[slaraplayboy]

I was downloading windows service pack 2 from microsoft's web page, but unfortunately I ran out of time and had to cancel the download. The following day the computer would not load windows. When I turn on the computer it starts up normal with the windows logo with the small loading bar below then all of a sudden the scene turns black and clicks off and begins the process again. I have tried safe mode and last time windows worked options and nothing. Please help thanks.

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Hi slaraplayboy...

Can you boot to Safe Mode with Command Prompt?

Restart your computer, and then press F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in "Safe Mode with a command prompt".

Type %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe at the command prompt, and then press "Enter"...Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to an earlier state.

Let us know how you fare...

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hi slaraplayboy...

Can you boot to Safe Mode with Command Prompt?

Restart your computer, and then press F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in "Safe Mode with a command prompt".

Type %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe at the command prompt, and then press "Enter"...Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to an earlier state.

Let us know how you fare...

wannabe1

[slaraplayboy]

I tried safe mode with command prompt and the screen becomes full of messages like:
multi(o)disk(o)rdisk(o)partition(1)\WINNT\system32\drivers\ACPI.sys
then it clicks off and begins again to try starting windows.

[wannabe1]

Do you have an XP installation CD?

[slaraplayboy]

Sorry the one that came with the computer I have misplaced. Hopefully you can still help me?

[wannabe1]

Ok...no CD....that limits things a bit. Do you have a floppy drive?

[slaraplayboy]

Yes I do have a floppy drive.

[slaraplayboy]

Last time I mentioned that I had misplaced my windows xp that gateway provided, and today I found some software that will hopefully help me restart my computer. Windows XP is still missing, but I found three discs Gateway Applications; Drivers; and Operating Sytems. Will these help restart my computer?

[wannabe1]

If they are the right ones, they sure should.

Put the Operating System one in the cd-rom drive and restart. What we want to look for first is the option to Repair XP. It's not always available on OEM cd's, so we'll just have to check. Take a look at the guide at the link I provided and see if youare able to access the repair feature.

wannabe1

[slaraplayboy]

the option to repair with recovery console is given should I select this option?

[wannabe1]

We need to verify that this is the right repair feature and not recovery console...

Go ahead and select that option. If it's the repair funtion we want you will get the screens like the ones in the guide and it will look just like an installation. If it goes to a command prompt, it's recovery console. If you actually accessed the repair, go ahead and complete it. You will be asked for your product key...it should be on a sticker on your machine (side or back on a desktop...bottom of a laptop) and will be a 25 character alpha-numeric code.

Go for it!

[slaraplayboy]

Sorry I took so long. Well I selected the repair option and sent me to a black screen saying which windows installation would you like to log onto?
Only option is: 1: C:\WINNT

So I selected 1 and pressed enter then it is asking me for an administrator password?

I tried typing in my password that I use to log onto my computer and nothing. After the third try the screen will tell me to type any key to restart computer. I tried about four times trying different variations on my password and even older passwords that I may have had in the past and still nothing. I don't know what else to do. Please help. It's late so if you respond I will answer tomorrow thanks for your time.

[slaraplayboy]

One other question I forgot to ask is my neighbor has a copy of windows xp and I was wondering if I could use it to help me repair my computer?

[wannabe1]

Hi slaraplayboy...

Try leaving the password blank (just press "Enter" at the password prompt). However, if you are being asked for the passsword, this is probably Recovery Console. If you do end up at a command prompt (C:\Windows>), type chkdsk /r, and press "Enter". Then it will ask if you want to run this on the next boot...type Y and press "Enter". Reboot. This is a pretty long check...be patient. Once complete, let it try to boot to Windows (don't press a key at the "boot from cd" prompt).

If your neighbor's XP cd is the same version (SP1 or SP2) that you have on your machine and is not OEM, then yes, you can use it to do the repair...you will need to use your product key, though. Follow the repair guide closely.

wannabe1