I've always found this site to be very useful and I've checked numerous post to my question on this site but from the results that I've read is 50/50. My (Compaq) pre-installed XP Home version vanished after a reboot from scanning Norton's 2005 Antivirus. Oh by vanished, I mean the Welcome Screen does not load (black screen w/my cursor being visible) so I'm not able to access any of my accounts. Safe Mode or Last Good Config. does not work. I have valuable data on this HD that I cannot afford to lose. All my techy friends think that I need to reinstall Windows to resolve my problem. I have WinXP Pro CD. I do not have the pre-package CD that came with the Compaq PC. I hate the thought of having to fool with the OS. I tried to backup my data so I took the HD out and slave-installed on my friend's PC who also has Home XP and for some reason could not access the security tab feature to take ownership of my admin accounts. Yes, I've read the Microsoft website in regards to doing this. We could not get his PC to boot into safe-mode (F8) for some reason. After removing my HD, booting to safe-mode on his PC worked? Pretty useless for this situation. I just need to access my administrative accounts files long enough to backup my files. Then I'm willing to do a full clean install over the Home Edition with Pro. I heard I could do an upgrade with the full Pro disc I have, but I'm afraid that I'll lose my data. Any suggestions? Thanks.

If I read you right...you were able to get to start-up page and try to enter "safemode "or "last known good configuration", but they did not work! Then you slaved the hdd to try to access it but couldn't get passd security features. Then my accessment would be that the computer is booting but locks up after the log in page.... All this tells me that you have a good hdd but that it is a possible hardware issue. Why not try to swap memory sticks with one of your friends and see if that takes care of the issue. especially if you are overclocked. While it seems like it could be a conflict with drivers not all driver files are loaded until they are required the only ones are those that are used to satisfy the start menu so while swaping memory unplug any other hardware that you are using and see if you can get booted up. It is a proccess of ellimination. Try it one step at a time and see if you can get it to open all the way up. If not then there is some data recovery programs out there that can recover your files even with permission issues. If that helps at all IN THE MATTERS OF STYLE, swim with the current; in matters of principle, STAND LIKE A ROCK

Not sure what's happening here... However an approach that may work for you (as you do not have the original recovery CD that came with the system?). Install XP-Pro alongside the Home version. Just start a standard Pro installation and allow it go into its own folder. It will set it self as default OS to boot; will (all things being equal) detect and add the Home version to the boot.ini etc. giving you a dual-boot Home/Pro. Possibly you can then access data via Pro version? Installing Pro will not (should not...) affect Home version in way.

When you tried to slave to your friends machine did you move the jumper on your HD to slave also? Tt Lanfire nf7-s v2.0 XP-m 2500@209x11 SP 97 512mb pc3200 Jou Jye 550w psu FX5600 WDCaviar 160gb sata WDCaviar 160gb sata ;~}

My initial suggestion to create a dual-boot Home/Pro is one possible resolution. Another angle to consider: a repair of the current Home installation - i.e. boot with the CD (or the 6 floppies + CD) and go thru the Repair the current installation routine. This could/should do what's needed and retain all current settings at the same time, thus allowing access again to that installation... It may be worth considering/following first? If it fails then the dual-boot Home/Pro would be the next route? http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm discusses this approach; read it carefully... Incidentally I'm surprised you managed to get the Home installation to boot (albeit in safe-mode) when in a machine other than the one it where it was initially installed...