When you boot from the CD setup will copy lots of files and it looks like you are reinstalling. This is OK. You will not be doing a reinstall and will not lose all your files.
Start your PC with the XP Setup CD in the drive. When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD..." prompt, do so and let the CD-based boot process begin.
The Recovery Console comes straight after the copying of files
When the Recovery Console option is offered (Press R to start the Recovery Console), do so. You may be asked which Windows installation to enter, in which case type the number of the Windows installation you wish to work on (usually 1).
When prompted, enter the Administrator's password for that Windows installation. If you did not set a password just press ENTER
At the command prompt, type
Bootcfg /Rebuild
ENTER
The exact wording will depend on your setup, but after a few moments you'll see a prompt that says something like:
Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
[1] C:\Windows
Add Installation To Boot List?
Assuming the information you see is correct, enter
Y
Bootcfg will start the process of rebuilding the boot list to include the indicated Windows installation
After a moment, you'll be asked to "Enter Load Identifier."
This is the name of the operating system that will appear in boot menus.
Type
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
ENTER
Next you'll be asked to "Enter OS Load Options."
For normal installations, enter
/Fastdetect
ENTER
Type
Exit
to leave the Recovery Console and reboot the PC, which should then start normally.
I don`t think you can solve the Dell password problem if you can`t get into XP.
Try a Repair of XP instead. You don`t need the password for that
A repair won't lose any data, other than Service Pack (if not on CD), any Windows Updates and unsigned drivers, which will need to be re-installed afterwards.
Stay offline to do a repair and do not go online again without a firewall enabled. After repairing XP, install Service Pack (if necessary), firewall and then you must install all Critical Updates next.
How to Repair XP
Boot up with the XP CD in the drive and let Setup run. Go past the first "R" repair option by pressing Enter just as if you're doing a clean install and you'll eventually come to an option to "Repair an existing installation". Select this one.
mombodog
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May 1st, 2007 19:00
GioAguilar
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May 1st, 2007 21:00
dunedin
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May 2nd, 2007 07:00
Bootcfg /Rebuild
ENTER
Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
[1] C:\Windows
Add Installation To Boot List?
Y
Bootcfg will start the process of rebuilding the boot list to include the indicated Windows installation
This is the name of the operating system that will appear in boot menus.
Type
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
ENTER
Next you'll be asked to "Enter OS Load Options."
For normal installations, enter
/Fastdetect
ENTER
Exit
to leave the Recovery Console and reboot the PC, which should then start normally.
bdubill
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May 2nd, 2007 10:00
dunedin
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May 2nd, 2007 10:00
A repair won't lose any data, other than Service Pack (if not on CD), any Windows Updates and unsigned drivers, which will need to be re-installed afterwards.
Stay offline to do a repair and do not go online again without a firewall enabled. After repairing XP, install Service Pack (if necessary), firewall and then you must install all Critical Updates next.
Boot up with the XP CD in the drive and let Setup run. Go past the first "R" repair option by pressing Enter just as if you're doing a clean install and you'll eventually come to an option to "Repair an existing installation". Select this one.
Scroll way down page to
Windows Installation CD - Repair Current Installation
bdubill
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May 2nd, 2007 10:00
bdubill
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118 Posts
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May 2nd, 2007 10:00