Can't start windows xp on my home computer

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Guest

Windows was shut down to save files. Now I can't get it to open up Windows
XP. It will let me get into the setup using the delete button but I don't
know what to do there. It will also show the WindowsXP window briefly and
then a flash of a blue screen with white words on it.. I can't read it
because it goes by too fast. I can't not load up my windows and don't knw
what to do. I really need some help..

Thanks
 
desertflower3591 said:
Windows was shut down to save files. Now I can't get it to open up Windows
XP. It will let me get into the setup using the delete button but I don't
know what to do there.
Click to expand...

That's the motherboard's BIOS, not XP. The two aren't really closely
related, and probably won't help you.

It will also show the WindowsXP window briefly and
then a flash of a blue screen with white words on it..
Click to expand...

That's a serious crash and an automatic restart. It would be very helpful
to know what the STOP error on the blue screen is.
I can't read it
because it goes by too fast. I can't not load up my windows and don't knw
what to do. I really need some help..

Thanks
Click to expand...

Press F8 very shortly after the BIOS "delete" prompt to get to the screen
that offers Safe Mode. Look for an option that shuts off Automatic
Restart. This won't fix anything, but should stop the system at the blue
screen. You should be able to write down the STOP code and the cryptic
error text. And that is potentially useful. Post that information here.
You don't need the "dump" section.

If you have data on the system you wish to keep, and don't have a current
backup, now is the time to make one.

You will need to remove the drive and attach it to another system to do this
(USB2 drive cases are inexpensive and work great for this). There, you can
simply copy the data off or use an imaging program like the Acronis
TrueImage trial to get all of the data. When you do that, look in the root
directory for one or two very large files, pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys.
Delete these and empty the recycle bin. Put the drive back and try
restarting - that *can* sometimes be all that's needed.

You may need hands-on help to fix this. A repair install may help, if your
reinstall media supports this. If you have "restore" disks, that may be
helpful. If you have reinstall or restore disks, and accept the idea of
replacing the hard disk (where I am, 250 gig drives are under $75), pop one
in and reinstall everything, then attach the old drive copy your data back.
Yes, this is overkill, but may be the fastest way to get the system back.
Depends on what your time is worth.

HTH
-pk
 
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