Re: Going round in circles

repair install isn't supposed to be destructive, but there is always the
first time. I certainly wouldn't attempt removing a laptop hard drive. It's
probbaly the same as removing one from a desktop, which i have done many
time, but as your knowledge is somewhat limited i wouldn't recommend it.
Let's try my suggestion of the emergency boot disk first and see what
happens.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org


"tobytinker" <tobytinker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:A80F10E5-2F7F-41A4-8B7D-FE884FECC4C4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Thanks John, I have had a look at your website (saw a previous reply you
> sent
> someone else earlier). I am still concerned that I might lose my data -
> backing up has never been my strong point and I have hundreds of photos I
> would not be able to replace. Actually my machined seemed ok after I had
> installed Norton (already had 2004, this was 2005). In fact we crashed
> when
> I attempted a 'defrag' so I guess it could have been either (still Norton
> though). What are the percentages of me losing all my data on a repair -
> impossible question? I have been told I can back up my data from my hard
> drive to another computer or disk but I don't know how to remove it. This
> is
> my laptop - if I could get my hard disc out could I back it up to this?
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>
>> Everything was working fine until you decided to install Norton Security
>> 2005? Norton is a marvellous tool it's a pity is causes more problems
>> than
>> it cures.
>>
>> You could really do with restoring your system back to before you
>> installed
>> Norton Security but you have a problem, you can't boot the machine and
>> you
>> can't boot into safe mode.
>>
>> Can you use the 'last known good confirgurations' or does that not work
>> also?
>>
>> You can attempt a repair. To do that visit my website
>> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org Click on the Win Faq button and take a
>> look
>> at question 55. Obviously you are using someone elses pc to contact the
>> newsgroup so you may want to print the details of Question 55 so you can
>> refer to them.
>>
>> As you rightly say, if you do a complete reinstall of windows you will
>> loose
>> everything so you really have two options. 1/ try to access your pc using
>> an
>> emergency boot disk (which you don't have) or 2/ try a repair of windows
>> xp.
>>
>> To be honest i would rather you try method 1 first. What i suggest is
>> that
>> you look in the Contact details of my website and email me directly. I
>> need
>> an email address that can recieve files. What i will do is email you the
>> contents of an emergency boot disk. All you need do is ask a friend to
>> format a floppy disk for you and then copy the files i send onto the
>> floppy.
>> Once that is done try booting your machine from the floppy disk. If the
>> floppy works it will load windows and the desktop will appear. Once you
>> are
>> at the desktop i suggest you do a system restore back to before you
>> installed Norton System 2005. Hopefully that will cure the problem.
>> Whether
>> you install Norton system 2005 again is up to you. The same problem may
>> occur or it may not. The choice is yours.
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Associate Expert
>> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>>
>>
>> "tobytinker" <tobytinker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:8845A992-7D61-4D57-AF80-03ABD7F2A9E5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >I hope someone can help. I loaded Norton Security 2005 on my main
>> >machine
>> > last night, did all the virus and disc checks then thought I would
>> > 'defrag'
>> > Just as it was about to start Windows crashed and is now going round in
>> > circles and cannot start, although it does give me all the options
>> > (Safe
>> > mode, Normal, etc.) nothing works it just keeps going round in circles.
>> > I
>> > have Windows XP Home. I use the computer a great deal but when
>> > something
>> > like this happens I am absolutely lost. I have tried putting the
>> > windows
>> > disc in the attempt a repair but it asks me questions I don't
>> > understand
>> > or
>> > can't answer and I am very concerned that I don't lose my data which I
>> > understand I would do if I reinstalled Windows. If anyone can offer
>> > advice
>> > or help I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
>>
>>
>>


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