Oops, think I broke it.

[s44678]

(Bit of an essay. So if you can get to the end, thanks. And if you can offer any advice after than, even more thanks )

Got a serious problem with my PC: XP pro won't start up. Just gets to a blue screen before it normally loads the login screen, and just sits there. For ever. It wont even boot into safe mode. Just hangs.

I know what caused it; I was shutting down the PC and it said it had some updates to do (hotfixes?) so it kind of half shut down while these updates downloaded. It told me not to turn off the comupter under any circumstances (you can guess what's coming).

Then I tried to turn off everything else except the computer, but accidentally turned off the wrong plug Opps. So ever since then It won't start up. So something got half installed or corrupted or something.

Did a bit of googling and so far I have tried the following things (to no avail)

- Booted into 'recovery mode' using the XP install CD and manually uninstalled the 'hotfixes' that were installed on that day

- Booted into recover mode and ran CheckDisc on the C: drive, telling it to repair. That took ages (45 mins) but still didn't work.


Does anyone have any more ideas to get it booted?

I thought maybe you could install the new XP service-pack 3 via recovery console? Or by booting from a CD, and this might fix whatever got broken. But I have no idea how to do this.

I want to avoid reinstalling windows if I can help it. Theres stuff on that C drive that I don't want to lose, plus I cant face installing all the programs again (theres lots) plus I don't have the *ahem* original CDs for most of them. If you catch my drift.

Many many thanks in advance for any help. And may the karma gods shine on you for a 1000 years if anyone can manage to fix it.




Technical info: Self built PC running XP pro SP2, AMD 3300 something chip. Single SATA 250gb HD which is partitioned into C: for windows and Z: for storage and backup etc.

[NSR Mick]

Try last known good configuration.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Neorion]

Last resort could be a repair installation, this will keep your data.

You may need to reinstall some software though as some programs may not like it.

you should get up and running again though.
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VFR FI 2000- Shiney Red Thing
"some things man was never meant to know, for everything else there's Google"

[s44678]

Mick, thanks but that didn't work either.

[NSR Mick]

A repair will leave documents and settings intact.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Neorion]

Yeah I think it puts it into a folder with the name on it.

been a while since I did that
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VFR FI 2000- Shiney Red Thing
"some things man was never meant to know, for everything else there's Google"

[NSR Mick]

To do a repair let the installation cd boot and follow the prompts as if you where going to install it.

It will come to a stage where it says "Looking for existing windows installations" If it finds your current install you get a few options one of which is "press R to repair this installation"
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[aaronb74]

Yeah, repair installation would be best option. I believe it will completely reinstall Windows, but as was said, it will keep your documents.

Good luck!
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Current bike - 2006 ZX6R

[s44678]

Cheers folks, gonna get on the case with that after lunch.

[NSR Mick]

All software, documents and setings are retained.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Rowey]

I've done this once or twice and had problems with software not liking it. So you may have to reinstall a fair bit of software. My advice would be repair it, then back up all your files that are important to you. Then do a clean install of XP.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[Harley Godzisz]

why not do as Rowey says but install Linux instead of XP? It's alot more stable!