Can't start Windows XP, not even safe mode

Question

Help!  Last night I stupidly did a defrag while still working on the internet, etc.  It finally froze up so I turned the computer off and back on.  It would only get to the windows xp screen where the little boxes move back and forth then I got the blue screen that tells you if this is the first time this has happened to do a check disk, etc and shutdown.  I turned it off again and same thing happened.  I tried f8 and it wouldn't let me go into safe mode.  I can't even get to a prompt, just get rolling commands then it freezes.  I tried the system diagnostic tool (forget how I got there, f12?  f5?) and it said everything passes.  I've tried to restart dozens of times but it can't get past the blue check disk screen...can't even DO a check disk!  I think I read to try putting in the install disk and look for a repair option?  Is that my next step or is there something easy that I'm not doing?  Andrea

andreah1 · Answer

I did that, didn't work, got the same problem.

mombodog · Answer

Do F8 again and choose 'Last known good configuration that worked'

andreah1 · Answer

Thanks, I'll give it a whirl later!  Andrea

mombodog · Answer

1) Insert Widows XP CD that Dell provided with the system
2) Re-start machine and press F12 on dell logo screen to go into boot up option screen
3) Select CD drive and press enter
4) Press any key (suggest space bar)
5) A windows installation screen will appear and load files
6) To repair windows XP press R
7) A DOS screen then comes
8) Type following command chkdsk /p and press enter (space between k and forward slash) This

command detects bad sectors on the disk and will take circa 5-10 mins depending on size of your drive
9) After 8) has finished the DOS prompt will appear again
10) Type following command chkdsk /r and press enter (space between k and forward slash)
This command repairs bad sectors and will take circa 45 mins - > 90 mins depending on size of your drive.

Do not worry if progress appears as say 75% when you check progress but appears to have gone back to

50% shortly afterwards...Just let process continue
11) After 10) has finished the DOS prompt will appear again.
12) Now type fixboot and press enter
13) You will now be asked whether you want to boot from c: drive. As this is where I normally boot from I

typed in y and hit return. Message that boot successfully written to C drive then came up.
14) Type EXIT to get out of window you are in and re-boot your computer as normal. Hopefully all

appears as normal, no data loss etc.

ramdino · Answer

I have the same boot problem. I tried the chkdsk and fixboot . it still hangs up on the XPlogo blue screen. I just got this unit back from Dell for a motherboard replacement and it still does not work.

mombodog · Answer

When all else fails   http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#RI                     repair install (not recovery console)

andreah1 · Answer

I tried the repair last night...it did boot up, went to check disk and said my volume was dirty?  I can start in safe mode and regular but I have no modem and no sound.  I tried to back up my documents and I can't even back up anything?  HELP!  What do I do?  Should I reinstall windows and suffer with my loss of documents?

andreah1 · Answer

Thanks, will cross my fingers...if there's not another post here til tomorrow you'll know it didn't work!!!

dunedin · Answer

I`m hoping that the commands will fix it for you. Can never be certain though. Let it do its stuff and keep your fingers crossed.

If it does not work you could slave your drive in another machine and copy off your data before reinstalling.

andreah1 · Answer

Yes, it is the c drive I'm trying to bring back to life.  Will the commands you gave me bring it back to normal?  And if this doesn't work am I down to reformatting the drive?

dunedin · Answer

Hello andreah1

You will have to run chkdsk again with switches to try fix the errors

Start/Run and type in
cmd
OK

The command prompt window will open.
At the flashing cursor type in
chkdsk C: /f /r (there is a space before C and both of the /)
Press ENTER

NOTE: I am assuming the drive you wish to check is the C: drive. If this is not the case change the drive letter.

Windows General

Can't start Windows XP, not even safe mode

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