Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

Hi to all !!
I have a Compaq Presario SR1602HM. Windows XP Home. I think the hard drive has went bad. When the computer is booting up, the Compaq screen shows up , then the Windows XP screen shows up but thats all. After that , its all black. I tried "safe mode" and when it goes into Windows, the words "SAFE MODE " are in the 4 cornners and it says Microsoft (R) Windows XP (R) (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158: Service PAck 2),
at the top.
Thats it ! No warning signs or messages. Has the hard drive went bad ? I tried a different video card and get the same results.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated !!! Thank you !!!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Tumbleweedracef

Dani AI

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Given 's note that a known-good drive boots the machine, this points at a damaged or misconfigured Windows installation on the original disk rather than a hardware failure. 's Task Manager/explorer suggestion only helps when Task Manager actually appears; since that did not happen, and 's System Restore idea requires an environment that the install isn't reaching, an offline repair approach is the next practical step.

Boot the PC from a Windows XP install CD and use the Recovery Console to check and repair disk and boot structures. Typical Recovery Console commands to try (run them in this order) are:

chkdsk /r
fixboot
fixmbr
bootcfg /rebuild
exit

If the administrator password is not available or a CD is not at hand, boot from a live utility (BartPE/Hiren's/Ubuntu live USB). That environment lets files be backed up and inspected. Important personal data should be copied off the problem disk before attempting repairs.

When Safe Mode shows only the corner text and no shell, the Winlogon-related registry values (Shell and Userinit) or core registry hives can be corrupt. From a booted rescue environment the Windows\System32\config hives can be examined or restored from the System Volume Information restore-point snapshot. That is an advanced, manual process—make file backups first.

If Recovery Console fixes do not restore the desktop, the next step is an in-place Repair Install (XP setup) or, if that is not possible, a clean reinstall. Both require a matching XP disc/key and always warrant a prior backup of the Users folder.

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Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

I had already tried ctrl+alt+del , and nothing happend. I plugged up a different hard drive that I have and it fired right up. I tried hitting and clicking and yet nothing happends at all.

Member Avatar for compuchip

your hard drive is fine the problem is your boot sequence thats corrupted

Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

cd rom is first, hard drive second. What do I need to change ?

Member Avatar for compuchip

i mean the sequence windows uses to boot

Member Avatar for compuchip

i can fix your problem

Member Avatar for compuchip

switch pc on , press f8 immediately after, logon to windows, safe mode with command prompt, logon user,type the following:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
when restore programme starts, restore to about a month back, wait for it to complete system will reboot and then work fine

Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

I will have to try that tomorrow. Thank you for your reply ! I hope it works !

Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

Hey Compuchip..... When I try to go into SAFE MODE WITH COMAND PROMPT, i get the same thing as if I try to go into SAFE MODE. It ends up as a black screen, with the words SAFE MODE in the 4 corrners and the words " Microsoft (R) Windows XP (R) (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158: Service PAck 2), at the top in the middle. Is there a way I can boot straight into a comand prompt ? I tried another hard drive and it fired right up.

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