XP will not boot

[ostrich69]

I am running Windows XP Pro. When I boot up my computer, I get the following message:

"Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the windows documentation about hardware disk configuation and your hardware reference manuals for additional information."

I looked up the error message on support.microsoft.com and it brought me to this website:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

It says to edit the boot.ini file, but I can't get to windows to edit the boot.ini file because I get that error message, and the computer reboots when I press any key.

Then it says to insert the windows cd, and press 'r' to do a recovery. I tried that and typed in "bootcfg /rebuild" like it says. It gives me an error saying something to the extent of it cannot complete the operation possibly because a file is corrupt. It suggests to run 'chkdsk' to repair any problems. I tried running chkdsk and it found no problems. I tried to force a check by typing in 'chkdsk /p' which still found no errors.

Then I figured I would try safe mode, but I cannot access safe mode because when I press F8, it brings the boot menu up, and allows me to choose from cd room, disk or floppy boot.

I have no idea what else to do, can anyone else help me? Ideally I would prefer to fix the problem rather then wiping out the disk clean, because this was unexpected, and I have data I would like to back up before formatting and re-installing windows.

 

[wolluf]

any history would be helpful - eg, any hardware/software changes you've made recently, any crashes etc

Some suggestions (though this sounds an odd situation)

Assuming you have XP installed on the first or only partition on the first hard drive, boot.ini should look like this (assuming SP2):-

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin

Create a boot.ini file (using notepad or other text editor) as above and save to floppy disk.

Boot into recovery console again (you know, boot from Cd and press r).

At the command prompt type:

type C:\boot.ini.

If it doesn't look like the one above, insert the floppy with the new boot.ini and copy it to the c: drive (recovery console has a copy command). If it does, leave it as is.

Run these 2 commands:-

fixmbr
fixboot

Reboot and see if ok.

If not, repair reinstall may be way to go:-

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

(method 2). But some history would be helpful.

btw, sounds like your motherboard uses f8 to get into bios boot menu. You need to press f8 a bit later to get into safe mode menu - though doubt that will work from what the error message says.

 

[madonnac]

when the boot menu appears, try selecting Hard Disk, and then pressing F8 again - unfortunately, both BIOS manufacturers and Microsoft both tend to use the same key to get to their menus.

 

[wolluf]

You can also press F5 to get into Safe Mode menu.