XP upgrade disaster

[SvpialS]

Well maybe

I tried upgrading from Win2-pro to XP-pro, but the setup
fails, mid-setion and reboots my compter. The computer
boots with XP, or the part of XP it did get-from the
partial installation. Upon reboot XP attempts to continue
the setup, only to fail again; sending my box into a never
ending cycle of failure.

My questions:


1. I'm sitting in front of the C: prompt. I'm trying to
access my "D & S" directory, but my access is denied. How
can I log into root/admin from the prompt.

2. Can I restore my OS?

3. As a last resort, whats the best way to back-up what
ever I can salvage?

*I only have about 2 gigs of HD space on my laptop
*I botched my Network configuration up, which is why
decided to upgrade.
*I've done this transition before with no problems
(flawless). I migrated back to 2000 because its
performance was much better. I wouldn't mind the XP
upgrade, if I new it, I could get it to run better than it
did.

Thanks

 

[Ron Rector]

Is it rebooting at "Installing Devices"?

 

[R. McCarty]

You could do a side-by-side install of Xp/2000 and then
access your original Documents and Settings and recover
data. Or you could put the drive in another PC and take
ownership of the files.

**Also, this failed setup is probably device driver related.
You might go into BIOS and turn off all peripherals and
see if the install will proceed. Afterwards, you could add
devices back into the Device Tree