XP Pro keeps rebooting

[spiffman66]

I had my pc on last night and left it on while i was at work (it was on for about 9 straight hours), and also I have done this before. However when i came home and turned my monitor on, xp was showing however it was frozen. I then restarted my pc and then it went into a continuous loop of restarting no matter what options I chose (safe mode, last known good config, etc.).
I then put in my XP Pro installation cd and went to repair my xp pro, however it said that my c: drive had nothing on it at all, not even an installation of windows.
I was wondering if there was a way to get around this, I have searched the forums and it looked like some people had somewhat of the same problem.
Does anyone have any ideas for me?

 

[linney]

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Try ChkDsk /r from the Recovery Console, then look at the other options like FixMbr too.

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

 

[spiffman66]

i ran chkdsk but now I am getting a message saying that NTLDR is missing. Also, I have another hard drive on my pc. It used to be E:\ and my first hard drive (the one with windows on it) was C:\. Now the former E:\ is C:\ and the former C:\ is now D:\. What the heck is going on?

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=249321

 

[linney]

Check the Boot.ini file and make sure the partitions are identified correctly.

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

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

A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses (Q291980)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q291/9/80.asp

How To Restore the System/Boot Drive Letter in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...rt/kb/articles/Q223/1/88.ASP&NoWebContent=1#2

NTLDR is Missing:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm

320397 - You Receive an "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message When You Start Your Computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320397&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

318728 - HOW TO: Troubleshoot the "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message in Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318728&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

You might be able to make use of BartPE (a mini XP self contained on a bootable CD and run from CD) which includes RegEdit or Registry Editors via plugins.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Thes two articles in the RegEdit Help are a good explanation of the process.

To load a hive into the registry
To unload a hive from the registry

The same might be possible with a parallel install of XP.

266465 - HOW TO: Perform a Parallel Installation of Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;266465&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

You can do the same with XP. Don't install any unnecessary programs just some virus scanners, keep the parallel installation as simple as possible.

Or the paragraph in this article.

"To install Windows XP to a new folder (to perform a parallel installation):"

How to install or upgrade to Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

There is alway this.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[spiffman66]

Thanks for the help. After i ran chkdsk /r a couple times it works fine now.