Re: Start up problem

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From: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) (user_at_#notme.com)
Date: 03/13/04 

Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 10:38:17 -0800

The XP boot floppy disks are designed to boot a system for XP installation
that doesn't have the capability to boot from the CD. While it does have
the ability to start the Recovery Console, the functionality is quite
limited.

If the other system has a retail XP CD or possibly an OEM CD that is simply
the full version of XP and not some proprietary manufacturer's recovery CD,
you can try using that to get to the Recovery Console as I will instruct
below. NOTE: you cannot use the disk to do a repair install as I previously
outlined because that will require the CD key and you can't use a key from
another setup on this computer. Even if you can input the key, once
installation is complete, you won't be able to activate.

Below are the instructions for getting to the Recovery Console and what to
do however, if this doesn't resolve the issue, you can consider the current
setup unfixable given your current tools and there's nothing available on
the XP boot floppies that will help:

Be sure your system is set to boot from the CD. If you are not sure, when
the system first boots you usually see message about how to enter setup or
something similar and tells you to hit a key, sometimes it's del, sometimes
it's esc, just hit the key. This takes you to the system bios, you need to
navigate to where the boot sequence is set, put the CD-ROM drive first in
line.

Place the XP CD in the drive, save your settings and exit. The system will
reboot and should boot from the CD. If you see a message to hit any key in
order to boot from the CD, do so, otherwise, assuming your system supports
it, the system should boot from the CD on its own as it can't find
an OS on the hard drive.

XP Setup will begin by examining your system, don't worry, just let it run,
it's just copying some files to a temp folder. Ultimately, you'll be
brought to a menu. Choose, "Repair a Windows XP installation using the
Recovery Console, press R.

You will be asked for an administrators password. This is not any of the
accounts you've created for XP. It's a hidden system account for which
users are asked only to create a password during setup. Most leave this
blank. If you left it blank, when asked for a password, just leave blank
and press enter.

At the prompt type bootcfg /rebuild and press enter. 

-- 
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:c91601c408fa$af2c51a0$a101280a@phx.gbl...
>i dont have a windows xp cd, while booting up it gos
> threw the windows loading and after the windows xp logo
> comes up it loads then gos to a blank screen, i have
> reinstalled the old vid card and i am still getting the
> same problem, i have 2 of these pc's and the only
> difference is that one has a bigger hard drive is there
> any thing i can make from the one that works (boot disc)
> or do i need to get a windows xp disc?
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Without an XP CD your options are limited to whatever
> recovery routine your
>>PC manufacturer has supplied you.
>>
>>-- 
>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>Windows Shell/User
>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>
>><anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>news:c36101c408b6$e9428f60$a501280a@phx.gbl...
>>> well my problem is the same i got a new card and i get
>>> the same messages only problem is my pc did not come
> with
>>> a xp cd so now what do i do??
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM
>>> drive and you have an
>>>>actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the
>>> XP
>>>>CD in the drive and perform a repair install as
> outlined
>>> below.  If the
>>>>system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not
>>> sure, you need to enter
>>>>the system's BIOS.  When you boot the system, the first
>>> screen usually has
>>>>instructions that if you wish to enter set press a
>>> specific key, when you
>>>>see that, do so.  Then you will have to navigate to the
>>> boot sequence, if
>>>>the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the
>>> boot sequence.  Save
>>>>your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive.
> The
>>> system will reboot.
>>>>
>>>>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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>-- 
>>>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>>>Windows Shell/User
>>>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>>>
>>>>"Kathy D" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
> in
>>> message
>>>>news:194CD2CE-7EED-4D08-A651-
>>> A5EFBC19007A@microsoft.com...
>>>>> We thought we had a defective video card; when a new
>>> card was installed we
>>>>> realized it was a monitor problem.  We removed the
> new
>>> video card,
>>>>> replaced with the old card but failed to remove the
>>> software for the new
>>>>> card.  Initially the computer rebooted fine.  The
> next
>>> day, after we had
>>>>> returned the new video card, we received the
> following
>>> message.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> We apologise for the inconvenience that Windows did
> not
>>>>> start successfully a recent hardware or software
> change
>>>>> might have caused this.  If your computer stopped
>>>>> responding, restarted unexpectedly or was
> automatically
>>>>> shutdown to protect your files and folders, choose
> last
>>>>> known good configuration to revert to the most recent
>>>>> setting that worked.  If a previous start up attempt
>>> was
>>>>> interrupted due to a power failure or because the
>>> power or
>>>>> reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what
>>>>> caused the problem, choose Start Windows normally.
>>>>>
>>>>> Safe Mode
>>>>> Safe Mode with networking
>>>>> Safe Mode with Command prompt
>>>>>
>>>>> Last Know good Configuration ( your most recent
>>> settings
>>>>> that worked)
>>>>>
>>>>> Start Windows normally
>>>>>
>>>>> Use up and down arrow keys to highlight your choice
>>>>>
>>>>> 30 seconds to choose an option then computer restarts
>>> and
>>>>> goes back to this screen.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> We are unable to boot up in any mode.  I do have the
>>> Windows XP
>>>>> (Professional) CD.  I do not know if it is set to
> boot
>>> from CD-Rom.  I
>>>>> have looked at the webtree website, which was
> referred
>>> to someone earlier
>>>>> with the same error message, however, I am not clear
>>> how I should proceed.
>>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>.
>>>>
>>
>>
>>.
>>
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