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Thread ID: 58628 2005-06-07 03:14:00 Why won't it boot!!! Veale (536) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
361776 2005-06-07 03:14:00 Afternoon,

Slight problem when starting my computer. Computer wont boot to windows unless it is in Safe Mode. When I start the computer it gives you the options
Safe Mode
Normal (with previous settings)
Safe mode with networking
etc etc

It will then allow me to enter windows using safe mode. Trying to start normally does not work, will go to windows loading screen then goes black and will not progress furthur. Entering safe mode and system restoring loops back to the previous problem.

Computer is a HP 710a.

Any help is appreciated

Cheers Veale
Veale (536)
361777 2005-06-07 03:26:00 If it boots in safe mode but not normally then it may be a driver or hardware problem.

Go into safe mode and check device manager for anything conflicting or being weird. Uninstall any offending devices and reboot.

Would help if you could give info of any new hardware you added/drivers updated recently etc.
Agent_24 (57)
361778 2005-06-07 05:06:00 Try removing any newly added hardware. Or remove all add in cards and readd one by one until you get a problem.

Knowing what you have added or done pre this happening will also help.
dzina (6860)
361779 2005-06-07 05:15:00 Hi,

The only 'new' hardware I have installed in this machine was a graphics card approx 3 yrs ago. Removal of this however will mean I wont be able to use the monitor so I wont be able to see what is happening! If I install a later driver for this in safe mode will that help?

Veale
Veale (536)
361780 2005-06-07 05:28:00 If XP won't start it may be due to a damaged boot sector or a missing or corrupt ntldr or ntdetect.com files.

There are several steps you can take to fix this, first try this:

Boot with the XP CD and enter the Recovery Console. To run the Recovery Console from CD boot with the Windows XP CD and select "R" at the Welcome Screen.

At the Command Prompt type the following:

CHKDSK /R

Then type EXIT to reboot, if it still doesn't boot try this:

To replace a damaged ntldr and ntdetect.com you can copy fresh files from the XP CD using the COPY command. Enter the recovery console as explained above.

At the Command Prompt type the following (where "X" is your CD-Rom drive letter) allowing the files to overwrite the old files:

COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C:
COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:

To repair a damaged Boot Sector at the command prompt type FIXBOOT and press Enter. Then answer "Y"
b1naryb0y (3)
361781 2005-06-07 05:46:00 Unfortunatley this wont help, HP computers used to come with a recovery disk as opposed to a windows disk. The later ones including mine do not come with any and rely on the system restore function which in this case does not help at all.

I think it may be a job for a computer tech.

Cheers

Veale
Veale (536)
361782 2005-06-07 06:02:00 You can download a program from Microsoft that will create some boot floppies that will allow you to run the recovery console without a CD.

Make sure you download the correct version

For Windows Xp Professional
Original Release (www.microsoft.com)
SP1 (www.microsoft.com)
SP2 (www.microsoft.com)

For Windows Xp Home
Original Release (www.microsoft.com)
SP1 (www.microsoft.com)
SP2 (www.microsoft.com)
b1naryb0y (3)
361783 2005-06-07 08:48:00 Unfortunatley this wont help, HP computers used to come with a recovery disk as opposed to a windows disk. The later ones including mine do not come with any and rely on the system restore function which in this case does not help at all.

I think it may be a job for a computer tech.

Cheers

Veale
Yes they do. They either have the CDs or a recovery partition.
If you didn't get CDs (and you got it new) you can use the partition. Or you can ring HP and ask for some recovery CDs for your particular model. (Of course they charge you - about $60-$90??)
pctek (84)
361784 2005-06-07 20:11:00 hello,

turn your computer off, restart, and tap F10, this will give you the option
to either format and reinstall, or install back to last known configuration.

good luck,

Robby
Robby (3123)
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