XP CAN"T BOOT 1

[Cosecha]

I downloaded a start-up manager to manage start-up tray icons, and with it I must have removed something essential, because XP won't boot past the Welcome screen, even in safe mode, to try to undo the changes and restore the computer to it's previous good working order.
Can anyone give me a clue as to what to do?

 

[wolluf]

You could try a repair reinstall -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

 

[Cosecha]

Thanx for your reply Wolluf!
I tried what the article said, started up and inserted CD, but no other screen comes up, only the welcome screen with the only option of turning off the computer. I can restart with th CD, but do not get the repair option after entering setup, only the prompt for which partition in which to install, or to delete partitions. Is there any way out of a complete reboot?

 

[wolluf]

If you don't get the repair option, it means the install process is not finding your XP installatiion (basically the \windows folder). Which is odd if you can boot to a startup screen (unless the problem is that you've somehow moved, deleted or renamed the windows folder).

I don't think it will work, but try this. Boot from XP install Cd again, and choose reapir using recovery console (this will also have to find the installation). If it doesn't, you need another method to access the hard drive to see if \windows is gone or just moved/renamed (I'm assuming filestore is ntfs - if not you can use a win98 boot floppy to check out the drive). If you've access to another PC, try mounting drive as slave and then check it out. If \windows is gone, you'll obviously need a new install, but some/all of your data may still be there. If you haven't, you could go to

http://www.sysinternals.com

and download their ntfsdos (freeware) software which will let you read (so you can check) ntfs filestore form a win98 boot floppy.

If recover console finds the installation, try running chkdsk (chkdsk /? for params, type help for full list of commands).

 

[Down4Life]

...you can manage your progs within XP dude!Why the manager download?...I'm lost for words man! ...my motto,no Rig is to tough for me to get around!...PITBULL

 

[NADIAZIPPER]

Half to agree with the last two guys. The original XP install disk should repair your problems. Also once you get it up and running use msconfig from your run promt to fix your taskbar issues. Or if you want, edit the registry here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and delete any programs you don't want to run

Good Luck

 

[Cosecha]

Wolluf- the Recovery Console has brought me to a screen of command-names. Which one can help me? Thanks for your support!

Down4Life- If you are suggesting some help, I'm not clear what it is.

Nadiazipper- I should have stuck with the manual way of managing the start-up tray (msconfig and deleting keys in the registry) but tried this 'time-saving' download

 

[wolluf]

Cosecha,

I'm puzzled - if you can access recovery console, you should be given the repair option - still.

Chkdsk:

CHKDSK
chkdsk drive /p /r

The chkdsk command checks the specified drive and, if necessary, repairs or recovers the drive. The command also marks bad sectors and recovers readable information.

You can use these options:
/p : Does an exhaustive check of the drive and corrects any errors.
/r : Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

Note that if you specify the /r option, the /p option is implied. Specifying the chkdsk command without arguments checks the current drive, with no options in effect.

Running the chkdsk command requires use of the Autochk.exe file. CHKDSK automatically locates this file in the startup folder. If the Command Console was preinstalled, the startup folder is typically the Cmdcons folder. If CHKDSK cannot find Autochk.exe in the startup folder, CHKDSK tries to locate the Windows CD-ROM installation media. If it cannot find the installation media, CHKDSK prompts you for the location of the Autochk.exe file.

from

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q314058

I'd use /p

As to slaving drive - that is purely a backup data option (particularly as earlier I thought you'd lost \windows - but you obviously haven't. You could save your profile folder, and if you have to reinstall, after reinstalling all apps to the same place, if you restore this folder, you'll have your personal settings back). To retain your settings you really need to get current installation back up and running. Try the chkdsk. If it still won't boot past startup screen after that, try to get to the repair option again (might be possible if chkdsk fixes some faults)

 

[smah]

Once you're in the recovery console type:

C:
dir
cd windows
dir

Is anything there? Do you get directory listings and no errors?

 

[Freestone]

Perhaps some kind of help can be had by naming the program that caused you all this grief in the first place???

 

[Cosecha]

Thanks again for responding folks...
I went back to do a step-by-step in-place upgrade (re-installation) of XP when I realized that the recovery problem was because I had mistakenly used a bad installation disc of XP Home that I had. I inserted the correct disc (of XP Pro) and was able to get the recovery started, but midway, the monitor went grey with an orange sign saying "OUT OF SYNC." or something like that, floating all around . The colors are from memory; I tried the menu whicj didn't respond, and I turned it off and on, and now there's nothing on the screen, and I'm in the middle of the re-installation without a way to see what's going on. Any clue as to What to DO?

 

[Cosecha]

The program that I downloaded to start this mess is called "Start-Up Manager" or something like that (it's on the computer that has the problems, and I can't remember exactly) but I believe that the problem was with the way that I used it (I think I disabled too much) and not with the program itself.

 

[Cosecha]

WELL, here's what's happening now....
After staring dumbly at a blank screen for twenty minutes, it all of a sudden started up Windows without me doing anything. It now works fine, with all my files and settings restored!!!
Either XP is REALLY intuitive, or there's a Ghost in the Machine!
Thanks for everybody's help!!!!

 

[Cosecha]

The program's name is "CodeStuff Starter" and I believe it works when used properly to manage the start-up tray, but you still have to know what it is that you're deleting or disabling- I didn't.