Cannot access Windows - Safe Mode returns to Boot Menu

Question

(Moved from BIOS forums)   I have a Dimension C521 When I start the computer it goes straight to the F12 Boot Menu - Normal screen which says 'We aplogize for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully' etc.   I have the option to select Safe Mode. When I do this the computer restarts and takes me back to the Boot Menu page. The same for Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.   When I select the Last Known Good Configuration the screen goes black and nothing happens. I have to restart the computer.   If I select Start Windows Normally, it hangs on this screen. If I allow the seconds to count from 30 to zero it hangs when it gets to 0.   So basically I can't get into Windows   I have tried restoring factory defaults in F2 setup but makes no difference.   I have also tried F12 when starting and the following happens   Bootable Hard Drive - goes to Normal screen Onboard CD-Rom drive - goes to Normal screen Hard Drive Diagnostics    SATA 1st Master: SAMSUNG HD160JJ/0 -Pass    SATA 2nd Master:TSSTcorp DVD+/-RW T - Diagnostics not supported Boot to Utility Partition - All diagnostic System Tests pass (except for error message 0F00:137B whcih I believe is normal if no disc is in the drive).Memory test is fine as well.   So I can't get into Windows. Any ideas? Thanks Rich

Reechi · Answer

I have run the WIndows repair facility with no errors and still won't boot

dunedin · Answer

I think you will need an XP installation CD to fix this, so I hope you have one.

Configure your PC to boot from CD if it isn't already set up that way. (You may need to enter the BIOS to configure the PC to boot from the CD.)

Start your PC with the XP Setup CD in the drive. When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD..." prompt, do so and let the CD-based boot process begin.

When the Recovery Console option is offered (Press R to start the Recovery Console), do so. You may be asked which Windows installation to enter, in which case type the number of the Windows installation you wish to work on (usually 1).

When prompted, enter the Administrator's password for that Windows installation. If you did not set a password just press ENTER

At the command prompt, type
fixmbr
Enter

Then
fixboot
Enter

Reechi · Answer

I called Dell support yesterday and did almost as you say in your post. However I entered chkdsk /r and not fixmbr. Once done (there were no errors) I then ran fixboot.   This didn't work. I still get the error page.

dunedin · Answer

I think you also need to run the command fixmbr

Reechi · Answer

Does fixmbr protect my hard drive ie. will my files be ok?

dunedin · Answer

fixmbr only repairs the master boot record of the boot disk.  It should leave your files alone.   Having said that, there is never any guarantee that all will go to plan when you run any fix.  All I can say is that it normally does not do any damage.   You need to fix this error to be able to access your files at all.  Your only other option is to slave the drive in another machine, copy off your files and then try to fix the error.

Reechi · Answer

I think I'll have to go for the latter option as my files are too important to be lost

dunedin · Answer

OK then   I wish you good luck :smileyhappy:

Windows General

Cannot access Windows - Safe Mode returns to Boot Menu

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