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Question

Windows XP Boot Loop (Registry Corrupt)

Apr 19, 2020 6:44PM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Usually
Apr 19, 2020 7:24PM PDT

This ends with the owner restoring from backups if boots to safe mode and trying to repair with your XD CD fails. Running XP today demands a full backup.

No backups and the usual fixes failing means you reinstall then restore apps and files from backups.

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Answer
as you metioned, possible HD failure in progress.
Apr 19, 2020 9:40PM PDT

The HD hasn't completely quit, but probably has bad sectors building on it. If you try the other XP system disc, boot to it, see if there's any restore program you can access from it. I assume you tried Safe Mode and got nowhere with that also? If you have a flashdrive about 8GB or larger, you could download an easy Linux system like Mint or Ubuntu, put that on flashdrive, and boot to it. You'd open the BIOS and set it to boot from that flashdrive. I suspect you may have 2GB RAM or less, but I am able to run Mint 18.3 on about 600 MB RAM on a boot from the flashdrive. However, since it is all loaded to RAM, anything saved must be to a flashdrive, or the hard drive. It will allow you to use some of linux drive scanning tools to test the hard drive (Disks program) and correct/block it's bad sectors. If you have a spare hard drive, consider putting that in the computer instead and install either that OEM XP disc software to it, but likely will fail to do so. In that case, just install Mint or Ubuntu and use that as your system instead. They are fairly easy to use, and can run Firefox, Chromium, Thunderbird email, and has Libre Office, Text writers, and a lot of other software that installs. Also a repository had thousands of other programs you can download by internet and install. I left XP for Linux instead in 2013 for myself. Also have Zoom installed, or you can use Skype too, if needed during lockdown for classes online. I know this Mint 18.3 version 32 bit will run on that computer.

https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=247

Here are 2 pages showing now deprecated version 17 a few years ago.
Here's a good youtube about Mint 19, but not sure that old XP computer will run that latest version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI7QQqnV1P8


Here's Mint 18 MATE, the version I linked above for download page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSdchGgZrMM

Post was last edited on April 19, 2020 9:46 PM PDT

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Answer
I posted an answer, but hit by link spam bot?
Apr 19, 2020 9:50PM PDT
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Thanks Rob for restoring it
Apr 20, 2020 5:17PM PDT

Hope the OP is still around to read it.

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Answer
That has Pentium D processor, 64 bit
Apr 19, 2020 10:09PM PDT