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XP won't boot. Registry messed up.
Microsoft Article 307545 describes file recovery when XP won't boot. But it contains a warning not to use the procedure on OEM installed systems. Mine is XP service pack 2 Home Edition with current updates on a Dell Dimension 8200 The Dell reinstallation diskette using the (R)ecovery option leads only to a dead blue screen with a movable cursor and the Windows label. What procedure can I follow to accomplish the intent of 307545?
- I have a backup on an external drive. Problem is, with only a blue screen when machine turns on, how do I retrieve the backup content? I can't even boot the machine in safe mode. I also could not boot from the Dell Reinstallation cd using the "R" parameter.
If you have backups stored on an external drive, you just need to enter the BIOS and change the boot order to optical drive first and insert the disk. Then boot the XP install CD and start a clean format nad XP install. You would access your backup data stored on the external drive after you have reinstalled the OS on the system.
Remember, if you are seeing a blue screen, it is generated by Windows. The physical components of the system (hard drive, motherboard, etc) cannot produce a Blue Screen like that.
- Thanks for your advice. The term "a clean format nad XP install" is not clear to me. What is it? Before that, I assume your suggestion requires an attempt to boot and using the F8 or F12 keys to interupt the boot and give access to the bios. Sorry for the delay in this response. I've been away and have not been receiving email notifications of activity on this thread.
- Please forgive my slow-witted mind. I thought "nad" was some kind of instruction rather than simply misspelled "and". If I clean format C: and then install XP and then restore the backup, what will I get ? Will all of my installed programs be returned to their original state along with all the data in files like "My Documents"? Thanks for your help. Ken
- No, this process dose not allow for that to happen, you would need to install whatever programs you would want to use just like the last time you installed them and you would need to put whatever documents, pictures, etc. back in their respective folders.
james_g
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Posted December 11th, 2007 18:00