Windows XP Professional in reboot loop

Apparently my Dell inspiron 700m notebook felt left out of all the mcAfee Virus scan fun. I am running windows xp pro SP2 (I do not think that I have SP3) but have had unresolved virus problems since September (I followed the malware removal guide in an earlier thread, your reading of my logs indicated the notebook was clean). However, I have not used the notebook since January. I have mcAfee on this computer, but it has not been updated since January.

A week ago I wanted to use it for Itunes, but my wireless connection was not working properly. McAfee and Windows kept prompting me to accept updates, so I disabled the internet connection so that I could use Itunes uninterrupted (to burn a disc). The episode ended without issue.

Then on Sunday, April 18th I attempted to start the computer and it opened to the Windows did not start successfully" option screen. On that screen I have 5 options: boot in safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode w/command, last known good configuration and normal mode.

I have attempted each and everyone of these options, none open Windows, instead the system loops to the "Windows XP" screen, then the Dell Inspiron screen where I have the option of f2 (start up) or f12 (displayboot/utilities).

It repeatedly looped back to the "windows failed to start" screen until manual shut down.

I decided to just reinstall Windows XP pro SP2 via disk. I put the disk in the cd drive, but the computer wont read it.

Instead I get the "windows failed to start" screen. The system continually loops to the "Windows XP" screen, then the Dell Inspiron screen where I have the option of f2 (start up) or f12 (display boot/utilities).

If I hit f2 or f12, and go to the "boot" menu, I have no option to choose the cd drive for start up.

How do I get the re installation CD to start?

and Thank you!

 

If you have access to another cd drive to swap out, I would try it, as if the cd drive does not show as a bios startup option- it may be faulty. I have had a similar problem with a faulty one- Try removing the cd drive, and replacing, in case the connection is dirty (usually only held in by a screw underneath)
Also try cleaning your XP disk.

 

Ahh- Ok thanks much, I will try this. Just sucks that I have to reinstall the OS, and lose my files. Yea I have a back up, but that wont recover my bookmarks and things I saved to my desktop. sigh.

 

Ah well, first problem. I managed to order the cd drive first, got "windows set up is loading files" blue/doc page... t

I was then promoted with choice of the "Windows XP Professional Set Up" and "Set up Windows XP", "Repair Windows XP" or recover.

I chose "R", recover. At this point I get the black screen that says "Microsoft Windows recovery console. ... c:\>

and then nothing... any ideas for this genius train wreck?

 

also to be clear, I don't have this option "1. C:\WINDOWS" or even "1. C:\",

I only get "C:\>"

 

If you want to try to save what you have- instead of going to the first R recovery- let it go on to the setup, and then choose the repair option that you next see- withluck, you may keep all that you had.
Otherwise from the C: prompt in the repair
Type fixboot
Press enter
Type
fixmbr
Press enter,
and then type
EXIT
and let it boot without pressing any key whhen asked to see if it will reboot into Windows.
Failing any of the above, you ca choose to install fresh, and when it asks where to install, choose setup XP Professional, if younthen see that there is already XP on there, choose to install, and next choose format- A full format is usually best, if you had virus problems previously.

 

HI, ok I tried what you suggested, and got as far as typing "fixboot" at the C: prompt.

it then prompted "the target partition is C:. Are you sure you want to write a new bootsector to the partition C:?

I said "y",
it then said:
the start up partition is unknown.
FIXBOOT is attempting to detect the file system type."

after a moment it then said

"The boot sector is corrupt.
FIXBOOT is checking the file system type...
the partition is using the NTFS file system.
FIXBOOT is writing a new boot sector.
the new boot sector was successfully written.

c:\>"

I ended up in the same boot loop... so no dice.

is there anything I can do besides a complete reinstall? thanks again

 

Insert your XP disc, and press a key to invoke the startup from disc, and wait for it to go on to the setup, and choose install, then when asked ,choose the repair option that you next see.