windows won't start

I recently did Microsoft updates and after re-starting computer this message came up."a problem is preventing windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. 0X80070002". I checked OK and computer won't load windows. it just re-starts and same message comes up. I tried safe mode and the same thing happens. I put my windows xp disk in and it goes all the way through to accepting the license agreement and I push accept F8 and nothing happens. I only key that works is cancel. I should have never done the up-dates. What can I do to fix this?

 

Here's two ideas, although I doubt that the first would work, and the second is a lot of work. Both require another hard drive, possibly on another computer (as I can't see how you can get access to this drive without making it a slave).

1. Mount the hard drive as slave, then using the master drive, restore the computer to a time before you updated. I'm hoping that it would restore both drives to an earlier date, but I fear that would be in the miracle department. Perhaps someone has tried it and could advise.

2. Mount the hard drive as slave and copy everything you need off the updated drive. Then reinstall Windows.

If you happen to have Windows in a partition, and all your personal stuff is in another partition, you wouldn't need to worry about the above. Just reinstall Windows into the same partition - the other stuff won't be disturbed.

 

I can't get in to windows

 

I do have some hard drives from broken down computers lying around but I am not to knowledgeable about all the other stuff you said I should try. Is all this happening because I updated? And If so, can Microsoft legally make my computer not work and me possibly lose all my information just because they think my copy of Windows is not genuine?

 

If I wanted to try #2, would you be willing to walk me through the steps?

 

Is this a store bought branded computer such as Compaq or Dell?

 

Yes, It is a HP desktop running windows XP professional.

 

I don't want to distract you from backing up your data but I saw this from Microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310794 and just want to see if your drive letter is still the same.

Try booting from your XP CD and hitting R to repair rather than start the install. It should prompt you for which XP installation to go into which will probably just be 1 as the only possibility. It may ask for password--if none set just hit enter.

Then you should get a C:\Windows prompt. Type map and hit enter. Let me know the output.

Then type diskpart and hit enter.
At the diskpart> prompt type list volume and hit enter, let me know the output. I want to know if C: is set as your boot drive.

 

One other quick thing to try is boot without CD and hit F8 and try Last Known Good Configuration from the "safe mode" options.

 

thank you I will try that and reply back.

 

i selected last known configuration that worked and it went to windows and then checking disks for errors....just waiting for that to finish.

 

Good. If Windows starts OK Create a Restore Point first thing so you have one available. Start>All Programs>System Tools>System Restore.

 

scan disk deleted some corrupt files but then that same message came up...dam! I tried running my windows cd and I went to repair and it says I gave to put my reair disk in..which I don't have... so I tried safe mode with command prompt and I now have a window: top in blue c:\ cmd.exe inside box: c:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>

 

I posted a reply but my repky has to be checked by someone on this site?

 

I am trying again...Scan disk deleted some corrupt files etc. but then the same message came up. My windows disk when I selected repair says I should put my repair disk in, which I don't have so,I went to safe mode with command prompt and I have a window with:C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator> can I do anything useful from here?

 

Your moderated post may have a lot of punctuation. Those get checked for new members. You can just give the basic idea without using anything like

Code:

... in the text

 

Try Last Know again, just to be sure that won't work.

Other than that I would have to look into the error but I can't do that this evening.

 

Give your exact HP model number in case others have run into the same problem with that model that might help a search.

 

This desktop is a HP Pavilion a1022n.
I am in safe mode command prompt
c:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>
Can I do anything from here?

 

From that prompt try

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

to see if it starts System Restore and if you have a restore point from before the update.

 

Thanks to all that gave help, I am going to re-install windows.