Windows XP Won't Start

Hi Peter
The missus had me up late on xmas pressie wrapping duty :D

The only time you`d run into problems is if the "good" machine is running win98 or older..
it can`t read the NTFS file system on the xp drive.

 

I didn't know that about XP Hex - thank you. I am still on windows 98 as I have an original system disk, which means that I can format my machine as many times as I want and have what I want on it.

I have recently been helping a friend with a new Dell with XP. The machine is mechanically fine but I do not like the setup. There is no system disk, so you cannot reformat. And its full of cr*pware that that you consequently cannot safely get rid of. There are loads of unneccessary programs such as AOL adverts that are permanently running and slowing the machine down. This friend is on dialup but a message keeps coming up ever 10 minutes telling him it cannot detect a connection to the internet. HE KNOWS THAT.

 

Surely this is not the case with XP. I thought I would just be able to plug in a new HD & buy a copy of XP then re-install all my stuff???

am I wrong?

 

Forgot to mention I found all the original software & paperwork today. The only relevant disc that came with the pc was one called 'Packard Bell software library' I tried this in the cd rom drive & re-started the pc but it did not boot from it. I just got the same error message.
I can only assume that the disc only has basic software & utilities on it & not XP which was pre-installed

I'm pulling my hair out with worry now as we have a lot of family, wedding., honeymoon etc photo's on it!!!!

 

r200. What I meant to say is that a working disk from another machine may not automatically work in your machine because it is set up for another machine. However once you have formatted it and/or set it up for your machine, it will work.

SERIOUSLY - DO NOT TRY TO SOLVE THIS YOURSELF if you are not experienced. It is a standard problem, and any computer shop will have 10 of these a week. They will know what to do. They will advise if you need to buy anything such as a copy of the operating system. They are also very aware of the need to recover your data. And take all your original disks and paperwork to them. They may find something in there that you are not aware of.

Better still, if possible, take it back to where you bought it. They will know that when you bought it an operating system was installed and paid for. So rightfully they should not charge you again for the operating system.

It costs nothing to go and talk to these people. Most computer shops are very friendly and willing to chat. As this sort of thing does happen from time to time, ask them what methods there are to back up your data, and how you can be prepared if it were to happen again.

 

I can only repeat my previous advice, r200. Get professional help now and stop tearing your hair out. A decent computer shop will save what can be saved and that probably means your data will be retrieved. You can do nothing but more damage if you poke around without knowing what you are doing. Brace yourself for a dent in your wallet and stop tearing your hair out.

Those family, wedding and other photos really should have been backed up. You can do that on cd, memory stick or online at kodak, photobucket or any of the other free places. So easy to do and such a relief to know that your memories are safe other than on your vulnerable pc. I know that sounds like good advice too late, but next time it happens, you will be prepared. And there will be another "next time".

 

As it would appear that you do not have a full backup - I would reiterate the advise to go to a professional, and don't try to fix it yourself.

At the moment you got one corrupt file on your os - messing around with it, even via a helpline could put your data at risk. Your first priority is to get that data off safely - go find someone who can do that. After that the second priority is to sort out your os, or reformat or whatever.

Once everything is sorted, backup, backup, backup. Hard drives and OS develop problems - and its a bit late when they do. Me I backup to an external hard drive, and use Acronis that can also act as a boot to reinstall and it can create a virtual hard drive to copy over data files, if as in my case, xp reinstalled, but failed to recognise anything from before.

 

Hi r2oo
Although you certainly could fix it yourself (given another available pc and a bit of knowledge) it sounds like you may be better off taking it to the shop.

Don`t get the guy to come out though or you`ll incur a call-out charge as well.
Ring up first and get an estimate..they should have a rough idea how much it`ll cost.

Don`t worry too much about your photo`s etc, it`ll be quite easy for the shop to recover those.

When you can..buy your own operating system (XP etc)installation cd with a key (january sales?).

It will save you the expense and hassle the next time this happens..and it most likely will as Hornbeam said

As time goes by you`ll be more "pc aware" and the need to format will become few and far between,
this one was last formatted 4th Aug, 2004

 

Ok Here's an update guys. Got that disc through the post & well what a load of s*** sent it back & have a refund on the way!! lesson learned.

I took a chance on a local computer repair guy & called him out. Lovely chap, was here for about an hour. All he needed to do was insert an original windows XP disc which booted up& instantly recognised that there was a registry problem & fixed it. He also did a good cleanup on the pc & gave me a few invaluable tips o boot (forgive the pun) all for �£35. bargain eh!
Chuffed to bits & have since backed all my photo's up!!!

Thanks again for your help guys.

 

P.s he said that any copy of Windows XP home edition would have worked.
As my pc was pre-loadad with it there was no disk. I just need to get hold of one from somewhere now????just incase it happens again.

The cause of the problem was probably a power cut we had that prevented the pc from wrighting the System 32 startup registry file on shutdown!

 

r200. I am so glad it all worked out OK. You and your chap have put your fingers on the problem - that of having original disks, especially for the Windows operating system itself. A lot of places pre-install software and do not give original disks. To me this is quite wrong. Without an original disk, you are at their mercy.

I mentioned a friend with a Dell machine. He does not have an original disk. What he has is a repair disk that reinstalls the original software. But it also installs all the original cr*p that he doesn't want or need. If I had Windows XP, I would willingly have sent you a copy. But I am still on Windows 98 for this very reason. Microsoft is at the forefront of limiting copies of Windows. A little while ago they wanted to abolish lifetime working copies of Windows and make you take out an annual licence, which you would have to renew every year. Luckily there was so much opposition it was dropped (for the time being). When I bought my first computer 25 years ago, the operating system cost just 3% of the cost of the computer hardware, Microsoft have steadily raised that from 3% to 30%.

 

Computer crash. My computer crashed this morning and so did Wildflowers!! Coincidence maybe, but I am thinking that we may both have the same virus. Also that it may have come to us via GC. Everyone should be very careful about downloading freebies and animated Christmas cards etc. You don't know what they may be carrying

I'm now on my old computer and won't be able to post photos until I get my damage computer fixed and re-booted

 

Hi everyone i am back up and running ..I rebooted mine last night and finished an hour or so ago..I have to say mine has been funny for a month now slow and in the last week the firewall went down 8 times..!!! :eek: :eek: I have lost a lot of pictures ..but the pc is now running fast again..I ran virus checks all month when it was slow but nothing was showing up and i was so frustrated with it yesterday afternoon as it was also freezing that i just thought reboot the dam thing..so i did ..and its been a nightmare..Hornbeam you will soon get sorted..

 

Hi Wildflower,

Having the firewall shut down isn`t good.
Does it show an error message at the time or just turn off without any warning?

 

Hi..it just turned off no error message ..but the pc was also freezing it went on for a month and was driving me insane..I was even blaming the weather for it happening.. :D A couple of times the dial up connection opened then a message came up to say it was open..and i am on broadband.. :eek: :eek: Anyway its okay now its running like a new pc..i have downloaded everything and its all clean and sorted..As i am the third member in the creative art section to have to reboot we think it may be coming from a download photo..so we are stepping up security and not downloading any pictures..I know its not coming from e mail as i am with aol and they are all scanned..And i do regular virus scans and everything and i dont go round the internet much anymore so its got to be something photograph ..Its just a pain when it happens ..grrrrrrrr