Major HELP needed!! Windows XP

Neil Joseph · 03-04-2007, 03:49 PM

my computer had finished a fairly big update/download for acrobat which required a restart. I ok'd the restart after which it sat for an extended amount of time on the windows xp restart screen.

I turned it off which I think was a mistake now.

When I turned it back on, it keeps on looping over and over. It gets a screen where you have the option of how to start windows.... normally, safe mode etc. No matter which option I pick, it comes up with the windows logo page then the computer restarts itself, then the choice comes up again on how to start windows.

I really don't want to lose what I have by reformatting. Is there some way to get into windows by a back door where I can restore from last saved point or something?

Please I need options.

Thanks

Buzz Foster · 03-04-2007, 05:07 PM

Neil, I would suggest getting a new, larger hard drive and installing it as your C drive. Install XP to the new drive, then connect your old drive and save your data from it.

How practical this is depends on whether or not you need or want a new drive. If you don't need or want one, and you have an old drive that is big enough to accept an XP install, you could install to the old drive, backup your data, reformat your current drive, and do a clone.

I had to do this the last time I had a problem, as my main drive was corrupted by a very pesky keylogger, and XP could not copy its onw files back to the hard drive.

Neil Joseph · 03-04-2007, 05:50 PM

You know something? I came to the exact same decision that you suggested. I will get a large hdd and install as the master, place win xp on it and copy as much as I can. I have a lot of downloading to do, GB's worth. I will also copy the temp folder's files over as I always keep thhe files there.

Neil Joseph · 03-04-2007, 06:43 PM

I use firefox for internet and thunderbird for emails. Does anyone know or can anyone check the location of emails for thunderbird please. I only setup the computer with just one main user and a guest. I do not have the guest setup for internet or email.

Neil Joseph · 03-04-2007, 07:50 PM

I found the 6 diskettes (recover) for win xp. If I boot up with them, it asks for them one by one. Finally, after the 6th diskette, it comes up with a menu...

Quote:

- to set up windows now, press ENTER
- to repair a windows xp installation using recovery console, press R
- to quit setup without installing windows xp, press F3

I select R and the following comes up.....

Quote:

1: c:\windows

which windows installation woud you like to log onto
(to cancel, press ENTER)

at this point what do I do? last time I typed in "1" and and it brought me to a c:\windows prompt at which point I no longer knew what to do.

If I type in help at the prompt, it lists about 25-20 possible commands like attrib, format, logon, ren, type etc.

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Buzz Foster · 03-04-2007, 09:29 PM

I never really used the recovery console. There was a post here that referenced a "non-destructive XP reinstall", or something similar. I tried it, and did not have success, however, this was when I had the keylogger problem, and that might have been the difference.

bobbyg2 · 03-04-2007, 09:48 PM

I had close to the same problem. I went to a computer place to see if they could fix it, the next day they said that the hdd was broken (fried actually). I had downloaded a program called "win rar" or something like that and when it asked to reinstall, I did it. Never let me go back on...

Neil Joseph · 03-04-2007, 11:00 PM

Tomorrow I will try again. Rather than press "R", I will press and with the windows cd in the drive, see if I can somehow get through this. If that does not work, I will be in the store getting a new hdd.