Can't boot Windows XP

[yabyab]

I've always had a problem with my OS where it automatically restarts every day (usually at 8:03) and I was trying to find a solution so I went to My Computer, right click --> properties and in the advanced section I set some option to do something like "never restart when an error occurs". I went to sleep to wake up next morning with a blue screen of an error (I am at work now, but something about Hard Disk problem and that I might fix it by editing my BIOS or removing some hardware).

I tried to restart my computer, editing the BIOS or running windows on safe mode (which never works, it just stops).

when I start the computer I get the Windows XP black screen running but when I listen carefully to my Hard Disk I hear the same voice repeating. As if something preventing the needle from moving freely (jammed). After a longer than usual for the Windows XP black screen (the "loading" screen) I get a black or blue (sometimes) error screen.

My own newbie conclusion is that my HDD that has the OS is busted. Specially since when I go to the BIOS I can detect only one HDD (I have two) the master/first is there and second is not. But the problem is I DO get the Windows XP "loading" screen but NEVER able to get the "user login" screen. Instead I get an error screen.

Is there a way to fix this problem? or am I stuck with having to buy a new HDD and install my OS again?

 

[corkyg]

Can you boot to SAFE MODE?

 

[nboy22]

Well, you say safe mode fails.

So that means your options are probably limited to losing some sort of data (Hopefully you don't have too much important data on your drives).

My suggestion at this point would be to not jump the gun and buy a new hard drive quite yet. You do mention that it's making weird noises, so I will say it's a possibility it is bad.

A blue screen could mean many things, from missing windows files, to bad hard drives, to bad video drives, the list goes on. You say that it mentions something about the hard disk having an error, so we'll take that into consideration also.

I would just start by trying to reinstall the OS, don't even bother formatting (Especially because you can recover some data if you just overwrite the OS, such as documents and pictures, etc...) Try booting from the OS CD, then installing the OS. Again, no formatting, just select the hard drive to install to and let it go. If it works, great, and I would still do some more extensive hard drive tests with tools from the drive's manufacturer's website.

If it doesn't work, then most likely that's just your bad drive speaking up, and you'll just have to replace it.