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repeatedly restarting setup

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11 replies

by jhm530

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anyone knows how to repair a repeatedly restarting setup? windows xp. it just got that way suddenly. and i have no idea why...

anyway which does not involve reformatting the computer and allows me to retain the data inside?

11 replies

by wizard-09

Boot into safe mode, hit f8 at startup then select safe mode, if you can get in that way undone any changes you did that may have caused it, like installed software, drivers it also may be a virus so scan the computer if you can get access.

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.

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by jhm530

i tried but could not log in on safe mode and there's no virus, i booted frm avira's rescue disk and scanned the comp.

and i've tried all the other modes such as the last known good configuration.

by wizard-09

You have the OS cd try doing a repair of the OS, this will not wipe or format the OS, and will be as you had it before.

by jhm530

you mean the boot disk? yeah i tried the chkdsk /r thing but the comp didnt prompt me to do anything after that and it didnt work

by sue t

it is XP which is trying to reinstall? Since you can boot into safe mode it sounds like there is a chance it is something else. Did you scan for malware? Did you try doing a system restore to a time before this started? What did you install before this happened, maybe that did not finish. Also, the other person was saying to reinstall over top of your current XP install and that is different from chkdsk. To do that I suggest you google it and download the step by step instructions as they will usually give you pictures of the screens you will see and what you should select on that screen. Good luck.

by jhm530

i cnt boot into safe mode, i cnt boot into any mode...i scanned for virus by booting from a rescue disk,but i couldnt get into the desktop...

i tried to repair reinstall but i couldnt get to the page where you cn choose to repair the c partition, after the page where you choose to install windows, there is only
1. set up windows on selected item, press ENTER
2. create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press c, and
3.to delete the selected partition, press d

i dont want to reformat the whole comp, im trying to find a way to reinstall while retaining my data...

help?

by rob miners

Repair install of Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

To reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart your computer.

2. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD drive or DVD drive. For more information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD drive or DVD drive, see your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.

3. You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen that appears: This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation by using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

4. Press ENTER to set up Windows XP.

5. On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.

6. Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.

Note If Windows XP was preinstalled on your computer, and you do not have the Repair option, contact your computer manufacturer to make sure that you have the installation CD for a repair install.

7. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to reinstall Windows XP. After you repair Windows XP, you may have to reactivate your copy of Windows XP. You will have three days grace with a lot of Nags. ;)

Let us know if there are any error messages and don't press the first R.

by jhm530

so there is no way to repair install without the installation disk? i suspect the disk i have is the recovery cd since there's no option to choose repair.and there's no way to get an installation disk from the manufacturer

i've searched for building a installation cd and they seem to be too complicated for a computer illiterate like me. and anyway, i cnt even boot into the comp thru safe mode to backup.

so only thing left is to reinstall windows?

by rob miners

You could add the Drive as a Slave to a PC or a USB enclosure and then copy off the Data. Another alternative is to use a Linux CD to burn it or to copy it elsewhere.

http://www.pclinuxos.com/index.php?option=com_ionfiles&Itemid=28

You will have to determine the Hard Drives physical size and data connectors before purchasing a USB Enclosure. If it is from a Notebook then it will be 2.5" and if it's from a Desktop it would normally be 3.5".
The Data connectors can be either IDE 40 pin or Sata. IDE is a wide/flat ribbon cable with either 40 or 80 wires where Sata is a thin plastic cable with thin connectors.
Check this when you remove the drive.

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance. ;) :D

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