Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
Hi, my laptop lost power recently and didn't shut down properly. Now, when I try to turn it on, I get the options to boot up in safe mode, safe mode with networking, last known config, etc but when I enter an option, it makes as though it is going to boot into xp (the windows screen comes on briefly, then a very quick .5 second blue screen with words) then it restarts again and goes back to the same options screen.
How can I fix this? I did a search and saw some other users with the same problem, and they were told to reinstall xp. However, I am traveling on business now and can't do that as I don't have the CD with me. Is there any other way to fix it w/o the CD? I really need it fixed asap as I have lots of documents in there I need access to. Please help!
Thanks!
Missy
Windows is indifferent to our reasonings. If it doesn't want to work any more, it won't. If there was a way to fix it without using the CD, that would be a miracle from Haven.
i_XpUser
0 
XPuser, thanks. If that is the case, would I be able to use a different xp CD to reinstall it? I am willing to purchase another copy of the XP home edition since I'm really desperate now!! I am miles from home, and really need access to the stuff on my laptop.
Assuming I use another CD to reinstall Windows, will my data still be intact? Reinstalling XP is not equiv to reformatting, right? Please bear with me, not too tech-savvy here.
Thanks again.
Missy
0
I noticed from your stat that your PC (presumably a lappy) is a Compaq. If your Windows came preinstalled, the retail XP will not be able to help you. The reason is that Preinstalled XP, OEM XP and Retail XP are all different animals. I do understand you're desperate. I really wish there were easy ways to fix it. If I were you, I will pull out the HD, hook it up to a different PC and salvage whatever I can off it.
i_XpUser
0
FYI (so that you know wjat to expect):
If your Compaq came preinstalled with XP, this means that the CD you have at home is a Recovery CD. Recovery CDs do not include the option to "repair" Windows. Its use is to only reinstall the OS back to the factory state. Every personal data you have accunulated on the HD will be irreversibvly lost.
i_XpUser
0
XpUser, I don't know but might not the fixmbr and fixboot tools work in this case? Even if it is a Compaq?
0
The fixmbr and fixboot commands are only available when you are using the Recovery Console. You need to first have OEM or Retail XP CD to initialize the Recovery Console.
i_XpUser
0
Hi again XPuser, thanks for the explanation. I really appreciate your help. Believe it or not, it makes more sense to me now.
You are right, my Compaq came preinstalled with XP, and I do have the Recovery CD. I have that with me (it had never left my laptop case since I purchased the system), and I did try popping that in before and see what happened. There were the following options: emergency diskette, user backup, user restore, and factory restore. I didn't dare mess around with it since I didn't know if any of the options would result in my data being erased (which I highly suspected, especially with the factory restore option).
When I saw others had been advised to reinstall xp, I thought I could do that too, since I have an OEM (by that, I assume its the OS that came with my Dell desktop?) version of xp at home. Now before, I didn't realize there was a difference, i.e. retail xp, oem etc. So I was willing to buy another copy of xp from the store. I guess now that's not an option.
What jubalsams said, using "fixmbr" and "fixtools", is that still an option if I have a retail xp plus my recovery cd?
Or...for your other suggestion of pulling the HD, would I have to then make this HD a "slave" of another system? As you may already tell, I'm not particularly inclined towards such tech stuff. Is it really complicated and easy to mess up for someone like me?
Thanks again.
Missy
0
If I were you I would not use the Recovery CD especially because of data that needs to be retrieved. Also, since your PC is a lappy the removal of the HD is little more complicated. The best thing you can do is have someone competent with computers to do it for you.
i_XpUser
0
Alright then, I guess I'd have to wait till I'm home to get it fixed. Meanwhile, I'll have to get an extension for my assignment - I hate having to admit I don't back up my work! This is really a costly mistake.
Thanks again! Your help was much appreciated.
Now maybe I'll go to bed, and try booting it up again tomorrow, and it'll be all good (yeah right)!
Missy
0
Hi All,
I have exactly the same problem, right down to the Compaq laptop and the brief blue screen during the unsuccessful boot.
Have tried slaving the HD to another machine, it can't open the disk although XP does recognise it as a HD.
Guessing I have a hardware fault with the drive which may have screwed part of the boot info.
So, anyone got a more layman explanation of what fixmbr and fixboot actually do.
I've got data on the drive (though not in any of the windows folders so an XP re-install won't worry me - a HD format would).
The XP load stops as the agp440.sys driver, whether the fault is there or not I don't know.
I'll be putting a replacement drive in so I can get going, however I would like to recover what I can from the original drive.
Any help appreciated
Cheers
Andy
0  |
 Microsoft Anti-Spyware
|
addware problem
|
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
