Doesn't boot to windows xp after new microsoft update

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Guest

Hi i installed the new updates from microsoft and when i restarted the
computer after a day it does not load to windows.A screen with options like:-
Windows in safe mode
windows in safe networking
normal windows(last saved working configuration)
comes up but selecting any of these options comes back to the same screen
after manking an attempt to load.
Tried F12 on startup,but selecting hard drive dsnt work
Pls help
 
Try a repair install as follows:

NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

When the system boots, a few screens into the process you may see a message
instructing you
to hit any key in order to boot from the CD along with a countdown. When
you see this be sure to
hit a key on the keyboard, if you miss this instruction and the system fails
to boot from the CD, it's too
late, you'll need to reboot and try again.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console. ***The selection you want at this screen is
"Setup Windows,"
NOT "Repair Windows Installation.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

Note, in some cases, you won't receive the repair option, only an option to
reinstall. We have discovered that sometimes this is caused by damaged
boot.ini file that can be repaired as follows and also note, in the
instructions, "K" refers to the CD drive in which you have placed the XP CD,
replace that drive letter with the appropriate letter on your system, "K" is
simply an example.

Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option (this is the section I told
you to skip above. In this case, you will need to get to the Recovery
Console to perform the function below), and if the CD letter is say K: give
these commands

COPY K:\i386\ntldr C:
COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:
(two other files needed - just in case)
ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\boot.ini
DEL C:\boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild

Once you've completed this function, reboot and see if you can access XP as
sometimes, the problem is the damaged boot.ini. If you still cannot access
XP, then reboot and re-run the repair install instructions at the beginning
of this message.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP which will allow you to perform the
above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.
 
Thanks for getting back
I do not have the XP cd and my my system is set to boot from the hard
drive.This dell laptop was gifted to me by a friend.
Pls advise how do i go about without a cd.I need to fix it.
Thanks Michael
 
Without a CD there is no repair function unless such an option is included
with whatever recovery function Dell has provided. You'll need to check
your documentation and/or with Dell support. Beyond that, without an actual
CD, your only recourse is to use Dell's recovery procedure which will likely
wipe your drive and start over from scratch.
 
VeeDee said:
Thanks for getting back
I do not have the XP cd and my my system is set to boot from the hard
drive.This dell laptop was gifted to me by a friend.
Pls advise how do i go about without a cd.I need to fix it.
Thanks Michael

:
Click to expand...

If you can borrow someone else's CD just to get into Recovery Console.
Make sure it is the same version of Windows.

If I am correct, a retail version of the CD should even work.

Just don't do a clean install with a borrowed CD ! :)
 
Note, the recovery console is not required for a repair install nor for any
other type of install. If the borrowed disk is not an OEM disk, it won't
work for a repair install on that system. Also, the may be issues with
regard to the CD key. The CD key is required for either a repair install or
a full install and if the key has already been used there may be activation
issues.

If the user had or has their own CD key and I'm not sure that is the case in
a situation where there is no CD, assuming the disk was the same type of
disk, OEM or Retail as the user originally used, the user could use their
own CD key for this purpose.

There is a procedure from the Recovery Console which might work and
shouldn't require a CD key. The procedure is as follows and this can be
done from any retail CD or OEM equivalent, that is, an OEM disk that is
identical to the retail version assuming the user can borrow such a disk:

Be sure your system is set to boot from the CD. If you are not sure, when
the system first boots you usually see message about how to enter setup or
something similar and tells you to hit a key, sometimes it's del, sometimes
it's esc, just hit the key. This takes you to the system bios, you need to
navigate to where the boot sequence is set, put the CD-ROM drive first in
line.

Place the XP CD in the drive, save your settings and exit. The system will
reboot and should boot from the CD. If you see a message to hit any key in
order to boot from the CD, do so, otherwise, assuming your system supports
it, the system should boot from the CD on its own as it can't find
an OS on the hard drive.

XP Setup will begin by examining your system, don't worry, just let it run,
it's just copying some files to a temp folder. Ultimately, you'll be
brought to a menu. Choose, "Repair a Windows XP installation using the
Recovery Console, press R.

You will be asked for an administrators password. This is not any of the
accounts you've created for XP. It's a hidden system account for which
users are asked only to create a password during setup. Most leave this
blank. If you left it blank, when asked for a password, just leave blank
and press enter.

At the prompt type bootcfg /rebuild and press enter.
 
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