[Beano52]

I'm back. My very old computer did a windows system update last night and now will not boot or finish booting.

This morning it was at the windows XP screen but was very dim. I was finally able to get it fully booted by using F8 and selecting "Last known good configuration". I imediately tried to do a system restore to 3 days earlier. It took extrememly long (20 mins, so maybe not that long?). Near the end of system restore it froze.

I tried several different reboots in various modes and only one time was able to get to "safe mode". I tried a system restore from 2 weeks earlier and it froze near the end of that restore.

by using F8 I am able to get to the screen with the following menu choices;


Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA Mode
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)
Directory Services restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)
Debugging Mode
Disable automatic restart on system failure

Start Windows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS choices Menu

------

I appreciate any help and just would like to know where to start. I do NOT have a XP recovery disk.

Mark

[Advertisements]

Hi Mark. Sounds like you may have file system corruption.

Try running chkdsk from Recovery Console:

You are going to have to get into BIOS Setup on your computer to set the CD/DVD drive as the first bootable device, so you can then boot your XP CD, unless it provides the ability to press a Fn key at boot time to bring up the boot selection menu. If it does, use that.

How you do this varies with each manufacturer. Normally you press F1, F2, F10 or Del when you see the manufacturers logo. Often there is a clue somewhere on the screen when you boot normally telling you what key to press. Some computers (most newer ones) have a key you can press (often F12) to bring up the Boot Menu from where you can select the CD/DVD drive to boot from.

If you don't have an XP CD, download and run ARCDC by Artellos on a working computer. It will download the required files from the Microsoft Web site and create a .iso file. It will also offer to burn the iso image to a CD for you. If you don't do it then, there is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do it at a later time. If you're unsure how to do this, you can follow the tutorial here: How to Burn an ISO File. This can be done from any computer.

Boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.

Next, choose which XP installation you want to login to. Normally this will be 1.
Lastly you will be asked for the Administrator password. Just press the Enter key as the Administrator does not have a password (unless you gave it one, then you would enter it).

From the command prompt, enter: chkdsk /r
Allow it to complete undisturbed. It can take an hour or more depending on the size of the hard drive.

Remove the CD, type exit and the computer will reboot. Hopefully that will have fixed the problem (corrupted file system).

[Ztruker]

Hi Mark. Sounds like you may have file system corruption.

Try running chkdsk from Recovery Console:

You are going to have to get into BIOS Setup on your computer to set the CD/DVD drive as the first bootable device, so you can then boot your XP CD, unless it provides the ability to press a Fn key at boot time to bring up the boot selection menu. If it does, use that.

How you do this varies with each manufacturer. Normally you press F1, F2, F10 or Del when you see the manufacturers logo. Often there is a clue somewhere on the screen when you boot normally telling you what key to press. Some computers (most newer ones) have a key you can press (often F12) to bring up the Boot Menu from where you can select the CD/DVD drive to boot from.

If you don't have an XP CD, download and run ARCDC by Artellos on a working computer. It will download the required files from the Microsoft Web site and create a .iso file. It will also offer to burn the iso image to a CD for you. If you don't do it then, there is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do it at a later time. If you're unsure how to do this, you can follow the tutorial here: How to Burn an ISO File. This can be done from any computer.

Boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.

Next, choose which XP installation you want to login to. Normally this will be 1.
Lastly you will be asked for the Administrator password. Just press the Enter key as the Administrator does not have a password (unless you gave it one, then you would enter it).

From the command prompt, enter: chkdsk /r
Allow it to complete undisturbed. It can take an hour or more depending on the size of the hard drive.

Remove the CD, type exit and the computer will reboot. Hopefully that will have fixed the problem (corrupted file system).

[Beano52]

Thank you for the quick reply. I will try this:

If you don't have an XP CD, download and run ARCDC by Artellos on a working computer. It will download the required files from the Microsoft Web site and create a .iso file. It will also offer to burn the iso image to a CD for you. If you don't do it then, there is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do it at a later time. If you're unsure how to do this, you can follow the tutorial here: How to Burn an ISO File. This can be done from any computer.

Boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.

I'll attempt it over lunch (in about 3 hours) and post my results.

Mark

[Beano52]

Ok, I'll actually get to try this in about 30 mins. Haha, I got tied up at lunch.

[Beano52]

Alright, I created the disk. Used F1 to get to bios. Set the disk drive to first boot. Loaded disk and rebooted computer.

The computer starts and begins with a black screen listing my video card in the upper left corner. Goes to a screen with the Pentium4 logo. Then goes black with a message "Setup is inspecting your computers hardware configuration".

