[blithe87]

Every time I turn on laptop (which is an Averatec 3700 Series) it goes to the screen where it gives you the option of setting your computer on "safe mode" "Safe Mode w/Networking" "Safe Mode w/Command Prompt" "Last known configuration" and "Start Windows Normally"

So far I've tried every option but I get a blue screen of death every time. The problem is the blue screen of death flashes quickly before I can read what the error is.

My first question is, what do I do in order to be able to see the error message on the blue screen when I cannot actually log on to my computer? I think I need this info. in order to receive further help.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ThorXP]

Welcome to TSF....

Give this a try:

If you have a Full Operating System on CD then you can try this:

1. Configure the computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For information about how to do this, see your computer documentation, or contact your computer manufacturer.
2. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
3. When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
4. When you receive the "Welcome to Setup" message, press R to start the Recovery Console.
5. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you have to use from the Recovery Console.
6. When you are prompted, type the administrator password, and then press ENTER (if none was set, leave it blank and press ENTER).
7. At the command prompt, type bootcfg /list, and then press ENTER. The entries in your current Boot.ini file appear on the screen.
8. At the command prompt, type bootcfg /rebuild, and then press ENTER. This command scans the hard disks of the computer for Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows NT installations, and then displays the results. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to add the Windows installations to the Boot.ini file. For example, follow these steps to add a Windows XP installation to the Boot.ini file:

a. When you receive a message that is similar to the following message:
Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
[1] C:\Windows
Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All)
Press Y hit ENTER.

b. When, you receive a message that is similar to the following message:
Enter Load Identifier
This is the name of the operating system. Type the name of your operating system, and then press ENTER. The name is either Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.

c. When you receive a message that is similar to the following:
Enter OS Load options
Type /fastdetect, and then press ENTER.

Take the CD out of the drive.

Type exit then press ENTER.

Note: The instructions that appear on your screen may be different, depending on the configuration of your computer.

 

[blithe87]

I don't have the Full Operating System on CD. Is there something else I can do?

 

[mommabear]

I "think" all you have to do to stop the message long enough to read and write down is press the pause button as quickly as possible when it comes up.