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Windows XP Does Not Start - won't boot
Select from the text-mode boot menu that comes up when you
have trouble booting Windows XP.
Last Known Good Configuration
Safe Mode
If Windows does not start, restart Windows by using the Last
Known Good Configuration feature:
Start the computer and then press the F8 key when Windows begins
to start. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your
most recent settings that worked), and then press ENTER. If a
boot menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft
Windows XP, and then press ENTER. Windows XP restores the
computer to the most recent restore point.
More If Windows XP Does Start
Log on to Windows as Administrator.
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point
to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore
starts.
On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer
to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then
click Next.
On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system
checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and
then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists
configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.
On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System
Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then
restarts the computer. Log on to the computer as Administrator.
The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears. Click OK.
More
If you're using the NTFS file system - You could boot your
computer to a DOS boot disk, but you won't be able to access the
NTFS volume from DOS. You can boot to your Windows CD and access
the Recovery Console, but Microsoft has limited the usefulness
of Recovery Console for security reasons.
Start your computer by using the Windows Setup floppy disks or
your Windows XP CD.
At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10 or press R to
repair, and start the Windows Recovery Console.
After you start the Windows Recovery Console, you receive the
following message: "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery
functionality. Type EXIT to quit
the Recovery Console and restart the computer.
1: C:\WINDOWS
Which Windows Installation would you like to log onto?"
Type 1 or the number for the appropriate Windows installation.
You'll be prompted for the Administrator password for the
machine. (If there's no password, just press Enter.) Once you
get past this hurdle, you'll be presented with a DOS-like
command line. Type the following line and press Enter:
chkdsk /r
If your System Registry has a corrupted hive this process may
take quite a while, and it may appear to restart. But let it
run.
Also see:
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Stops WinXP from
Booting:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
Additional Microsoft knowledgebase articles:
A Description of the Safe Mode Boot Options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315222
How to Start Your PC Using the Last Known Good Configuration in
WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307852
Some of the above text is modified and from
http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/ and excellent newsletter. |