System down after 2nd System Restore procedure

PC Restore is only on systems shipped after 7-14-04 so if you got your system before then, you don't have it.

Boot the system and press F8 before XP starts to load. Select Last Known Good. See if that does it. If not, you may need to do a Repair/Reinstall of XP. You won't lose personal files but you will have to reinstall all the XP updates and hotfixes. Instructions for Repair/Reinstall are here:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1056993&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=19&s=dhs
Run BIOS setup first and set the boot sequence so the optical drive is first on the list. That way it'll boot directly from the CD. Remember to change the boot sequence back to HD first when you're done.

If you didn't get an XP Installation CD from Dell when you received the system, contact Tech Support and request it, along with CDs with drivers, utilities, modem software etc.

When the system is running again, you could look here for ideas on fixing PCRestore, assuming it's on your system. Remember PCRestore resets the system to the way Dell shipped it so all personal files, software and XP updates are lost.
http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 03-02-2006 06:21 PM

Ron, thank you for the link to those instructions.  I saw that earlier and found that it's for the Home Edition and mine is Professional or Media Center.  Where that screen asks for R (repair) mine asks for C to create a new partition or delete the existing OS and install on that partition.  And that is what I want to avoid if I can.  I need a magical boot cd -- don't have a floppy drive. It doesn't look too good, does it.   Any other suggestions?  Anne

I have XPpro and used those instructions to repair/reinstall my 8400. You don't hit R the first time, you hit enter. Only after you see the license agreement will you be allowed to run the repair/reinstall.

From those instructions:

The second option reads R=Repair, Do Not Press the Key at this time . This option is for the Recovery Console.
There will be another repair option available in this process.
3. Press the [Enter] key.
The Windows XP Licensing Agreement appears.
4. Read the license agreement.
5. Press the key to agree.
Setup will search for previous versions of Windows.

I don't know what magical boot CD you seem to want. If you have the XP Installation CD from Dell, that's all you need -unless you have a RAID HD configuration and you need to load RAID drivers without a floppy.

If you don't have RAID, you just have to be sure to set the optical drive as first boot item entry in BIOS.

Ron

Thanks, Ron.  I did move up the cd drive in BIOS in order to use the installation cd, and following your instructions I opt for 'enter' over the first  "R" or 'exit'.  I press F8 to agree to the license, but the very next screen indicates the partition where the current Windows install is located.  It shows another inactive partition with 8mb of data, and the choices are "c" to create a new partition, delete a partition, or Exit, and that's where I chicken out.  Here is another clue: without the cd, after powering up, the Dell logo appears and then immediately a full page message appears stating "We're sorry for the inconvenience, but Windows has failed to load.  This may be due to a recent hardware or software installation......."  Then options: Boot in Safe Mode, Boot in Safe Mode with Network, Boot in Safe Mode with command prompt, .........  If I do nothing at this point it attempts to boot and the Windows logo appears and windows tries to load. But, I get that error message even before Windows tries to load.  Curiouser and curiouser.   And again, thank you a lot. Anne

Anne,
Something isn't right. Are you sure it's actually booting from the CD, even though you moved it up in the boot sequence? If you have more than one optical drive, try the CD in the other one. Power down and then reboot with CD in the drawer.

The 8MB partition is probably the diagnostics partition on the HD. What if you just press R at that screen will it accept that and start the repair? I don't remember the screen you see when I did it and I just pressed R after the accepting the user agreement.

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode? (Press F8 before XP loads.) If that works then you can run a system file check (sfc) to fix any missing/damaged XP files and/or reinstall missing driver(s).

Ron

Hi Ron, Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Command Prompt, etc., just produce a screen full of script.  I'll try using the R right after the license agreement key on the installation dvd, which does load data, but I'll also try the other slot.  I'm afraid I've also used up your quota of ideas.  I sure do thank you.

Me again.  The "R" trick didn't work, BUT saw there was a brief message flashed between Dell's logo and Windows, paused it and it stated Keyboard Error, with a cursor!  Is that good?

I'm still not convinced you're actually booting from the CD.

See if the advice here is of any use: "If the Repair Option is not Available".
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#warning2

Ron