[eddyduane]

My computer won't boot. It starts to boot, gets as far as the initial windows screen, momentarily flashes a blue screen (I think it's the Blue screen of death) and then it tries to reboot again with the same result. I can't get it to boot in any way. (safe mode, safe mode with prompt, last known good configuration, or normal mode). Infact, when I try any one of those, it just starts the reboot cycle again. I have already tried several boot disc's to no avail. (I don't have the original CD or the original code). I have a load of software and hundreds of important files on this harddrive. I must fix this problem....PLEASE, any help would be really appreciated.

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Howdy and welcome to GTG:

Where is your original cd and key code?

Murray

[Murray S.]

Howdy and welcome to GTG:

Where is your original cd and key code?

Murray

[eddyduane]

I lost all of my computer stuff in a flood last year. I just had time to grab my computer tower and get out. We lost everything else...

[Murray S.]

Make and model of your system?

Do you have access to another computer you can slave your hdd to?

Murray

[RichAnd]

Take to your local computer repair shop if files so important to you.

Worth the $$

[eddyduane]

Murray, I did that but the harddrive just keeps doing the continuous reboot

[Murray S.]

You did what?

Again, what is the make and model of your system?

Murray

[eddyduane]

Murray, I bought the components and had the computer built.... AMD AtHLON 1800 PROCESSOR...ASUS MOTHERBOARD...1024 RAM...400 WT POWER SUPPLY. That was about 7 years ago. Even though it was an older computer, it has always worked very well for me.

[Murray S.]

Okay.. that hurts a bit.

When you say you used several boot disks, what are you referring to - other XP cd's or what?

Were the XP cd's (if that is what you used) the exact same version as the one on your system?

What happened when you tried to use them?

Have you slaved your hdd to a different system and pulled your files off yet?

Murray

[eddyduane]

Murray, (1st question) I have 2 boot disc's. #1 is called the "Black Boot Disc"..and the other is called the "Ultimate Boot Disc". Both disc's claim to be able to be able to boot ANY system from the disc...But...when I inserted them into the CDdrive, it just continues to reboot itself. (2nd question) I took my tower into the only computer shop in town. (I live in a little town on the coast of Oregon). The guy that runs the shop could'nt get past the continuous rebooting. I then removed the harddrive, brought it home, and inserted it into my wife's computer. ( unplugging her harddrive ). My harddrive did the same continuous rebooting. I guess the problem is on my harddrive, not in the rest of my system. I am recovering from cancer and don't have the money to take the harddrive into Portland to a tech, and get it fixed. (if it can be). A friend of mine told me that I might be able to get the help I needed on your forum. That's why I contacted you. I know this is a serious problem with my harddrive, but I would appreciate any help you can give...CW

[dragontree]

You are not supposed to disconnect the other HD. Leave it plugged in so you can boot from that drive. You have to set your drive as slave. If its a sata drive then just plug it in, but if itse ide, then you have to change some jumpers to allow it to work as a slave drive.

[Murray S.]

Does your wife have a retail XP cd or a Recovery/Restore cd?

If it is not an OEM, then you can boot using that cd (make sure the first boot device in BIOS is set to the cd drive).

Once the system boots to the cd, go to the Recovery Console (watch the screen as it will tell you what key to press to get there and when).

Once in the RC, type in chkdsk /r and press enter. Let it run. Once finished, remove the cd and reboot.

Murray