XP won't start, can't access Safe Mode

[Howdego]

Due to my own negligence, I think, I requested a download of XP, SP3 at the
same time I asked for an update to the Microsoft software update program.
Somewhere during the install process (I had walked away), my Dell E1505
Laptop crashed. I found a message that a â€problem has been detected, Windows
has shut down and I should restart in Safe Mode†to clean out the programs
I just added. After this restart failed from the message page, I tried to
restart using the F8 command, selecting Safe Mode, XP Media Center OS. The
response is a list of about 30 file paths like
“multi(0)disk(0)partition(2)…etcâ€. After about 30 seconds, the screen
changes to the original notice that a problem has been detected and to
restart in Safe Mode. At the bottom of the page is more data, like “stop
0X00000007E (….). I tried restarting several times. Once selecting the
option “pick last known good configuration. Same circle of pages begins.

So, does anyone know if I can fix this problem? I don’t know if I have the
DELL PC restore partition on my laptop. I understand I could clean the hard
disk and reinstall the initial key software if it is there. How can I find
out? Can I bring up Safe Mode in another way? Might I use the startup disk
that came with the computer? Might I have to erase my hard disk and start
again or just take out the recently offending software?? If so, is there an
instruction as to how to do this?

Sorry for the long explanation. In 15 years of computer use, this is the
first time I have run into a wall like this. Fortunately, I did back up my
data before performing the update.

 

[howdego]

More info,

I just tried to start the laptop using the OS CD that came with the
computer, but the system is not accessing it. I assumed i could use it to
access the hard disk.

 

[Keith W]

Don't know about your main problem but to access the CD on bootup you may
first have to get into the BIOS and set the first boot device to the CD.
Most machines need you to press the Del key during initial boot to get to
the BIOS although some use F10 or other keys, hopefully it will tell you on
screen during start up.

 

[db.·.. >]

there are a couple of
possibilities, neither
of which i think is
your fault.

1) sp3 is not fully
compatible for
all computers and
some drivers simply
have to be upgraded
by the manufacturer.

so you might study
the dell website on
the issues with sp3
and your model.

dell also has a forum
too.

2) your harddisk may
have simply run out
of disk space.

what i believe the best
course of action is so that
you can avoid a factory
restore and the likelihood of
loosing all your personal files
is to find or borrow a
win xp installation disk.

with it you can boot into
the recovery console and
access the disk and file system.

another benefit that the cd
provides other than simply
reinstalling the o.s. is the
method to repair the "installed"
o.s..

however, if sp3 was successfully
installed then you will unlikely
have the option to "repair" your
sp3 o.s. with a sp2 cd.

so if you can gain access to the
disk system via the recovery
console, then let us know and
we can provide some direction
from there.


btw: here is more info on the
error code you provided

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330182

http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?form=MSHOME&setlang=en-us&q=0X00000007E+&mkt=en-us
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db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>