Computer restarts over and over....

Edited by mohater, 17 November 2008 - 07:35 PM.

You have to choose the
To set up Windows XP on the selected item, press ENTER
make sure you don't choose the option "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R"
Accept the License Agreement, Windows will then search for previous installations
Select the Install you want to repair and then push R, if repair is not given as an option, END SETUP

You might run into a brick wall if you use your roommates disc as the alograthim for the code varies from manufacture, to edition, to etc..

You don't need a retail disc to restore your computer, but there are 2 options to restore using the disc:

Restore - which rolls back XP to the version that was installed when you got the laptop (this corrects corrupt OSs, it will NOT be a good fix for any mal-ware).
Clean install - wipes clean and starts over.

There are many tools to recover your data. I prefer to use knoppix (a fully bootable Linux OS that will let you read your hdd and copy files to an external or burn a CD/DVD).

edit: the guy above told you how to do the restore.

Yes you can use knoppix to copy files. You do need somewhere to copy the files to though, either another hard drive, flash drive, or burn it to CD or DVD. I am not sure if Knoppix is by default a LiveCD or not(I use Ubuntu), so just make sure it is a LiveCD or maybe mohater can help you with that part. G'luck

You might run into a brick wall if you use your roommates disc as the alograthim for the code varies from manufacture, to edition, to etc..

You don't need a retail disc to restore your computer, but there are 2 options to restore using the disc:

Restore - which rolls back XP to the version that was installed when you got the laptop (this corrects corrupt OSs, it will NOT be a good fix for any mal-ware).
Clean install - wipes clean and starts over.

There are many tools to recover your data. I prefer to use knoppix (a fully bootable Linux OS that will let you read your hdd and copy files to an external or burn a CD/DVD).

edit: the guy above told you how to do the restore.

So say I could use Knoppix to copy document files that i want and then do a clean install or format to get my computer back to working form? I'm kinda computer stupid when it comes to this type junk so any obvious information pertaining to this i would really appreciate. thanks.

Edited by mohater, 17 November 2008 - 08:12 PM.

Edited by BryanW, 17 November 2008 - 08:16 PM.

You might run into a brick wall if you use your roommates disc as the alograthim for the code varies from manufacture, to edition, to etc..

You don't need a retail disc to restore your computer, but there are 2 options to restore using the disc:

Restore - which rolls back XP to the version that was installed when you got the laptop (this corrects corrupt OSs, it will NOT be a good fix for any mal-ware).
Clean install - wipes clean and starts over.

There are many tools to recover your data. I prefer to use knoppix (a fully bootable Linux OS that will let you read your hdd and copy files to an external or burn a CD/DVD).

edit: the guy above told you how to do the restore.

So say I could use Knoppix to copy document files that i want and then do a clean install or format to get my computer back to working form? I'm kinda computer stupid when it comes to this type junk so any obvious information pertaining to this i would really appreciate. thanks.

Knoppix is a free standing OS - you pop in the CD, boot from CD, and in a couple mins tops you'll have a screen with a desktop and the *almost* full hardware support.

Somethings to keep in mind:

You have to enable read/write mode (it's ready only by default)
If you copy files to an external, it can't be formatted in NTFS, it needs to be fat32.

If you decide to download knoppix and do a clean install, let me know if you have other questions about knoppix. I was in the same boat a couple years ago and knoppix saved me by letting me break NTFS encryption to get to my docs and other folders.

edit: the google is very useful for definitions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_CD

Thank you a [bleep]ing ton!!! Knoppix worked and I got through all that intense german language and saved all the files i needed onto a flash drive!!!! Such a huge relief. So then i formatted my hard drive and that went smooth but then I started my computer back up and it says:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
Please reinstall a copy of above file

What do i do here? I'm not too worried cause i know i'll be able to figure this out. My main concern was just getting those important files and that worked out so this shouldn't drive me nuts. Help me get through this last hiccup. thanks again guys!!!!!

Micah

Okay I got that fixed and my desktop pulled up. But most of the files that came with my computer are not there even sound devices, etc. So I figured I could just get on the internet and get updates and download them. Well my wireless wouldn't cooperate then I tried plugging the an internet cord directly into my computer and the green light comes on in the back but it will not load Internet Explorer. What is going on?????