Michelle I should have made this clear:
Here's how to get to the Windows Advanced Options or F8 Menu:
Tap F8 to get to the Windows Advanced Options Menu--restart the computer and
then tap F8 once per second until it begins to boot to the F8 menu shown in
htis link:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000626.htm
From there you can try 4 options --3 Safe Mode Options (I don't use the Safe
Mode WGA otpion for this) and then Last Known Good Configuration.
Game Plan When Can't Boot To Windows:
Restart and Tap F8 key once per second; try to use System Restore in any of
menu options that say Safe Mode except Safe Mode with Vga.
Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration.
Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration
In the 2nd F8 option to use if Safe Mode doesn't work, Safe Mode with Cmd,
you are going to need to know the cmd to use:
*CMD in safe mode for SR is (type it at the C:\ of the cmd prompt in safe
mode)
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
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How to start your computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration
feature in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852/en-us
Ways To Access System Restore (whether in Safe Mode or Windows)
Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore
Type msconfig in run box>system restore button
Type restore in run box>click third item down in folder>rstrui
System Restore
Don't ever turn off System Restore unless you are doing virus removal, but I
would encourage you to put sysdm.cpl in the run box and on the system
restore tab, push the slider to 2% because it defaults to 12% and that's a
lot of real estate to take up on a hard drive.
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307852http://su
How to Run System Restorepport.microsoft.com/kb/315222
http://www.theeldergeek.com/system_restore.htm
and
How to Use System Restore
http://bertk.mvps.org/
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore in Windows XP from MSFT:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx
Using System Restore
http://tinyurl.com/dvekb
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449
If these Windows Advanced Options (all 4) are tried and don't work at the F8
Menu, and you have an XP CD, you have a very reliable tool to fix using a
Repair Install in Windows XP:
Repair Install: (This option has the best chance of succeeding and it
preserves everything in your OS--you do not lose anything with this option):
Make sure the CD you have is an XP CD.
Pitfalls: If the CD came from friend or relative or P2P, you may have
problems. P2P besides being illlegal in many countries including the U.S.
can be corrupt. If CD came from friend or relative, they may have given
you the CD to use but if product key is in use, MSFT is not going to accept
it for activation. Make sure you clean the CD carefully using proper
cleaning fluid and strokes that radiate from center like spokes on a wheel.
Again a repair install has the most likely chance to succeed, but you need
to have an XP CD. If you try a Repair Install and end up at a C:\ prompt
(dos prompt) you are in the Recovery Console and need to try again carefully
to follow the simple steps in the repair link, and make sure you enabled
CD-Rom as first in the bios setup boot order.
First, in order to do a Repair Install You must boot to the bios setup and
position booting from the CD first in the boot order.
Booting to Bios Setup:
How To Enable CD Rom Support (put CD boot first) in bios setup boot order:
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_enable_cdrom_support_i.htm
Screenshot of XP CD #1 in Bios Setup Boot Order:
http://www.loughborough.ac.uk/computing/desktop/reps-xp/images/bootscreen1.jpg
Repair Install Does Not Lose Anything; you may need to try 2-3 times but
that's rare.
(Note in the rare instance that a repair install is done on a box that where
the OS has systemically destroyed partitions, or if there is a multi-boot
setup with a linux boot loader like Grub or Lilo in the picture, you will be
blocked from reaching a repair install setup).
How To Repair Install
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341#XSLTH3127121122120121120120
How to Perform a Repair Install (Doug Knox MSFT MVP)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
Screen Shot Repair Install
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm
Other Options with Slim Chances of Success:
Boot Discs:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
How To Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305595
How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310994
Recovery Console:
The Recovery Console is very low odds for getting back your OS with it's 13
original dos cmds, but references are included. It should be your last
option, even when the MSFT KB article offers only it. When they do this,
they disregard their own Resource KB listed at the top as well as their own
XP Resource Kit Chapter 28.
Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/EN-US/
How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/
The recovery console can be installed via a cmd to your HD from the XP CD
and it occupies nearly 7.36MB of space.
Good luck,
CH
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