Dell XP won't boot

I did format the installed partition,very carefully. What caused this is that I messed with my registry and this caused my previous windows installation to become corrupt.I had to delete the factory installed partition and install a new one.I've tried the repair option to no avail. Nothing I do gets windows to restart normally.What could cause this?I'm using the reinstallation cd that came with this brand new PC.

Boot from the XP CD to see whether Windows set-up recognizes an installed version of Windows.  To do that, you can either proceed through the screens until set-up tells you that you have a version of Windows on your computer and asks you what you want to do; OR, you can go into the Recovery Console to see if it recognizes anything that can be repaired.  If an installed version of Windows is recognized, you could try a Repair Re-install.  If an installed version of Windows is not recognized, then your best bet would be to do a new install, telling it to format the installation partition.  I apologize for saying this, but it almost sounds as if you did not re-install Windows after formatting; certainly, if you did, the installation appears to have failed for some reason.

I don't know.Where do I check to see?

is your xp partition set to active?

Boppo





My Laptop
========================================================
DELL Inspiron 8200 2.5GHz Notebook
Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.5GHz-M
Bios Version A11
1024MB 266MHz DDR SDRAM
15.1" Dell® UXGA+ UltraSharp™ (1600 x 1200) TFT Enhanced Screen
GeForce4 440 64MB (42.58)
Integrated 24x10x24 CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive - Fixed Bay
Internal V92 Modem & 10/100 NIC
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional SP1 (Clean Install)
Microsoft® Office® XP Professional
Microsoft Wireless Networking
Hard Drive Format NTFS
Hitachi 60GB Hard Drive 7200 RPM
Hitachi 40GB Hard Drive 5400 RPM - Media Bay
Modular Floppy
I8kfanGUI Version 2.1.0 fans on at 60c off at 43c
Speed Switch 1.3
128 MB USB Memory Key
Cool Pad
Goback 3.5
========================================================

I deleted all partitions and installed fresh.

Yes! I think I'm getting somewhere! I did as you said and found out it wasn't set to boot from the hard drive. It is now booting automatically when I say to restart! Thank you,everyone! I'll keep you posted on my progress! I'm now installing drivers etc. from Resource CD.

if you have a bootable win 98 floppy you can boot to that and run fdisk which will let you see it your primary partition is active.

Boppo





My Laptop
========================================================
DELL Inspiron 8200 2.5GHz Notebook
Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.5GHz-M
Bios Version A11
1024MB 266MHz DDR SDRAM
15.1" Dell® UXGA+ UltraSharp™ (1600 x 1200) TFT Enhanced Screen
GeForce4 440 64MB (42.58)
Integrated 24x10x24 CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive - Fixed Bay
Internal V92 Modem & 10/100 NIC
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional SP1 (Clean Install)
Microsoft® Office® XP Professional
Microsoft Wireless Networking
Hard Drive Format NTFS
Hitachi 60GB Hard Drive 7200 RPM
Hitachi 40GB Hard Drive 5400 RPM - Media Bay
Modular Floppy
I8kfanGUI Version 2.1.0 fans on at 60c off at 43c
Speed Switch 1.3
128 MB USB Memory Key
Cool Pad
Goback 3.5
========================================================

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knightofpain wrote:     I did format the installed partition,very carefully....... I had to delete the factory installed partition and install a new one.I've tried the repair option to no avail. Nothing I do gets windows to restart normally.

---

knightofpain,

I have been there before so you never forget it. Glad to help.

Boppo





My Laptop
========================================================
DELL Inspiron 8200 2.5GHz Notebook
Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.5GHz-M
Bios Version A11
1024MB 266MHz DDR SDRAM
15.1" Dell® UXGA+ UltraSharp™ (1600 x 1200) TFT Enhanced Screen
GeForce4 440 64MB (42.58)
Integrated 24x10x24 CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive - Fixed Bay
Internal V92 Modem & 10/100 NIC
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional SP1 (Clean Install)
Microsoft® Office® XP Professional
Microsoft Wireless Networking
Hard Drive Format NTFS
Hitachi 60GB Hard Drive 7200 RPM
Hitachi 40GB Hard Drive 5400 RPM - Media Bay
Modular Floppy
I8kfanGUI Version 2.1.0 fans on at 60c off at 43c
Speed Switch 1.3
128 MB USB Memory Key
Cool Pad
Goback 3.5
========================================================

Yes! It's still restarting every time! I AM STOKED!!!!