Tryin ti repair corrupt windows xp but can't boot from CD!! HELP!!

HELP!
I am trying to help mother repair a corrupt windows xp - she has a windows xp cd but when she tries to boot it says press any key to boot from cd but won't boot - cd rom is fist in boot order in BIOS- reset to defaults and the checked - cd was still frist in boot order - set it as first again and saved but STILL won't boot - She had the "we apologize for the inconvenience but windows did not start properly etc message - We tried all options, set to last know good congfig, disable setup (or something like that) on restart. Can anyone PLEASE tell me what is going on and what to do???:confused

 

Hi homescool.

Is this a USB keyboard?

If it is try using a legacy/ps2 one instead if you can get one.

Q

edit: also try the usb keyboard in every usb port.

 

??? I guess its a USB - it plugs into a usb port. What does this mean? WHat is the other keyboard?

 

The other keyboard (PS2) has a round connection that plugs in the purple jack on the back. They come standard with Dell's and most entry level computers. Any PS2 kbd should be worth a try.

 

No, not recently have they (PS2 connections) come with all Dells - not for more than a year or three now.


What make/model is the PC in question?

 

Emachine T2240, Finally got cd to boot - got as far as where you should either get a repair screen or not. We got the NOT. It gave us partition info which to me said it could not be repaired. Is this right? WHY could it not find an installation of windows xp - is hers too corrupt? She can't afford a new computer right now. Can she transfer data from her old computer if she can;t access windows to another computer? How hard is this and how much trouble is it to reinstall it back on her computer if she does the clean install of windows xp which as I understand will erase the hard drive.
Will she lose her programs like ms word etc?
ANY help is greatly appreciated and THIS SITE ROCKS!!:-D

 

have to tried system restore -- if not start /all prog/accessories/system tools/ system restore / set to a time when the computer was working fine and let it do its thing

 

Hi Plodr, Not to be dense here but I am - What are you trying to tell me? The CD I ordered is not a windows XP CD to repair windows? Or, I don't need a windows CD to repair, or the CD I have will install windows etcf - does that mean a clean install and my mom would lose all the data on the hard drive?
We finally got the cd to get as far as the partition screen - it did not give us the repair option - the instructions I got online said if it did not give you the repair option then the system or OS was so corrupt it could not be repaired.
DOES ANYONE have any experience with this? My sister has the exact same problem. I gave her my win xp upgrade cd but it get so far and tells her she need win pro or an actual win xp cd. I was told by more than one person she could use the upgrade cd. What is she doing wrong or is this correct. SEE - I told you I was dense!:drool

 

Re: Trying to repair corrupt windows xp but can't boot from CD!! HELP!!

Thank you Plodr - once again!
Here is the info on the CD I bought. I ordered this on Ebay. Windows XP Home Installation CD (Drivers Optional)

Up for auction is one installation CD for Windows XP Home (32 bit) including Recovery Console. The CD does not come with a product key - this is ideal if you need to repair or format your computer and you lost or forgot to burn thos important restore disks.

We could not get an Emachine specific CD from the company -they told us it was not longer available and we could pay them $199 for tech support which may or may not fix the problem!

The owner of this CD said it would definitely repair Windows XP on an OEM OS machine as long as we had the product code - which was on the computer itself. Unfortunately we could not get that far with this CD. After restarting it 7 or so times it kept getting a little further - instructions I found online said if it would not bring up the repair console then it did not find any installation of windows that could be repaired.

Does that make sense?:confused

IF we can get an original Emachine CD for her machine what are the chances it would work or is her windows so corrupt it won't work?

Can she transfer her info to another computer - its running Vista(she has win xp) via hardrive adapter cable then reformat the HD, reinstall windows xp and transfer her info back on her computer?:confused

SORRY for all the questions and THANK YOU for all the help!!

Paula

 

Re: Tryin to repair corrupt windows xp but can't boot from CD!! HELP!!

Thank you PLODR,

What the phrase "Repair is not an option" means is the screen you mentioned that says" Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair." DID NOT come up. We followed all of the steps and received the first few screens - after accepting the license agreement the CD loaded very fast as if it were downloading the files then we received the screen telling us about the partitions - Specifically it said "The following list shows the existing partitioned and unpartitioned space in this computer. C: Partition 1(unknown) 38115MB 38115MB free - Unpartitioned space 47MB 38163MB disk@IDO Bus
Enter=install
D=Delete
F3=Quit
One set of directions we were using said if you did not get the option to repair it was because it could not find a copy of WindowsXP or it was too corrupt to repair.
I am so frustrated with this I could scream.
IF we get to this screen SHOULD we press enter to install?
I am not in front of the computer as I am 4 states away from my mom and her computer and she can barely turn it on as far as what she knows about computers.
I was afraid it would partiton the HD. NONE of the steps in the DAYS of research I have done mentioned this screen.
I REALLY appreciate your help and others - REALLY!!!
ANY help would be greatly appreciated. My mom is on a VERY fixed income and can't afford a new computer. I am ready to have her take it to be fixed and try and pay for it myself - with what I don't know but she is so upset by this I have to so something.

THANKS!

Paula

 

THANK YOU! I hope you had a great vacation! My mom had to get a new computer. Her old one is still sitting there infected - she would like to transfer the files to new one but won't risk infection. She may wipe HD and donate computer. Thank you so much for the help. I guess this thread should be closed?

Much appreciation,:major

Paula