Windows XP will not boot

Question

When windows xp tries to boot it locks up after flashing the dell screen. It offers 4 choices to boot ...Safe, Safe w/networking, Safe w/command, last good config. or to start windows normally. It counts down from 30 seconds to make a choice. If I press the last good config or to start windows normally, it shows the Windows XP icon and acts like it is going to boot up. But then just shows a dark blue blank screen. If I press any of the safe mode options, it runs a bunch of DOS commands, makes some noise and sits there. I do not want to lose my data!! I was on the phone tonight for over an hour waiting to talk to a tech. I do not have a restore disk. I have a piece of paper that looks like a CD that says 'Microsoft Windows System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. For more information, double-click on the Owner's Manual icon on your desktop'. I would LOVE to have a desktop to click on! I found this following steps in a troubleshooting wizard-Disable the autonatic restart on system failure option and Load the BIOS defaults on the Dell Dimension system. I am afraid that if I try either of these, I will lose my data files. Please, can anyone help me? Thank you for any assistance in advance! Distressed little mommy (I am expecting my 2nd child in 6 wks. This is enough to put me into labor.)

chama98 · Answer

@ambrn wrote: When windows xp tries to boot it locks up after flashing the dell screen. It offers 4 choices to boot ...Safe, Safe w/networking, Safe w/command, last good config. or to start windows normally. It counts down from 30 seconds to make a choice. If I press the last good config or to start windows normally, it shows the Windows XP icon and acts like it is going to boot up. But then just shows a dark blue blank screen. If I press any of the safe mode options, it runs a bunch of DOS commands, makes some noise and sits there. I do not want to lose my data!! I was on the phone tonight for over an hour waiting to talk to a tech. I do not have a restore disk. I have a piece of paper that looks like a CD that says 'Microsoft Windows System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. For more information, double-click on the Owner's Manual icon on your desktop'. I would LOVE to have a desktop to click on! I found this following steps in a troubleshooting wizard-Disable the autonatic restart on system failure option and Load the BIOS defaults on the Dell Dimension system. I am afraid that if I try either of these, I will lose my data files. Please, can anyone help me? Thank you for any assistance in advance! Distressed little mommy (I am expecting my 2nd child in 6 wks. This is enough to put me into labor.) when did you last perform a data backup?

DarkMyst · Answer

can you post the exact error message when you try to boot into windoes normaly pls.. as it sound like some of your main system boot files are corrupt.   There is a way to fix these....

ambrn · Answer

Here is a copy of the error message that I receive. Sorry that it is hard to read. I found it on Microsoft's site.

Figure 29-1 Startup options when your system cannot start

My husband used the computer with no problems on Friday. He turned it on Saturday morning and this is what we saw!

Just FYI, I have a XPS 400 w/ Windows XP Professional (if that helps). Here are the specifications found on dell's site.

Processor

Processor type

Intel® Pentium® 4 Socket-T with Hyper-Threading or Dual-Core support

Cache

2 MB

Memory

Type

dual-channel 533- and 667-MHz DDR2

Memory connectors

four

Memory capacities

256 MB, 512 MB, or 1 GB

Minimum memory

512 MB

Maximum memory

4 GB

BIOS address

F0000h

Computer Information

Chipset

Intel 945P

DMA channels

eight

Interrupt levels

24

BIOS chip (NVRAM)

4 Mb

NIC

integrated-network interface capable of 10/100/1000-Mbps communication

System clock

800- or 1066-MHz data rate

ambrn · Answer

I'm not even sure exactly how to perform a data backup. So unfortuately, I only have bits and pieces of my data saved on CDs. :smileysad: If I had performed a data backup, is it stored somewhere else on the hard drive that this OS failure would not have affected it? Thanks! DLMommy

chama98 · Answer

the only way I can think is this, pop the system restore disk in and see what it does, it might allow you to repair windows or reinstall it, what I would do is try safe mode, if you can get into that great backup all the data which you need and completey restore the PC

JeXus · Answer

Try booting into safe mode and see if the PC boots into windows before you do anything crazy like a new install. The problem could be minor. Did your husband install any new software on Friday night that you are not aware of? If so, remove it in safe mode and try to boot back in regularly. Also go in and check your device manager and make sure you have no exclamations or red "x" by any device.

On most PC's I have seen the windows backup utility is turned on by default so you may be lucky but I would defenitely snoop around in safe mode before jumping into a reformat. Think of it this way, you have nothing to lose by trying.

Message Edited by JeXus on 02-13-2007 02:44 PM

JeXus · Answer

Yup, you can easily find the DOS commands to fix the master boot record. I can't remember them off-hand but it was something like /fixmbr or something. I'm sure you can find them by googling something like DOS commands. Your problem doesn't sound that bad to resort to a reformat.

DarkMyst · Answer

Thats not the error message, when you boot to windows, does it give any error message, or just restart .   As for the other comments. Guys there is a way to fix windows and boot problems without a reformat.. If you insert a windows CD and start the install, there is a option to drop in repair DOS mode, this allows you to fixboot and just things... this would be a good option to try before trying a windows Repair from the windows cd rom..

ambrn · Answer

This is the only message that I receive. I do NOT receive an error message that tells me that my windows system is corrupt or anything of that sort.   Thank you for you suggestions with the CD but I will have to wait for it to arrive before I can go down that road.   Does anyone know how I can force my computer to go into safe mode another way? Some magic F key? Thanks!

ambrn · Answer

If I press any of the safe mode options, it runs a bunch of DOS commands, makes some noise and sits there. I end up having to cut off the computer manually. No, nothing was installed on Friday. I am stuck. I can't get my computer to move past this screen. :0(

DarkMyst · Answer

sorry there no real force trick, (that i know). do you have any windows cd's  (xp) ?

JeXus · Answer

Well since you have to wait anyway...does the PC have a floppy drive? If so, you could probably download a MS-bootup disc off the net and boot the PC off the disc and still fix the mbr.

jsrder · Answer

Since you biggest concern here is your data - I would suggest you remove your HD and install it in another system to see if you can recover your data before you attempt anything else.  Of course, don't install it as the boot drive in the other system, just use it as a data disk.   If you don't have easy access to another system, any local computer shop should be able to help you.  Hopefully, all your data is in easy to find locations and then just burn it to CD.

JustAnotherTech1 · Answer

the best way to solve this is to have your windows operating system disk... you can call dell technical support (800-6249896) and ask for copy.. ~or~ borrow any windows xp disk, it does not have to be from dell.

once you have the disk, boot from it, go to recovery console and perform chkdsk /r.

this'll probably resolved your issue.

JustAnotherTech1 · Answer

having missing or corrupted sys files is a different story.. mostly, you just need to expand the affected file from i386 folder of windows xp disk to the file's original location. but if it will not work, parallel OS reinstallation can save the day. it's installing windows on another folder on the hard drive's partition so that you'll still have access to the original windows installation. otherwise, BART or the same software can be used or say goodbye to your files.

Windows General

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