Unable to restart

  • Thread starter Thread starter kimlee
  • Start date Start date
K

kimlee

Did a check disk when prompted by a message that a dll
file in my System C Drive was corrupted. Then the check
disk ran and deleted something. It then prompt me to
restart my pc.

And it just keep on trying to restart - blank screen,
Windows XP Home Edition, Compaq, blank screen ....
Tried safe mode, last good configuration, start normally -
still does not work.
Please help.
 
Assuming you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, 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.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

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 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.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP 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.
 
Thank you so much Michael S.,

Looks like I am in a bad situation.
Mine is a oem and I only have the recovery cd.

BUT how can this happen and what possibly can cause it ?
 
You're welcome.

There are many possibilities and no simple answer.

Once you get yourself squared away, first thing I would suggest is to use
the tools disk that came with your hard drive and run a diagnostic. If you
don't have that disk, go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and
download the tools there. These diagnostic tools will do a much more robust
and thorough check of your hard drive's health than any tools included with
Windows.

If all is well, run regular scans of your system with up to date antivirus
software. These applications have regular updates and you should scan your
system after each one to be sure nothing came in to your system before the
update. This software is not just a gateway but too many users only use it
in that regard. Your system needs to be scanned regularly. Viruses can
cause problems with files, can corrupt files and cause the problem you
experienced.

Make sure the drivers for all of your hardware is up to date and that you
check regularly for new drivers. Problem or outdated drivers can crash your
system and crashes, hangs, shutdowns, etc. can cause problems such as you
experienced. Make sure your software and hardware is all XP compatible.

Download XP's Update advisor and run it, it will look for any problem
hardware or software on your system:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
If your system is new, don't assume everything is compatible, we are in a
fast changing environment and sometime things are dated by release. It's
quite common by the way for people to purchase a new device and assume the
drivers have not been updated. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell how
long the device has been on the shelf or in a warehouse and in that period,
new drivers may have been released and they often solve problems many users
face.

Check the error log, double click any errors you find, the information
contained within might point to the source of some problem. Open Control
Panel, open Administrative Tools, open Event Viewer and check all sections
in the viewer for error messages. Some may be meaningless, others may well
point to recurring problems on your system that might be the source of this
issue.

Also, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com.
If you have any spyware on your system, this application can help find it.
Again, such spyware can be the source of the type of problem you describe.
 
Request a XP CD-ROM from Compaq. Or, perform a non-destructive recovery
(depending upon the Compaq models)

--
Regards,

Ramesh (MS-MVP)
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

~ Please reply to newsgroup ~


Thank you so much Michael S.,

Looks like I am in a bad situation.
Mine is a oem and I only have the recovery cd.

BUT how can this happen and what possibly can cause it ?
 
Hi Michael,

Thanks again.
I have been downloading everything from the windows
update as prompted. Not a computer-person , so has been
doing everything by the book.
So shocked that this has happened. Been using the compaq
since Xmas 2001 and totally no problem.
BTW, mine is a oem and I only have the recovery cd , so I
guess this is another round of problem.

Regards.
 
Thanks Ramesh.

Mine is a Compaq presario 1711, a oem. So a recovery cd
is all that I have.

regards.
 
It may be a little too far down the road for you to request an XP CD from
Compaq. I don't know if a non-destructive recovery is available with your
CD but you should certainly check to see if there is such an option.

Aside from that or purchasing an actual XP CD, your options are limited to
whatever is offered on that recovery CD. Unfortunately, we see this all too
often and every manufacturer has the option of offering an actual CD, even
an OEM version that is identical in every way to the retail version but too
often they opt for the recovery CD. It makes it easy on their tech support,
you call and they tell you to run the recovery CD.

I'm sorry, I really wish I had more to offer you.
 
The only option is a factory restore. I would slave the hard disk to anothe
system and backup the data first. Then reconnect the drive back, run a
factory restore from recovery Cd.

--
Regards,

Ramesh (MS-MVP)
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

~ Please reply to newsgroup ~


Thanks Ramesh.

Mine is a Compaq presario 1711, a oem. So a recovery cd
is all that I have.

regards.
 
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