Windows Xp Mess

[swytch]

Do you have your Windows XP CD?  You will need to boot into Windows Recovery Mode to perform a few commands and see if you can repair it that way.


Try the command "fixboot" and possibly a "fixmbr" with the XP recovery program on cd.  I wrote a post on using those commands and you can find it here:  http://www.she-geeks.com/unmountable-boot-volume.html
Once that process has completed, I would run a chkdsk /r command to repair any data issues on your hard drive.

Let me know how it goes!   


Swytch~~   

[sometime]

Hi!
thanks for getting back to me

I wish i had that CD. it would have come in handy a few times over the past year.

that "disk read error /press ctrl alt del to restart" msg is usually what it reverts to when i press f2 or f 12.
There are a few different menu options i am able to access. I can check and adjust a few settings, like boot sequence
What do you suggest?
You've been very helpful in the past

I do have a Knoppix cd that somebody burned for me, It enables me to use Linux at a slow pace without saving new stuff on my computer. If i can get into the old stuff - which i havent figured out yet, I dont have a place to store it/to copy it to.
I just want to fix windows and have my old computer back

[swytch]

@sometime-

  No problem.      
  I would go ahead and change/make sure the boot sequence is set to CD-rom first in the BIOS.  then i would boot from CD to run the commands mentioned previously.  I know you mentioned that you did not have you Windows CD on hand... maybe you can find something to help with this here:  http://www.bootdisk.com/

Also, you can run the Recovery Console installation from your hard drive. If your computer didn't come with a Windows Setup disk, the vendor should have copied an image of it to your hard drive instead. Look for a folder named I386 which contains the WINNT32.EXE file. It might be stored elsewhere on your hard drive, but let's assume you found this file in the C:\WINDOWS\I386 folder. Click Start, then click Run. Enter the command C:\WINDOWS\I386\WINNT32.EXE /cmdcons. Click Yes to confirm that you want to install Recovery Console.

Hope this helps.

Swytch~~   

[sometime]

Thanks, It is set to boot from cd first.
Now, how do i get into my hard drive with the Linux cd?
Or do i first need to follow the links provided in previous posts and obtain a substitute for a windows xp disk?   

[swytch]

If you can reach Windows Repair via a homemade bootdisk, that would be my next step.  I would try that prior to the Linux method (if you are mainly familiar with Windows).  When you have exhausted that process, then I would try the Linux LiveCD method.




Swytch~~ 

[sometime]

exhausted...Do you have step by step instructions for the Linux Live CD method?   

[sometime]

does anybody know if it is possible to use the CD for XP professional to repair XP home?

[turbotater]

Just in case someone else needs it - here are a few more tips that I didn't see:

If it's a laptop or an OEM case, there should be a sticker on the case with a number.  Try using that number as the activation code.  It normally works even if you've bought the PC second-hand or replaced the motherboard.  We buy all our laptops from propertyroom.com (they resell items confiscated in police raids) and 9 out of 10 times using the code on the bottom works.

Call Windows and say "I have a <insert brand name of computer> and suddenly it says my copy of XP is invalid!  I bought this from a <store> and I don't have a disc.  What do I do?"  They'll go through a short series of questions and then normally either give you an activation number or just validate it through your internet connection.  Now that Windows 7 is coming out, they're pretty much not giving a crap about XP copies.

Google "windows XP activation code" and see if one comes up.  Try it and if it doesn't work, go to the next one.