Blinking curser. Win XP won't start

[Tim58]

When I power up I get a blinking curser instead of my Win XP Logo screen.

I created an XP Boot diskette from another XP Pro PC and was able to bring up my XP. I then downloaded and ran BCUPDATE2.

I still get the blinking curser unless I use the Boot diskette.

Please advise how I can correct this & boot from my Hard Drive again

 

[Tim58]

I've since run Disk Defrag and also chkdsk but still can't boot from my hard drive. No problem using a WIndows XP Boot disk. This a Compaq Deskpro and I'm wondering if my BIOS may be the problem.

Help please.

 

[linney]

You could set your Bios to the Safe default settings and try again to boot.

314503 - Computer Stops Responding with a Black Screen When You Start Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314503&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

Try Chkdsk /r from the Recovery Console.

Further advice can be found here.

XP will not boot
thread779-849914

 

[Tim58]

I've already tried CHKDSK /R. It went thru & reported no problems found. I did this by booting from the original XP CD and following Recover Console. After that I made a boot diskette on another XP Pro PC which allowed me to boot the Deskpro. I then ran BCUPDATE2.
WIthout the boot diskette I still get the black screen with flashing curser.

I'll try setting the BIOS to Safe Default as well as CKDSK /R again.

Do you think this could be a problem with the Master Boot Record?

 

[linney]

This issue may occur if one or more of the following elements are corrupted:
• Master boot record
• Partition tables
• Boot sector
• NTLDR file


This is a handy program to use when you have hard to fix MBR problems that FixMbr or Fixboot or Bootcfg from the Recovery Console fail to solve.

MBRWork - Freeware utility to perform some common and uncommon MBR and disk functions.

http://www.bootitng.com

from their free software.