Desperately Need Computer Help!!

[Glock13]

Hey guys,

I have a huge computer problem. I was hoping some of you experts might be able to help me out. I'm running Windows XP. Here is my problem:

When I turn on my computer it goes through the usual initial screens, then when it gets to the loading screen right before it asks you to log on with your user name it takes an extra long time. After a few minutes it goes to the "your computer needs to check it's disks for errors---this may take a few minutes" screen which happens usually when you don't shut down properly. However, it stays stuck on 0% done and just stays there.

So, I tried hitting "Escape" during the initial loading screens. This brings me to a screen that says:

"Windows did not start successfully...."
"Please choose one of the following startups"

I can choose from:

"Safe Mode"
"Safe Mode with Command Prompt"
"Safe Mode with Networking"

"Last known Good Configuration"
"Start Windows normally"

The last two options just do the same thing as I described above. If I try to start it in any of the "Safe Modes" it stays on the same screen and puts out these messages on the screen:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\drivers\disk.sys
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\drivers\atapi.sys
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\drivers\.....sys
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\drivers\.....sys
.
.
.
.
.
It then stalls on this line:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\drivers\Mup.sys

It then just stalls here. So basically I can't start up my computer. I'm not sure if I need a boot disk or one of my hard drives went bad or what. The only thing I can think of is I degragmented the hard drives a couple of days ago. Other than that I'm not sure.

Anybody got any advice? Thanks in advance.

[Washington,D.C.]

Start with a Repair Install rather than the Recovery Console.Read through all the steps carefully before you begin.

For this problem I normally find that I must press "Enter" not "R".Start at step number 3 and do a repair install rather than a recovery.After the setup begins you will again be asked to press "R".This is the time to choose "R".This is after the License Agreement.








XP Repair install

1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.
2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.

To setup Windows XP now and Repair Install , press ENTER. do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".
4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.

6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.


Do not immediately activate over the internet when asked, enable the XP firewall before connecting to the internet. You can activate after the firewall is enabled. Control Panel - Network Connections. Right click the connection you use, Properties, and there is a check box on the Advanced page.



Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP installation. Please note that a Repair Install from the Original install XP CD will remove SP1/SP2 and service packs will need to be reapplied.

For that problem I normally find that I must press "Enter" not "R".Start at step number 3 and do a repair install rather than a recovery.After the setup begins you will again be asked to press "R".This is the time to choose "R".This after the License Agreement.

[srhoades]

If you do a repair install and currently have serivce pack 2, you will probably still get the lag until service pack 2 is reinstalled.

[Glock13]

I currently have SP2 installed. The repair install will still work right? Will I lose any of my saved documents? Thanks for all of the advice.

[srhoades]

You <i>shouldn't</i> lose anything, but you will have to reinstall all the security updates.

[Glock13]

I've been told not to reinstall SP2, is this correct? Also, I don't have the reinstallation disk for my computer, but my girlfriend has a Dell laptop with a Windows XP reinstallation disk. This should work the same, right? Any other special instructions, or do I just throw it in the CD drive and just follow the instructions listed above?

[Washington,D.C.]

You can go without SP 2.The other CD may work.I haven't been able to repair that problem with the Recovery Console but a Repair Install usually works.It's best to go directly to Repair Install and not activate the Recovery Comsole at all.After it fails it gives you more messages everytime you try to repair it if you do.

[Glock13]

The instructions made sense until I get to part 5:

"5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair."

Instead I have the message:

The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer.

1)To set up Windows XP on the selected item press Enter

2)To create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C

3) To delete the selected partition, press D


C:Partition 1

D:Partition 2


If I select C and then hit Enter it warns me putting multiple operating systems on the same partition could cause problems.

Did I do something wrong?

Thanks again for the help.

[Washington,D.C.]

Maybe choose item (1) then it might give you the option of pressing R at that time.

[Meman5150]

I had this problem once when I installed something that caased a conflict. And maybe something like new hardware, can also cause this. I figure I would tell you for future reference. And no the dell CD wont work unless you are using it on another dell. I have tried it and thats what it told me. Except it might have said only on THAT dell computer that it came with. Good luck

[Hailstorm]

You should be backing your stuff up at least once a month. Now is a good time to start. If you screwup. Its all gone. A simple way is to use Files and setting transfer wizard.