Step 1
If you have a windows xp cd, start the computer and boot with it and choose
recovery console.
Then follow the instructions beginning at STEP 2
If you do not have a Windows XP CD, do the following
download RC.iso from the following link:
http://www.thecomputerparamedic.com/rc.iso
You need to burn this image to a CD and boot your computer with it--this is
different than burning a file to a CD. If you do not know how to burn an ISO
image, then download the following program to another Windows XP machine,
install it.
make certain you download the proper installation for your version of
windows. Open MY COMPUTER, choose HELP > ABOUT. Note the service pack and
get the appropriate version of the iso burner power toy
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
After installation, reboot, then right click the RC.iso file you downloaded
above and choose COPY IMAGE TO CD.
Then reboot your broken PC with that CD in the CD-ROM drive.
This will give you a recovery console to use to run
Insert the cd into the non-functioning PC
STEP 2
When boot begins, a windows setup will appear to start, but you will be
taken to a recovery console.
You will need to select your windows installation by pressing a number, most
likely 1
Windows will ask you for a password
If you have XP home, press enter...there is no password
If you have XP Pro, you need to enter the password you set when you
installed your machine with XP Pro.
After entering the password, you will find yourself at a command prompt that
looks like this
c:\windows
type
chkdsk /r
<enter>
follow the prompts, then when it is complete, remove the CD
type
EXIT
<enter>
the machine will reboot
Did that fix it?