xp does not boot up

  • Thread starter Thread starter spike
  • Start date Start date
S

spike

a friend has windows XP home version. when we start up
the computer, we only get as far as the screen with the
name of the computer manufacturer. windows does not start
and nothing more happens. we tried restarting with the
windows XP CD in the cd drive but same result. i just
downloaded the 6 floppy disk startup on another computer -
will this get the pc going? any other suggestions?
 
When the system starts enter your BIOS setup....there is a key you need to
push on keyboard to do this and usually it is the delete key but your start
screen should tell you this.
When you are in the BIOS be very carefull you change NOTHING except the
start up sequence.Change it so that your CD is first and your HD is 2nd.It
is usually on the advanced BIOS page under first boot device/second boot
device/etc..Save and exit.
Insert the XP CD and restart
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.
Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.
choose to repair. Then choose the
Recovery Console Option...
Choose the number corresponding to your XP version and enter your
Administrator Password (then press enter).

After that you'll see a command prompt...enter the following command:

bootcfg /rebuild" command to fix boot.ini.
this on>>>> FIXBOOT will fix the boot sector on the boot drive,
<<<<<<<<<<<<
FIXMBR will fix the master boot record if the NT loader
complains of a missing HAL or unmountable boot volume.
After the process is completed enter the command EXIT to quit (and the
system should auto reboot OK from that point onwards...
you may revert back to 1st boot device=HD0 if you wish.
peter
 
This all assumes you didn't create the problem in the
first palce by entering the computer case and dislodging
the controller data ribbon going to the motherbaord...

The floppy disks are a 30-minute bootup that is no
different when you're done than booting off the CD in 2
minutes.

When you boot up, before Windows, during BIOS POST, you
should see "hardware enumeration" where your devices are
listed (unless you've got a computer that is set to hide
all this useful info from you). If it's hidden, you might
need to enter the BIOS to look.
But does the drive get enumerated at all? Since Windows is
installed to the hard drive, you've got to make sure that
the motherboard can see the hard drive, first.

If it can see the drive, boot to the Windows CD. Are you
saying you can't even boot to the CD at all? If so, the
floppies aren't going to help you. You have a hardware
problem. If both the hard drive and CD drive went out
simultaneously, but still have power, then your controller
may be burned out (no data-level access).
You can buy and add additional controllers from computer
stores. They plug right into your PCI slots. Then you
ought to be able to remove the data ribbon from the
motherboard and plug it right into the new controller.

And then hope Windows doesn't blue-screen when you
reboot...
 
I've gone thru your pain. The only answer is to reformat
your drive and start a new install. Believe me I've been
there. Even the Windows repair feature does not fully
take care of the problem. That's because of something
called the hardware overlay. Trust me , start over.
JMG
 
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