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Question

Is there a way to boot XP?

Jan 15, 2014 8:52PM PST

When I boot my xp...I get the manufacturer's screen...and then nothing. I am thinking my windows are corrupted.I can't get to "System Restore"....OR the Desktop....Is there a way I can get to either Restore of the desktop? As I said before......after the manufacturer screen...nothing...Thanks, in advance. Carl

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: boot XP
Jan 15, 2014 9:03PM PST

- What is the first thing you normally see after the manufacturers screen?
- Can you still go into the BIOS setup by pressing the appropiate magic key early in the boot process?
- Can you boot from your XP install disk to re-install it?

Kees

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Answer
Troubleshooting
Jan 16, 2014 7:10AM PST

Try hitting F8 repeatedly after the manufacturer screen disappears or ends and you have a flashing white cursor bar upper right corner. If multiple options appear, select Safe Mode and see if that appears. May not if you've already done that.

Magic key Kees is referring to relate to the manufacturer's BIOS options. F2 is a common one. Hit that before the manufacturer's screen disappears. Navigate through the BIOS using your keyboard (mouse will not work here) and find the operating system hard drive (usually C, but here only referred to as the hard drive manufacturer make and model number. Check and verify that this drive is present and showing in BIOS.

BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is the first operating system that initially boots your computer. So, your computer is booting but cannot find the C drive or Windows and cannot continue. Windows is your second operating system and it resides on your main C drive. Once BIOS has successfully booted, it hands off the boot process to Windows, and Windows then boots your system.

Sounds like either the MBR or drive has been corrupted (hard drive crash).

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Thank you for the Detailed Information
Jan 16, 2014 9:21PM PST

Why are you the only one who has clearly explained everything? Thanks,a lot Happy
Carl

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Did you
Jan 17, 2014 1:53AM PST

Did you try the above?

One note re booting with the XP install disc: You can lose all personal files when you do a clean install. Use linux to view and backup all personal files before you do this. Google LINUX LIVE CD to find out more. LinuxMint is a good option.

If LinuxMint cannot see your hard drive, then it is likely gone. If it can, you can repair your MBR to boot into Windows once again after first backing up your personal files.

Always backup personal data. You cannot lose what you backup.