Windows is broken. I need to fix it until I can afford a Mac.

Okay. Long story from an XP SP@ user.

First, I received a BSOD.

Then, my computer wouldn't get past the Windows XP loading screen.

I turned to my reinstallation Service Pack 1 disc. I loaded the disc using the boot options, and went to Windows setup. I opted to "Repair" instead of reinstall, and pressed 'R.'

It went through the standard reinstall options. I assumed it was reinstalling everything. But then it couldn't find any of the .DLL files on the disc. I kept skipping each one, eventually it couldn't even find Explorer.

It was able to finish installing without these files. When it restarted, the computer seemed to be going through the motions, and my desktop wallpaper, a photo from my C:, was still the same. I thought this was a good sign, but it then went on to ask me to reactivate XP.

I called the Windows phone number the computer gave me in order to do this. I entered my new product key, and they said it wasn't valid. I rebooted and now I'm back at square one. It goes to the load screen, and then it goes blank. I can't open in the last good configuration, or in safe mode, or normally.

This is a whole host of problems, and I have no idea what to do. I can lose my C: if need be - I've got most things on an external drive.

What should I do. I just want to get this back up and working by Monday.

Steven

 

Okay, I've cleaned the disk and reinserted it.

Here's what happens now:

It goes to the Windows Setup screen, a blue screen that reads "Windows Setup" in the top left. It scrolls through a bunch of files on the bottom of the screen.

Then it says, on the bottom, "Windows is starting Setup."

It still says that, as we speak. It gets stuck here and doesn't move on.

Any advice? Thanks.

 

I'm going to run the memtest, but cn you tell me a little bit more about the hard-drive utility? Would I find it just using that as a search term on the manufacturer's site? (Dell Computer)

 

Also, does MemTest run from the Boot menu? That's as far as I can get.

 

The Devil is in the details. If you are running SP2, which hasn't been mentioned in this thread (unless you note the @ symbol should have been a "2"), please see my reply in your other thread. This is why one thread per issue is a good thing.

 

Thanks for everyone's advice, I'll keep to this post now.

I plan to make an XP SP2 disc tomorrow. In the meantime, I tried running MemTest but it didn't work. Any idea why? I booted my system, from F11, from the ROM drive the disc was in. However, instead of booting, it went straight to the screen explaining that Windows didn't open correctly and asking if I wanted to open it in Safe Mode(s), with the Last Good Configuration, or Start Normally.

Am I doing something wrong?

Also, with the XP SP2 disc? I'm making this from my current SP1 disc with SP2 added - but could you explain why this should work in reformatting if it isn't working with my original disc, and keeps getting stuck in Setup?

Thanks.

 

I'm pretty sure it is, at least for dell pc's. (ctrl, + f11)

 

Not sure I know how to do this. What I do, when it boots up to begin with, it gives me the option of pressing F2 for Setup, and F11 for Boot Menu.

I go to Boot Menu and choose the option that boots from my ROM drive.

 

Okay, the only computer I can use to do the slipstreaming is at school, and there are too many restrictions on use.

Specifically, there is no Run menu on the Start menu, and I can't install the AutoStreamer for use either.

Any tips on getting Run menu functioning? Or other ways to do the slipstreaming?

 

Okay.

I've created the slipstreamed disc per the instructions given at http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

And nothing.

I booted my computer with this disc, and it went to the Windows loading screen. Then it went to a screen that said, "Windows is starting."

After some time, it loaded my wallpaper (from a C:\ drive photograph) and then the page that indicates I needed to activate this Windows XP version, again.

Then it froze.

Is there any other way for me to reformat the disc? What would anyone else do in this case?

 

One thing I should mention - when they tried to burn the disc with the XP, XP-SP2, and XP-BootImage folders, the people at this Internet cafe told me it wouldn't fit on the disc. So I had him burn just XP and XP-BootImage.

Could this be the problem. The eldergeek post isn't clear on whether all three or which two should be burned.

 

I never did get past this with MemTest. Any thoughts as to why?