Stuck at windows text screen safe mode etc...

Question

With a Optiplex GX280 running XP Pro SP2 it is stuck in a endless loop at the text only screen after post (Safe Mode/Safe mode w networking/Safe mode with command line/Last know good configuration/normal startup. it gives me 30 seconds to choose or it rolls around and performs another post and stops for the text screen again. I've tryied all options and other than a 10 second delay it seems to try the option but just goes back to the original screen.   Generally does anyone have any practical idea's? Also how do I create a bootable disk (in case its a mbr issue) for a fix /mbr type of fix?   Thanks for any help

RoHe · Answer

Your XPpro SP2 CD is bootable. If you didn't get it with the system, request the CD from Dell. Start here: http://snipurl.com/1svl0 Ron

flw · Answer

In most cases, if nothign was added or deleted before the freeze will most add on apps still work normally after a restore?   Also from the xppro sp2 boot disk is there a way to roll back to a restore point, if there was one created after the initial setup? i.e. the machine has been in server for over two years and nothing has changed in over 6 months.   Thanks for any ideas.

RoHe · Answer

Try booting in Safe Mode with command prompt. You need to get to the C: prompt to run a System Restore outside of the desktop.

System Restore only undoes software changes made after the last Restore point was set. If apps were working ok when the Restore was set, they should continue to work afterwards. BUT, any software updates (eg, XP hotfixes) originally installed after the Restore point was set will have to be reinstalled. Personal data files won't be affected.

Here's a link to running System Restore after booting in Safe Mode with command prompt
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

If you can't get to Safe Mode with C: prompt, you may need to run a Repair Reinstall of XP. This will reinstall XP 'on top' of the existing installation. Personal files and software won't be harmed but you will have to reinstall every single XP update and hot fix again.

Ron

flw · Answer

All you have mentioned, I have tried. Even fixmbr, fixboot, check disk and the boot ckg command. the disk is readable but won't boot to anything but a text sceen. I'm at the point of just rerinstalling everything as the time I've already put into it is too much with no results.   For the next machine that just won't boot with out having the 6 XP floppies on hand, what would I have tried to do?

RoHe · Answer

Have you tried booting from XP CD and running the Repair Reinstall? You may have to change the boot sequence in BIOS setup to put CD drive first in order to boot from the CD. Repair/reinstall may be the easiest way back while saving your personal files and software.

Don't know if this applies ot your model system, but Dimension models shipped after July 14-2004 have a hidden PCRestore partition on the hard drive that resets everything back to the way Dell shipped it. Personal files and all software, including Microsoft updates, will be lost so this is drastic.

Good luck!
Ron

flw · Answer

Don't know if this applies ot your model system, but Dimension models shipped after July 14-2004 have a hidden PCRestore partition on the hard drive that resets everything back to the way Dell shipped it. Personal files and all software, including Microsoft updates, will be lost so this is drastic.

Good luck!
Ron

So how do you access the Dell restore partition?

RoHe · Answer

Read this: http://snipurl.com/1sxh0 Ron

Windows General

Stuck at windows text screen safe mode etc...

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