Re: Can't start Windows XP

Okidoki... this is not how I remember it.

Maybe the problem I encounter last time was caused by the fact that the girl didn't have the original CD and the store burned something for her (she had 6 CD's), after replacing her Hard-disk (which had crashed).
I sure I used the 2nd option offered by the CD, and it stepped me through the same process as a restore. All her data-files were gone... and this is why I am very hesitated to use the CD.

Hopefully my g/f has the original CD.
What if no Windows CD is delivered with the computer?
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:uYfoODmmHHA.1624@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
actually the options are
1) install and
2) recovery console.

the install option will
give you the options to
1a) re-install the o.s. from scratch or
1b) repair an existing o.s.

the recovery option will
get you to the 2a) prompt.

"Ellen" <e.denan@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:O2nQNokmHHA.5024@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi DB,

thanks for the advice... I will do so as soon as I will visit her which is not yet but in Sept. (Since I live in Europe and she in the US. I advised her to try to find somebody local, but she prefers to wait till I get there and till then she will work on her old PC with W98.)

But bear with me.
As I recall on the top of my head, if you start your PC using the Windows CD, you will get 3 options.

1. is Windows Restore
2. is Windows Repair
3. I do not remember..

I selected before in a similar situation option 2 and basically this seems the same thing as #1.
So how do you select Recovery Console?

Ellen
"db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:%23EcbLikmHHA.4316@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
use the windows cd and
boot to recovery console.

at the prompt run:
chkdsk
fixmbr
fixboot

then exit and try rebooting
again.
"Ellen" <e.denan@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:%23FeRf7jmHHA.1340@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi All,

I just got a call from my girlfriend that her PC no longer is starting
windows (Windows XP - Home Edition).

It seems while her PC was starting up, she gave it a Hard Shut-down, since
she wanted to teach her mom how to start a PC.
If she starts now her PC it looks like it is starting up, but after 20-30
seconds it shows an error message and she has the option to select
Safe-Mode, Safe-mode with Internet connection, start normal, etc...

She tried all these options but with no result.
I had to solve this type of problem once before and the advice I got then
from everybody was to do a System Recovery. Now if you do a System
Recovery, you loose all your data and that is what I like to prevent this
time.

So if anybody can advice me:
1. How to get Windows started again
2. If not possible without a System Recovery, how can I access the data on
the Hard disk prior to do the System Recovery and back-up the data?
Is there a way to access the data using for example an external hard-disk
hooking up?? Or an external burner??

Thanks in advance!
Ellen

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