Re: Problem on start-up

From: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) (user_at_#notme.com)
Date: 08/17/04 

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 16:39:23 -0700

You're welcome. Be sure not to borrow someone else's disk as you will be
asked to input the product key and since it is activated on another setup,
it will cause problems for you, the other person or both of you. 

-- 
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
"Mayur Pabari" <mayur_pabari@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message 
news:0ad401c4849d$de0d9320$a301280a@phx.gbl...
>
> Thanks Michael, appreciate your assistance.
>
> Unfortunately I only have the Product Recovery Disk, will
> attempt to obtain the actual XP disk and follow your
> instructions.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mayur
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>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.
>>
>>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.
>>
>>When the system boots, a few screens into the process
> you may see a message
>>instructing you
>>to hit any key in order to boot from the CD along with a
> countdown.  When
>>you see this be sure to
>>hit a key on the keyboard, if you miss this instruction
> and the system fails
>>to boot from the CD, it's too
>>late, you'll need to reboot and try again.
>>
>>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 selection you want
> at this screen is
>>"Setup Windows,"
>>NOT "Repair Windows Installation.
>>
>>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.
>>
>>Note, in some cases, you won't receive the repair
> option, only an option to
>>reinstall.  We have discovered that sometimes this is
> caused by damaged
>>boot.ini file that can be repaired as follows and also
> note, in the
>>instructions, "K" refers to the CD drive in which you
> have placed the XP CD,
>>replace that drive letter with the appropriate letter on
> your system, "K" is
>>simply an example.
>>
>>Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option (this is
> the section I told
>>you to skip above.  In this case, you will need to get
> to the Recovery
>>Console to perform the function below), and if the CD
> letter is say K: give
>>these commands
>>
>>COPY K:\i386\ntldr  C:
>>COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com  C:
>>    (two other files needed - just in case)
>>ATTRIB -H -R -S  C:\boot.ini
>>DEL C:\boot.ini
>>BootCfg  /Rebuild
>>
>>Once you've completed this function, reboot and see if
> you can access XP as
>>sometimes, the problem is the damaged boot.ini.  If you
> still cannot access
>>XP, then reboot and re-run the repair install
> instructions at the beginning
>>of this message.
>>
>>If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite
> limited.  You can
>>either purchase a retail version of XP which 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.
>>
>>
>>-- 
>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>Windows Shell/User
>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>
>>"Mayur" <mayur_pabari@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>>news:7f4601c48488$7aa774f0$a601280a@phx.gbl...
>>> Have a big problem trying to start-up my home computer,
>>> once switched on I receive the following message:
>>>
>>> "We apologize for the inconvenience, but 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 shut down to protect
>>> your files and folders, chose Last Known Good
>>> Configuration to revert to the most recent settings
> that
>>> worked.
>>>
>>> If a previous startup attepmt 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,
>>> chose Start Windows Normally.
>>>
>>> Options offered:
>>>
>>> Safe Mode
>>> Safe Mode with Networking
>>> Safe Mode with Command Prompt
>>> Last Known Good Config (your most recent settings that
>>> worked)
>>> Start Windows Normally"
>>>
>>> I have selected the last two options but keep coming
> back
>>> to this message, then tried the Safe Mode options, but
>>> whichever option I select I keep coming back to this
>>> messgae and unable to login to Windows XP (Home
> Edition)
>>>
>>> Any assistance anyone can provide would be gretafull
>>> apreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Mayur
>>
>>
>>.
>>