Help! Can't get back into windows.

[khurg100]

Hey, I was hoping someone could help me, this is a 2 part question.

1) I was trying to reformat my computer and selected something in the control panel that restarted the computer into recovery mode, I can't really do anything in this mode, and I can't get out of it, every time i exit, it restarts into the same mode. How do I get out of it and to start in windows again.

2) Once the above is taken care of, I would like to reformat/restore my computer to factory settings. Upon starting the computer it says to press f10 to get into recovery mode. Pressing f10 does nothing. I just want everything to go back to the factory settings.

Any help would be appreciated, I'm not around my computer at the moment, so I don't have any specific prompts.

Thanks,

Richard

edit: I am using Windows XP with sp2 I believe.

 

[Harvey]

Several things you can try;

1. When the machine starts, hit F8 until you get a choice of options which should include the option to boot normaly and into Safe Mode. Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and see what happens.

2. Unless you need to recover some files or data, since you were going to reformat, anyhow, make sure the CMOS is set to boot first from your CD/DVD drive, insert your Windows disk, and do your new installation. Windows will give you the option to do a quick or complete format. In your case, I suggest doing a complete format.

3. If you need to recover any data, you could build your new installation on another drive, and then, connect your current drive as a slave long enough to transfer your files to your new drive.

4. If you have a utility called Partition Magic, it can repair and format a disk far faster than Windows can, and it may give you more non-destructive options if you need to recover any data.

Hope that helps.