[jooools]

Hi

XP is not booting up for me at the moment - it gets so far and then just hangs there. I did notice not long before this happened that a C:WINDOWS folder appeared out of nowhere in my recycle bin. When I opened the bin folder there was nothing in there but the bin icon was showing full.

Eventually though it was deleted along with one or two other things. The next time I re-booted the system wouldn't load windows properly. I would imagine that these occurrences are related and would be grateful for any help to get my machine working again.


Thanks

Jooools

 

[dai]

tap f8 when booting and from the options try
last known good configuration
if no good try a system restore to an earlier date

 

[jooools]

The last known good configuration option didn't work. Not sure how to do a system restore though without windows started? Can you advise?

many thanks

 

[dai]

try safe mode from the options and before it goes into safe mode it should offer the restore
if not and you cannot access safe mode to do the restore you are looking at a repair installation

 

[ceri sheeran]

Hi,

If you cannot get to SAFEMODE to run System Restore

Can you get to a Comand Prompt.

This is another one of the options available when you press F8 on booting.

If so run System Restore from there

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

hth

Ceri

 

[jooools]

thanks - I think I may be looking ata repair installlation as I can't even get to a command prompt. Other options I have got on start up though are directory services repair mode (windows domain controllers only) and Enable Boot Logging - would either of these options help?

 

[ceri sheeran]

Hi,

You should have the boot menu when you press F8.

Do you get this

If your floppy disk drive is in the boot order, which is normal.

Try booting with a non bootable floppy disk in the disk drive. When you get the error message

"Non System Disk or Disk Error" now remove the floppy disk and then press F8.

You should get the boot menu which gives the option of Safe Mode or Comand Prompt.

Try System Restore in Safe Mode or from the Command Prompt using the instructions in the link given.

Aa repair install of XP may be your next option.

hth

Ceri

 

[jooools]

Tried the floppy disk but that didn't work.

The F8 command gives me several options, including safe mode etc - most of which I've tried

Can't get into safe mode at all. Whenever xp starts loading after whatever command the blue bars running across the screen at load up stop and it just hangs there.

 

[jooools]

Just had another go and the command prompt is only available under "Safe Mode with Command Prompt". Because I can't get into safe mode I don't think a command prompt is available.....

 

[dai]

boot into the recovery console and run
chkdsk /r
when that has finished run
logon
and see if you can bring up windows from this

 

[jooools]

hmm.....can't boot using the windows disk! It loads so much then when it gets to "loading windows" it hangs. This is before the "R" option comes up.

 

[dai]

run memtest on the ram
http://www.memtest86.com/

 

[jooools]

Ran the mem test - no errors reported. Anything else you guys can think of ?

How it can go from working perfectly for a few years to this beats the [email protected] out of me !!??

 

[dai]

try installing with only 1 stick of ram in

 

[jooools]

Tried booting the system with the xp disk with just one stick of ram and still no joy. I also tried booting using Microsoft's 6 floppy disk method and the system hung at pretty much the same point - it loads up and as soon as it gets to the "Windows starting" part it seizes up ( I think this is just before the user licence agreement comes up).

I'd be grateful for any other advice.

 

[dai]

clear the disk with killdisk
http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10188745.html
the do the install letting xp do the format

 

[jooools]

Is there anything else I can do - I have a lot of important data on the existing disk!? I don't want to wipe it without exploring all options including getting an engineer out.

 

[Girderman]

Can you boot to Recovery Console using the XP Installation Disk ?

If so, once you get to the C:\ command prompt, run the following in this order:

fixboot
fixmbr
chkdsk (/R for repair, I think)

Reading through the thread, I don't see any mention of HD errors being looked at as a possible cause.

If data is critical, it might be possible to purchase another drive (or get one, some way) install it in place of you current "C:\" drive, and slave the old one as a "D:\" (or whatever it winds up being).

That will give you the opportunity to get the data (maybe) off the drive, and then you can swap the drives back around and try to clean-off and reinstall on the original HD.

You could get a real nice, big one for about $100.00, or you could find a small (10 Gbyte) used one somewhere for about $10.00. Many computer shops sell used hard drives.

 

[jooools]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have got another PC with XP fortunately but I'm just wondering if I did link the bad drive to the good one as a slave, won't the bad drive still need a functioning OS to enable me to get to the data?

 

[jooools]

Well I managed to link up the "bad" drive to the new one as a Slave and recovered nearly all my data ! :smile: :smile: :smile: Thanks for your help and suggestions!

The only thing left I'd like to recover are my old e-mails but haven't a clue how to do this as I don't know where they are stored and if its even possible ! I didn't back them up either. Any suggestions would be welcome :wave: