OMG HELP!!!

[RSanders]

Ok. Here is the deal.

I screwed up windows by messing with some drivers files... now when I boot up my computer, it just restarts itself before the Windows XP Logo screen (with the scrolling thing at the bottom) comes up. I put in my Windows XP disk and I boot off of that.. it starts loading all these files or something, then it says that it is starting Windows, and then it just restarts itself. I need to find a way to format the harddrive or reinstall windows quickly. I never get a chance to repair the installation or anything like that because it restarts itself before I get to it.

Thanks!!

 

[Mik3y]

go to bios and set the boot sequence to start wtih cd drive. boot up the comp with the windows cd in there and ta-da, you can reformat.

edit: oh wait, n/m, you did that.

 

[spelletrader]

Use the pc you're on to create a bootable floppy, use that on start up and format. I recently recovered a 15gb drive this way that a guy at work thought was dead caue it was caught in a boot loop.

 

[RSanders]

Ok.. well I don't have a floppy drive in my other computer. Anyway to do it with a cd-r?

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

Eep! Okay.. I've seen something like this happen on my old pentium 200 mmx system.

You said you put your windows xp system cd in to boot off of...did it actually go into the windows XP set up window - or do you mean all the files it loads is just the normal start-up routine? I believe that when you're booting up from the system cd - it will ask you at some point to 'press any key to boot from cd' - and will give you about 5 seconds or so to do that - and if you don't, it will just boot up regularly - which is bad in your case, since at an eventual point in boot up your system resets.

What I'd try to do is get that system cd booting for you, and try repairing windows with the windows repair utility - I know windows 2000 has it, not very experienced with xp though.

Also as an alternative when booting up you can F8 and get boot up options. Safe mode - which installs only the necessary drivers to function while you try and troubleshoot stuff...and I recall there being an option to 'boot up in last known good configuration' - which may boot your system up whereas the current configuration with the messed up driver(s) won't work. I'm not a great expert on this, though. Sorry I can't be of more assistance. Just take it easy and keep checking back here for advice and thoughts on the issue.. Good luck.
-Jen

 

[RSanders]

I press a key.. it starts the process... loading setup files or something like that.. then it says.. Starting Windows.. then it reboots.

 

[lenjack]

If you don't get the message asking you if you want to boot from the cd, then apparently you don't have the cd enabled as first boot device in bios. you will need to do that.

 

[RSanders]

I get the message... I PRESS A KEY.. like I have mentioned.. then it starts loading all kinds of files.. then it says.. Starting Windows... It never gives me the option to repair or install windows. I have done this many times before with computers and have never had this problem. Now I just want to find a way to format the harddrive and start completely new. I don't have a floppy drive in the computer.

 

[spelletrader]

Have a floppy you can swap or borrow? It's really the easiest way.

 

[RSanders]

I could do that.. but if there is a way to boot up MSDOS through a CD .. then I would like to do that. I just need to format the whole harddrive.. so it is blank. Then I can insert the WinXP cd and start over.

 

[imported_rhfactor]

You can use the diagnostics tools CD (that came with your HD) to reformat your drive. If you don't have one you should be able to download it from the company.

 

[gwai lo]

You can't boot into DOS on an NTFS partition..it's one of it's security features..unless you happen to have a partition that's formatted in FAT.

I'd say put the non-working hdd in to another comp as a slave and wipe from the working hdd.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Originally posted by: gwai lo
You can't boot into DOS on an NTFS partition..it's one of it's security features..unless you happen to have a partition that's formatted in FAT.

I'd say put the non-working hdd in to another comp as a slave and wipe from the working hdd.

Yep, he says what I would do if I had access to another computer. Either way it sounds like you need to get a floppy or install a hardrive or get a hd disk but it is odd what is happening to you. Sorry, I have been there before