PC looping

[rts]

Well this is fun isn't it. I turn on my PC. It shows a screen with the old Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Netorking, Safer Mode with Connand Prompt and Start Windows Normally options.

The latter begins to load Windows XP before going back to the beginning and showing the above screen. The other options simply restart immediately.

Luckily I have access to Metropol via my Dad's computer, to beg and plea (especially to Neil) who the fuck I get my PC working again...

[Neil Jones]

Let's try something first:

Have you gone into BIOS setup and invoked a setting along the lines of "Boot Sector Virus Protection" or whatever? If so, turn it off. I turned it on once and WinXP refused to boot or repair itself. It just hung either way. Only traced it back to that BIOS option when I cleared CMOS in an effort to get the damn thing running past the bootscreen.

[rts]

I have gone through and could not find anything like Boot Sector Virus Protection so not sure if it's on or off. Do you know where I can check this.

Saying this is not the fault, what is the next step Professor Jones

[Neil Jones]

Hmm. What was the last thing you did before switching it off last time?

Try this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310602 (How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents Windows from Starting)

Then look at and try this: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308041 (Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP) and follow the links.

Now try this: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545 (How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting)

If all things fail though, a repair might be worth a try.

Details at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=315341 (How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP) - recommended when the system will not start in Safe Mode.

[rts]

Thanks for that Neil. It looks like it is a problem with registry. I went to this link you gave me. I can get to the part where I need to type the lines but keep being told Access Denied. I was never prompted to enter a password...

[Neil Jones]

Thanks for that Neil. It looks like it is a problem with registry. I went to this link you gave me. I can get to the part where I need to type the lines but keep being told Access Denied. I was never prompted to enter a password...

Hmm.

Best thing then is to do a repair install as I already explained.

Failing that, rename Windows folder to something obscure and reinstall it afresh, installation won't find it (at least it didn't when I last did that) so you'll install from scratch again, need to reinstall stuff, reactivate etc. When all sorted, get rid of the windows folder with the obscure name.

[rts]

Would doing this lose files which are on my PC? If so, is there anything I can do to back them up, or is it too late.

[Neil Jones]

Not if you repair it.

If you reinstall it using the method I mentioned above in a half tired state (about renaming the current windows folder first) then you will need to reinstall stuff but its the best way to get a clean installation short of wiping the entire disk.

[rts]

Sorry, if I do the second option, will I be able to access files currently on my PC or not, although it is not a wipe of the whole machine.

[Neil Jones]

Sorry, if I do the second option, will I be able to access files currently on my PC or not, although it is not a wipe of the whole machine.

Files will be preserved however I suggest the following (assuming you're using the FAT32 filesystem and not NTFS):

1) Download a bootdisk, in particular http://files.frashii.com/~bootdisk/sandy/boot98c.exe if you please. This is a Win98 boot disk but you only need one function from it. Run the program, make your bootdisk.

2) Reboot, alter BIOS to boot from floppy if need be. Allow it to boot. Ignore the fact that a) it says Win98 and b) It loads a CD-ROM driver.

3) Now use the rename function to preserve your stuff. What we're going to do is rename Documents & Settings (below this is a list of usernames and each one has further subfolders for various things including My Documents and the Desktop), Windows and Program Files. Type the following pressing enter after each line:

Code: Select all

rename C:\docume~1 doccies
rename C:\progra~1 progs
rename C:\windows oldwin

Now get into the doccies folder by doing this:

Code: Select all

C:\
cd doccies
dir

You should see a list of all user accounts set up on this machine.

Now do the same for your new progs folder and oldwin folder. The progs folder should give a huge list of subfolders and/or files and the oldwin folder should be even bigger than that.

Now, when you do each of the following commands:

Code: Select all

cd windows
cd progra~1
cd docume~1

You should get message saying that you can't do it. Your stuff is safe.

4) Hit the reset button, go back into BIOS setup and alter Boot sequence to boot from the CD-ROM. Put your Windows XP CD in and save settings and reboot. Opt to start from the CD.

5) Now reinstall Windows XP. It will not find the version in the new oldwin folder you made. Do a fresh reinstall but not over the version in C:\oldwin.

6) When finished, reinstall all your stuff. You can now go into C:\doccies and appropriate subfolders and get your My Documents and stuff and put it into your new My Documents which will have been made.

7) Check your C:\progs folder and see if there's anything you need to move out of it. Do the same for C:\oldwin. When you're happy that you've got everything, delete the C:\progs folder, C:\doccies folder and C:\oldwin folders.

8) No number 8.

[rts]

Thank you very much for that Neil. I haven't a floppy drive on this laptop but will have a go at this tomorrow when I have access to my brother's PC too.

Thanks again, and fingers crossed!