turn on the computer and you will see
and be able to access/copy your data.

Alias

 

[norm]

You didn't quote anything, so I'm not sure what this is about, but,
no, you are apparently misunderstanding what "OEM" means.

"OEM" stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer." An OEM is a
*company*, one that builds computers and sells them to the public. In
your case, your OEM is Dell.

The term "OEM" is also used for some software. When you buy an OEM
computer (for example, from Dell) the copy of Windows XP that you get
from them is called an "OEM version." You can also buy generic (not
supplied by a particular OEM) OEM versions that you can install
yourself.

OEM versions of Windows are sometimes identical to retail versions,
but are sometimes customized by the particular OEM. OEM versions (not
the generic ones) are also sometimes BIOS-locked to a particular
computer and can't be used on any other.

An OEM version can only legally be sold with hardware, although these
days, any piece of hardware, even a power cord, qualifies.

Are you you sure of the hardware thing? Are newegg and others doing
something illegal?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=Vista+OEM
No requirement for hardware that I see.