[Xtreme930]

My windows XP pro just crashed after i restarted my pc... I don't know why but maybe cuz i changed my boot.ini?? Yeah, I did change my boot.ini but i don't know how to recover it!! Anyways, anyone can you please help me!?

Thanks,

Xtreme

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Can you boot into Safe Mode or Last Known Good Configuration?
Did you save the original Boot.ini file?
Have you tried to do a System Restore?
What was the reason for changing the boot.ini file?

[rshaffer61]

Can you boot into Safe Mode or Last Known Good Configuration?
Did you save the original Boot.ini file?
Have you tried to do a System Restore?
What was the reason for changing the boot.ini file?

[Xtreme930]

I changed the boot.ini file because i couldnt download SP3 and I tried turning it on to safe mode and last good known config, but once i started my pc... it says Hal.DLL is missing or corrupted... I do have a recovery disk though..

[rshaffer61]

In most instances a recovery disk will format the system and take it back to factory default settings.

[rshaffer61]

If you have your Windows XP disk

• Insert your Windows XP disk into your computer and reboot
• Make sure the PC is set to run from the CD as the primary boot device.
  NOTE: You do this by setting your PC to boot to the CD-ROM in BIOS (enter bios by pressing f1, f2 or del key during memory count up, then search for boot order, and set the CD as the first boot device)
• When the PC boots, it will boot from the CD...after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for Recovery Console. You will be asked to log in.
  NOTE: For Windows XP Home, there is not password, just hit ENTER. For Windows XP pro, ask whomever set up the machine what password they used.

When you see the Recovery console C:\WINDOWS prompt continue to section 3 (Running "ChkDsk")

If you DO NOT have your Windows XP disk

• Download RC.ISO from Here.
• Now burn this ISO image to a CD and boot your computer with it.
  NOTE: Keep in mind that this is different than burning a file to a CD-ROM. If you do not know how to burn an ISO image, then download CDBurnerXP Pro to another Windows machine and install it. Then go Here for instructions for burning the ISO image
• Once the CD is created, place it in the defunct computer
• Then reboot your broken PC with that CD in the CD-ROM drive.
• Make sure the PC is set to run from the CD as the primary boot device.
  NOTE: You do this by setting your PC to boot to the CD-ROM in BIOS (enter bios by pressing f1, f2 or del key during memory count up, then search for boot order, and set the CD as the first boot device)
• When the PC boots, it will boot from the CD...after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for Recovery Console. You will be asked to log in.
  NOTE: For Windows XP Home, there is not password, just hit ENTER. For Windows XP pro, ask whomever set up the machine what password they used.

Running "ChkDsk"

• At the Recovery console C:\WINDOWS prompt, type
  

  chkdsk /r

• Press ENTER
• Let this scan run UNINTERUPTED until completed (30 min or so depending on the drive)
• Report any errors in your next reply
• Once the scan is complete, Type exit, and then press ENTER to quit Recovery Console.
• Your computer will now restart, boot from the CD again and continue with the next steps.

Using "BootCfg /Rebuild" to fix the "Boot.ini" file

• At the Recovery console C:\WINDOWS prompt, type
  

  bootcfg /rebuild

• Press ENTER
  Note: The bootcfg /rebuild command scans the hard disks of the computer for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP installations, and then displays the results. You can add the detected Windows installations.
• When you receive a message that is similar to the following message, press Y:
  

  
  Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
  
  [1] C:\Windows
  Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All)
  

  NOTE: You may see more than one entry here if you have a dual boot windows system. If this is the case follow this procedure for ALL installations to make sure that all OS's are added correctly
• You receive a message that is similar to the following message:
  

  Enter Load Identifier

  NOTE: This is the name of the operating system. This is either Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
• Type the name of your operating system, and then press ENTER
• You receive a message that is similar to the following:
  

  Enter OS Load options

• Type /fastdetect, and then press ENTER.
• Type exit, and then press ENTER to quit Recovery Console.
• Your computer will restart, and the updated boot list may appear when you receive the "Please select the operating system to start" message.
• If you see a Boot list with multiple entries choose the XP Home option to boot to windows.

[Xtreme930]

Ok... I tried chkdsk utility and it completed but i don't know what to do next because it only scanned it and showed me the results, then bootcfg said there are damaged files and told me to chkdsk... then i havent tried the last step but two of them are kinda screwed up... please help! thanks..

[Xtreme930]

Btw... do you by any chance have a format disk for vista home premium... i know this is out of topic but can i get it if you have one please... idk how!!! but both of my computers are broken...

[rshaffer61]

Please fix your signature as I can't see your text. Thank you.

[Xtreme930]

kk i fixed it...

[rshaffer61]

Vista installation disk will do the format and reinstall.
Next if chkdsk found errors and fixed them then rerun it till it doesn't find anymore.
We should run a HD diagnostics to make sure the drive itself is ok or not.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

Thanks to Broni for the instructions

[Xtreme930]

Thanks for the Vista info... apparently, both of my pcs' are broken and only my laptop let me in Safe Mode... but anyways, do you think if i call the manufacter of my computer that they will let me get a new computer? I probably had this computer for about 3-4 months now. Btw, It is a Compaq

[rshaffer61]

If there is nothing hardware wise wrong with the system they probably will not replace it. If it is software they may charge you to fix it.
If you have the recovery disk then you should be able to take it back to how it was when you bought it new

[Xtreme930]

ok thanks but back to where we left off on XP... umm... i still havent tried your third step so i got to try it... but is there any other way i can contact you, email??

[rshaffer61]

Support is only supplied in the forum.
You can pm me if it has been a couple of days since I last replied.
I see you started a new topic and is this the same system on that topic?
I also found a third topic on the same issue. Those two topics have been closed.
The issue can be assisted in this topic.
Please do not start another topic as this will cause possible confusion with other techs and duplicating what has already been suggested.

[rshaffer61]

It seems to be the OS has suffered a serious problem and it may come down to the last suggestion I gave where you will need to do a recovery installation.
Is there any data that needs to be saved before we get to that?