boot problem

[bradman666]

Hi, on returning from holiday I cannot get my xp pc to boot. It gives me a screen listing drives, dram type/mode frame buffer size etc. Under that there is a pci device listing but then it stalls. I have downloaded the ultimate boot cd and have begun experimenting. I can see my c: drive which seems to be ok. Any tips?
Regards Matt.

 

[linney]

It will boot from a CD but not your hard drive, is that correct?

It doesn't bootup far enough to use Safe Mode and the options there?

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

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

Have a look at the FixMbr command.

266745 - Error Message When You Run fixmbr Command

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;266745&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[bradman666]

Yes that is correct. Thankyou for the recovery console advice, I will try that and get back to you if I may. Thanks again, Matt.

 

[bradman666]

Sorry, having tried that it will not boot from the Windows cd. It gets as far as saying press any key to boot from cd. Five dots and a flashing cursor, a whirr of disk and then nothing.
Anymore advice gratefully received!
Matt.

 

[bradman666]

Sorry again, that was me putting in my upgrade disk not my actual xp disk that I used on this pc. I will report back.
Matt.

 

[bradman666]

Chkdsk reveals one or more unrecoverable problems. Does this mean that I have had it?
Thanks, Matt.

 

[bradman666]

I ran some utilities from the ubcd including salvation scan but they don't seem to find anything wrong with my boot hard drive.
Matt.

 

[bradman666]

?

 

[westredd]

are you able to run XP repairs from the XP cd? Maybe you can get it to re install the boot files

or

you could try installing a sencond XP along side the current one, that will tell you if your hard drive is knackered or not.

 

[linney]

Your hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software on their web site that will soon tell you if you need a new hard drive.

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

 

[bradman666]

Well thankyou for your help. I ran the diagnostic from the website which turned out to be the same as the one on the ubcd. No problems were found. In the end I reinstalled xp. Which seems to work. Very strange. We did have some house guests while we were away, maybe somebody fiddled. When I boot up I know get the choice of 2 versions of xp home. They both seem to get me to the same place. Can I delete one of them? Thanks again.
Matt.

 

[linney]

Removing an Operating System

At the command prompt, type:
bootcfg /delete /ID#
Where # specifies the boot entry ID that you want to be deleted from the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file (e.g. 2 for the second Operating system that is listed).


HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP (Q289022)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q289/0/22.asp