Win XP will not boot

Hello

I've searched on this topic, and am still rather confused. I know enough about computers to be dangerous.

This is what I can find on my system information:

(1) Systemax Support Kit
(1) Mid-Tower ATX Chassis w/ 350W PS D915G Motherboard
(1) Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2
(1) Intel Pentium 4 Processor 540 3.2 GHz/800FSB/1M Cache
(1) 1GB DDR400 PC3200 Memory (512MB x 2)
(1) Serial ATA (SATA) Hard Drive 120GB (7200 RPM)
(1) ATI X600Pro 128MB Graphics Card w/ TV-Out PCI Express
(1) 16X DVD-/+/R/RW Dual Layer Drive
(1) 3Com 10/100 PCI Ethernet Adapter - 3C905CX
(1) Cyber Acoustics 2016 2-Piece Speakers
(1) SoundBlaster Live 24-Bit PCI Sound Card (no Game Port)
(1) 56K V.92 PCI Data/Fax Modem
(1) Logitech Deluxe Keyboard Black
(1) 9-in-1 USB Card Reader
(1) 3-Port Firewire Card
(1) Logitech Black Optical Wheel Mouse

I have XP Pro v 5.1.2600. I am behind a firewall, and run through a router. I have ran lavasoft adware, cw shredder, hijack this, spybot, and avg virus scan while in safe mode. I am not unable to uncover any virus.

I do not know when this issue occured, because I do not reboot often. The only hardware additions I have had in recent memory is just an iPod shuffle.

Windows will not boot. I get a black screen with a flashing cursor. This screen will not accept DOS commands. With the factory issued CD in, it will give me the option of "Press any key to boot from CD". If I don't hit anything, it will load into windows.

If I do hit it, I have the option of either entering the windows installation, or going into automated system recovery. From there, I can get a c prompt. I tried typing in 'fixmbr' and it told me it was successful. However, I still can't boot.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if I did something wrong, if it is the partion, or what. Should I try this?

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showpost.php?p=581743&postcount=3

Also, systemax has this option on my support page "Convert drive to NTFS". I don't know what means, but thought perhaps it would be helpful information, since I've seen NTFS mentioned as I've tried to read on my problem.

Thanks in advance for any replies. I'm about to leave the house now, but will be working on this off and on until I get it resolved. I work online, and have tons of local data, so I really, really want to avoid a re-install if possible.

 

Boot with the CD in the drive and boot to WIndows. Once in Widows Right-click on My Computer, select Properties. Click-on teh Advanced tab, click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery; uncheck Automatically restart under System Failure, click OK, click Apply, click OK. Remove the CD from teh drive reboot. Do you receive an error message.

 

I followed these steps, and I did not receive any error message. I still had to boot from CD, but no messages.

Should I go back and re-check that?

Also, a bit more information. I have no idea if it is related to the other, or if it is only because I am booting off the CD. But it never happened before. As XP is populating my desktop, a windows installer pops up for photo gallery. I just cancel out of it.

~gone until later tonight~

 

~gives myself a little bump~

 

Photo Gallery? Try uninstalling that photo gallery software.

 

I haven't searched the system to find it yet, as I've been focusing on the other, as I've had time to. It isn't something I'm finding in the usual add/remove programs manner.

I have found out the following things though:

I went into the recovery console. At the c prompt, I had no clue, so I entered map.

I got the following

C: FAT32 \Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
D: FAT32 \Device\Harddisk0\Partition2
H: FAT16 \Device\Harddisk3\Partition1
A: \Device\Floppy0
E: \Device\CDRom0

I'm dumb, but it would seem to me that it can see the partition on the C drive from above. Hopefully that is correct.

Also

I went and checked the boot sequence. This is what it is doing. I have no clue why, as I never went and changed the damned thing.

1st Boot [3M-_NEC DVD_RW ND-3500]
2nd Boot [1st Floppy Device]
3rd Boot [PM-ST312082TAS]
4th Boot [MBA UNDI (Bus 6 Slot 1)]

I know it shouldn't be using the dvd/cd drive first. I don't know if the 3rd or 4th sequence is what should be listed first, because I don't know what they mean. I also don't understand the parantheses in the 4th sequence. It said something about things in paranathese being disabled.

 

Hardisk0 is one Hard drive with 2 partions on the IDE Primary Channel as the master drive

Harddisk3 is the hard drive on the Secondary IDE Channel aas the master drive

Both harddrives should be on the Primary channel one Master the other slave. The CDROM should be on the Secondary IDE channel as the master drive.

CDROM as first boot device is OK, switch the floppy and HDD around and set the 4th boot device to none.