[kasass]

i'm using a friends laptop for now but not for long.
here is the problem: i was using the computer on thursday night and last night, and my computer shut down normally, but then tis morning when i tried to open it up and use my computer, it won't open, it opens then there are two options, windows just automatically chooses the second one and then it continues onto another screen with 5 options to choose from for me to open up my computer: 1.)was "safe mode" 2.) "safe mode with networking" 3.) "safe mode with command prompt" 4.）“Last known good configuration(your most recent settings that worked) 5.) "Start windows normally". Well i tried # 1, 2, 4, and 5. but they did not work with starting up my computer properly, it doesn't even reach the welcome screen, it just shut's down and thecycle repeats again with the same results, it gets to a screen with two options and windows chooses the second option, fly's to the next screen with the five aforementioned options, i choose any random one, the screen flashes and doesn't even reach welcome screen, shuts down and restarts all over again.
sorry for such a long description of the problem, but i was thinking that if you knew more about the problem u might be able to help me out quicker. also i was wondering is there a way that i can access the fresh, clean system restore point that comfix has created for me during its clean up b/c chemist helped me out with getting rid of virus' and i installed combofix and when i deleted it a new system restore point was created for me?
sorry to bother you and ramble on like this but there was an important project for my job i was working on on thursday on my computer that is very important but i need to finish it ASAP and i am becoming worried with the situation that is developing. Please help. Sorry and thanks again.

 

[kasass]

the first option was "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console"
but the second one i was not really sure of.
if this is any help.

 

[Dracia]

If you go to safe mode with command prompt, you can type "rstrui.exe" and it will bring up system restore.

 

[kasass]

what do i do then?

 

[kasass]

excuse my skepticism but are you an expert?
i'm sorry i'm not trying to eff around with you or anything, just that i don't really trust people who are not part of the team and I don't want to eff up my comp you know?
I don't want to accidentally delete all of my work and my important data stored in my comp.

 

[kasass]

the safe mode with command prompt doesn't log in either

 

[kasass]

i can't log into my comp at all. it won't load the welcome screen.

 

[Dracia]

Just to clarify, I am not a part of the tech support forum's team, but I never give advice unless I am 100% that I know what I am talking about. System restore does not erase your files.

 

[kasass]

i know but as i said in my previous reply, i can't do any of the "Safe Mode" boot up's.
and neither can i do any of the things listed in the 5 options that I was given,
the only option I can see that i can do right now will be to choose the "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" am i right? also do you know what it does the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console？

 

[Fren Banklin]

If you can't boot to Safe Mode, you have serious system file corruption or Hard Drive errors, or both. The suggestion to run System Restore was a good (and safe) one.

Boot using a Windows XP disk to Recovery Console and run the following:

1) fixboot
2) fixmbr
3) chkdsk /r

The last should fix any hard drive errors you may have, the first two are a preventative "just in case".

If this does not work -AND- you cannot boot to Safe Mode, you are going to need to do (at least) a Repair Install, if not a full New Install.

Disconnect any unnecessary hardware during the troubleshooting process. It may be a piece of hardware is causing the problem. Especially USB devices.

 

[Dracia]

I have sent a PM regarding this thread to a mentor here called Dunedin. She is a technical support mentor and I feel she will be able to help more than I can.

 

[kasass]

thank you and sorry about that mistrust in you but i am in a bit of a hurry to get my comp back to normal as quick as possible.

 

[Dunedin]

Hello kasass :smile:

That`s all good advice you have been given by everyone.
Try to
1 repair the boot.ini and if that does not work
2 check the hard drive for errors.

1. Can you access that first option for "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console"?
If you can, at the flashing cursor type
Bootcfg /Rebuild
ENTER

The exact wording will depend on your setup, but after a few moments you'll see a prompt that says something like:
Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
[1] C:\Windows
Add Installation To Boot List?

Assuming the information you see is correct, enter
Y
Bootcfg will start the process of rebuilding the boot list to include the indicated Windows installation

After a moment, you'll be asked to "Enter Load Identifier."
This is the name of the operating system that will appear in boot menus.
Type
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
or
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
(whichever your system is)
ENTER
Next you'll be asked to "Enter OS Load Options."
For normal installations, enter
/Fastdetect
ENTER

Type
Exit
to leave the Recovery Console and reboot the PC, which should then start normally.

If you cannot access this option you will need an XP installation CD to use the Recovery Console. If you do not have a CD you can borrow one for this repair. Then....
Start your PC with the XP Setup CD in the drive. When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD..." prompt, do so and let the CD-based boot process begin.

When the Recovery Console option is offered ("Press R to start the Recovery Console"), do so. You may be asked which Windows installation to enter, in which case type the number of the Windows installation you wish to work on (usually "1").

When prompted, enter the Administrator's password for that Windows installation. If you did not set a password just press ENTER

At the command prompt, type
Bootcfg /Rebuild
ENTER

Then follow the instructions as above.

2. If this does not help you should check the hard drive.
Boot back into the Recovery Cnsole as you did before.
At the flashing cursor type
chkdsk /r (there is a space before /)
ENTER

Try these and see how you get on.
If they don`t help, as Fren Banklin said, I think you will have to Repair or reistall XP

Good luck

.

 

[kasass]

ok i'll try this now.
by the way will it restore my data that was in my comp?
nothing will be lost i presume?

 

[kasass]

i tried to wat you said to do, Dunedin, but it said an error occured:
"File \CMDCONS\halaacpi.dll could not be loaded. The error code is 4.
Setup cannot continue. Press any key to exit."
what does that mean and wat can I do to fix it?
i did this without the boot disk because i don't have one at the moment, but i will try to get one right now. and try the second method with the disk.

 

[kasass]

i put in the cd and booted up the comp with it but i can't get to the recovery console.
This "When the Recovery Console option is offered ("Press R to start the Recovery Console"), do so. You may be asked which Windows installation to enter, in which case type the number of the Windows installation you wish to work on (usually "1")."
is not offered, i can't see it anywhere.

 

[kasass]

it shows me a page with the drives that are partitioned, and gives me three options 1.) Enter a partitioned drive 2.) Delete a partitioned drive 3.) Quit.
those are the only things that I see nothing more and at the top of that same page it say's Windows XP Professional Setup page. what should I choose or do? anyone?

 

[justpassingby]

@ Dunedin : please note that kasass is also following instructions from chemist about the very same problem in his HJT log thread : http://www.techsupportforum.com/sec...look-thank-you-any-help-would-accepted-3.html

@ kasass : you'll only run into troubles if you follow different instructions from different people at the same time, make sure you notify chemist that you're being helped in the XP support section as well.

 

[kasass]

oh ok sorry about that just wanted to make sure of something and have someone confirm what chemist said about when i delete combofix, it will create a brand new restore point and it will delete all the previous infected restore points is all. didn't mean to cause trouble.

 

[kasass]

please anyone help. sorry to sound urgent but it really is importnat.