so...my computer (Windows XP) was running fine earlier today. I have a USB wireless mouse and went in to wake it up and nothing happened, like it was frozen. I ctrl/alt/del a couple times to restart and it gave me the "windows did not start properly" etc.

NOW...it won't start up normally, with last good config, safe mode, nothing. It looks like it tries to boot windows (give the black screen with Windows XP, progress bar across the bottom) but never gets all the way there. What the hell can I do aside from formatting and reinstalling windows? there's nothing on there (i think/hope) that i desperately need, but i'd like to save what i can (reports, projects). I'd be willing to lose it all to get my shit running again. plz 2 help tww. thanks

[Edited on April 25, 2007 at 10:47 PM. Reason : .]

4/25/2007 10:33:58 PM

try a windows repair. Put the disc in like you're going to reinstall... go to install (not repair with recovery console) then hit r for windows repair. There are other options too but that may the easiest first attempt if you're not terribly computer savvy. You won't lose any of your documents/files.

This requires using a command prompt, not exactly rocket science

You could also try "repair with recovery console" and type "chckdsk /p /f"

can also try "fixmbr" (may be fixboot, let me look it up)

the second and third take a few minutes to do. The first will take a while. So you may want to try the last two before the windows repair

[Edited on April 25, 2007 at 11:29 PM. Reason : .]

4/25/2007 11:16:54 PM

i tried the windows disk "hit R" option. it took me to a C:// command prompt and i had no idea where to go from there. i would think theres a command line for me to copy all of "my documents" to a USB drive but i couldn't find it on google. if you know it please share.

to be honest, i don't mind losing all the shit from my comp and i understand its almost 5 years old, but its frustrating thats it was running perfect then shit the bed. i just want to get it going again.

[Edited on April 25, 2007 at 11:28 PM. Reason : just read edit...will try in the morning]

[Edited on April 25, 2007 at 11:29 PM. Reason : sorry GF's screen name]

4/25/2007 11:27:58 PM

you can't copy files to media with the recovery console.

But yeah, try that and post back.

4/25/2007 11:34:07 PM

The other thing you can do, which is sure to fix it is the following.

[1]Put in the xp cd like you did before but instead of selecting the >"R" repair option, press >Enter just like you are going to install a fresh copy. Then select >R to repair windows. This will reinstall windows to the same C:\Windows folder but will leave your documents etc... alone.


Also ^^ fixboot and fixmbr anre two different things. He can try both.

Here are some more things to try;
>chckdsk /p /f
>bootcfg /Rebuild
>fixboot C:
>fixmbr \Device\Disk0 <----- May be wrong syntax

Personally I would try "chkdsk" first then "bootcfg" then I would probably just go straight to doing the repair method I described above [1]. If you want you can also try fixboot. given your symptons I don't think fixmbr will help you.


[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 7:56 AM. Reason : .]

4/26/2007 7:53:17 AM

what's the last file shown on the bootup when you load Windows in safe-mode?? usually that tells you what is causing the windows boot up to crash.

4/26/2007 7:59:55 AM

last file in the list is
DRIVERS\agp440.sys

4/26/2007 12:52:07 PM

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324764

4/26/2007 12:58:35 PM

freakin sweet, that worked. thanks

4/26/2007 1:12:31 PM

ok it seemed to have disabled the drivers for my video card, so now my display is all windows standard lack of color stuff. i obviously don't want to enable that driver so i guess i need to go find a newer one?

sorry for the double post, i just missed the 30 minute edit window

4/26/2007 1:45:03 PM

uninstall the drivers for your video card.. install the newest ones that work for your card..

4/27/2007 1:20:11 AM