XP Pro SP2 Install only gives continuous reboot

[Deborah]

I sent the exceprt of an email to Compaq about 0300PST
this morning. After numberous phone calls and email,
they recommended that I restore from the CDs supplied
with the laptop. Problem is that I will lose all my
personal information. I really want to prevent that. Do
you have any recommendations?

=======================excerpt below======================

Can some one please help me? I bought this Compaq
Presario 2500 Notebook last year. I have had no problems
until now when installing the Windows XP SP2. I really
need this laptop to work.

If I have to take it someplace for it to be looked at
please let me know. Right now I am using a Sony Desktop
to write to you while I am still on hold via the Compaq
Presario help line.

=======================excerpt below======================

As I stated the email repla was to do a QuickRestore with
the Systems Recovery CDs. This is because I cannot get
to the logon window. I only get continuals reboots
cycles and no matter if I press F2 or "L' or "D" I cannot
seem to break the cycle. I would appreciate any clues,
suggestions or solutions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

... I cannot get
to the logon window. I only get continuals reboots
cycles and no matter if I press F2 or "L' or "D" I cannot
seem to break the cycle. ...

Deborah,

please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm.

Hans-Georg

 

[George Birbilis]

boot from a Windows XP Pro installation CD, then install Windows XP Pro at a
different folder so that you'll be able to boot your system. When it asks
for drivers etc. for plug&play devices point it to the older windows folder
to get them from there (press Browse, see what filename it's looking for,
then search the harddisk to see where it is)

btw, can't you press F8 during boot and do a safe-boot or some step-by-step
one to see where it crashes?

other way may be to use some sysinternals tool (www.sysinternals.com) to
monitor your boot from another machine and see at which driver the problem
is, then boot from diskette using NTFS driver from sysinternals (or put the
hard disk on other machine since the recovery console's default option
doesn't allow much editing of stuff on the machine) and rename that driver
file so that it doesn't load at startup and crash your machine

what are F2 or L/D supposed to do at reboot?