Here is condensed version. My wife slammed the laptop lid down on my Compaq 2199. It started giving my the BSOD after that. It would boot only in “safemode with command prompt”. Within a few minutes it would bluescreen again.
Last known good configuration would not complete the boot process.
It will boot off a Windows XP install CD and I can login to the recovery console but, I am not sure what to do once I get there.
I tried to install XP again to an alternate folder on the same volume. It failed before the install files were copied.
Now the partition is corrupted.
I am looking at adding an external drive to my laptop and making it my primary boot partition.
I can of course boot from a CD if I have to first and then run bulk of XP from the external drive. Then I will attempt to repair the partition on the failed drive. ( Utility to be chosen later). Once all that is done, maybe I can get the priceless photos of my kid off the system.
My question is: What do any of you think of my plan? Pitfalls, etc.
Thanks