Then goes to a blue screen with Windows Setup in the upper left. On the bottom there is a grey bar that starts with

"press F6 to install a 3rd party scsi or raid driver", cycles to

"Press F2 to start Windows Automated System Recovery" (When I've tried pressing F2 it asks me to "Please insert the disk labled: Windows Automated System Recovery Disk into the FLOPPY Drive. Press any key when ready", I hit enter, it cycles and repeats).

"Windows is loading files", cycles through several different files it's loading, then gets STUCK with "Setup is starting Windows".


I have tried pressing R several different times and places but it seems to do nothing.

Thanks for the help with this matter VERY much!

Mark

Edited by Beano52, 14 October 2011 - 04:36 PM.

[peterm]

Hi Mark & Ztruker
Sorry for jumping in.
Have you tried to boot to safe mode.
When the computer starts press F8 as before then choose safe mode with networking.
If this boots then click on start>all programs>accessories>system tools>system restore.
Pick a date of about a week ago and let it restore. If you need more detailed instructions on restore let me know.
It is as easy as follow the bouncing ball.
Cheers
Peterm

[Beano52]

Hi Mark & Ztruker
Sorry for jumping in.
Have you tried to boot to safe mode.
When the computer starts press F8 as before then choose safe mode with networking.
If this boots then click on start>all programs>accessories>system tools>system restore.
Pick a date of about a week ago and let it restore. If you need more detailed instructions on restore let me know.
It is as easy as follow the bouncing ball.
Cheers
Peterm

Yes, booting in safe mode or last known good configuration works "sometimes". other times it either locks up or just cycles arround back to selectin screen safe mode, safe mode with networking etc.

I was able to system restore to about 3 weeks earlier but rebooting leads to the exact same problems.

Thanks again everyone.

Mark

[Ztruker]

I think your next option is to try Repair Install. You are going to have to get a XP Install CD to do this with, either buy or borrow one.

You need to backup your data first. Download the bootable Puppy Linux iso image. Get the latest version available, currently pup-431.iso. If you don't have a burning program that will burn .iso files get burncdcc, a small FAST no frills iso burning program or ImgBurn, another small, fast and simple burner.

NOTE...do not put a blank cd in until burncdcc opens the tray for you.

1. Start BurnCDCC
2. Browse to the .iso file you want to burn on cd/dvd ......in this case its puppy linux
3. Select the .iso file
4. Suggestion.... Check the option "Fix close"
5. Click on "Start"

Make sure in the BIOS Setup, the CD/DVD drive is the first boot device. Put the Puppy Linux CD in the drive, then reboot your computer. Puppy will boot and run totally in ram. After you get it running and you're at the Puppy Desktop, take the CD out and then you can use the burner software to save all your data to CD/DVD. You can also use it to backup your data to a external USB harddrive or Flash drive, just have it hooked to the computer when you boot up with Puppy.

If the Repair install doesn't fix it, try a Clean Install

If that doesn't fix it then your down to a hardware problem, either hard drive or memory.

[neobuxx]

I have similar problem

[Macboatmaster]

neobuxx

I have already welcomed you on the Introduction forum.

I have similar problem

Please see this and folow the advice.
Start your own thread in the XP forum.
It is not practical to post on an already running thread with your problem, however similar it may be.
http://www.geekstogo.../Discover.html.

When you have done so, kindly edit your post here to indicate that you have done so with the link to your own thread.
Thank you

[Beano52]

I think your next option is to try Repair Install. You are going to have to get a XP Install CD to do this with, either buy or borrow one.

You need to backup your data first. Download the bootable Puppy Linux iso image. Get the latest version available, currently pup-431.iso. If you don't have a burning program that will burn .iso files get burncdcc, a small FAST no frills iso burning program or ImgBurn, another small, fast and simple burner.

NOTE...do not put a blank cd in until burncdcc opens the tray for you.

1. Start BurnCDCC
2. Browse to the .iso file you want to burn on cd/dvd ......in this case its puppy linux
3. Select the .iso file
4. Suggestion.... Check the option "Fix close"
5. Click on "Start"

Make sure in the BIOS Setup, the CD/DVD drive is the first boot device. Put the Puppy Linux CD in the drive, then reboot your computer. Puppy will boot and run totally in ram. After you get it running and you're at the Puppy Desktop, take the CD out and then you can use the burner software to save all your data to CD/DVD. You can also use it to backup your data to a external USB harddrive or Flash drive, just have it hooked to the computer when you boot up with Puppy.

If the Repair install doesn't fix it, try a Clean Install

If that doesn't fix it then your down to a hardware problem, either hard drive or memory.

OUCH! I think I have an XP cd, I'll check.

[123Runner]

There is an excellant recovery procedure using Puppy Linux located Here.
It uses a different Puppy, but the idea is the same.

[Ztruker]

That is an excellent tutorial, I'll refer to it from now on, thank you.