[superman11]

Hello,

I wanted to update the Windows-XP-Home OS with SP1. When I started the process, the system asked me for taking the back-up of existing OS specific files; I selected the option of taking the back-up files. After taking the backup, the installation process started installing the new SP1. Half-way through the process, the system hung, and I did not have any other option but to hard-boot the system.

Now, here's where the problem is. The system does not boot completely, and it goes in a loop. I do not know what is the problem actually. In one of the first loops, it did do the chkdsk, but it reported everthing fine. No bad sectors on the hard-drive.

Also, I created a boot-disk on another machine, and started the XP system (which has a problem) with this bootable disk. Now, on this system, I can only see my floppy drive, and not the hard-drive.

How can I fix this problem. Please let me know if you can give me any direction to solve this,

Thanks very much.

 

[Dan O]

Try using Last Known Good.

To access it depress the F8 key during boot up after the hardware has been listed. A boot menu will be shown.

 

[superman11]

Dan,

Thanks very much for the quick reply. I tried this one. It gives the same result. It is still going in a loop of re-booting.

Also, tried the option of starting in debugging mode (through the same F8 option); however, it gives the same result of looping.

 

[Dan O]

Maybe you can fix it using the Windows XP CD and perfroming a Repair. Boot with the XP CD and several screens into setup an R option for Repair is available.

Or a System Restore may fix the problem, see: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;304449

 

[superman11]

> Maybe you can fix it using the Windows XP
> CD and perfroming a Repair. Boot with the XP
> CD and several screens into setup an R option
> for Repair is available.

I will surely give this a try.

> Or a System Restore may fix the problem, see:
> http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...kb;EN-US;304449

Looked at the details of this one. However, the system
does not go to the drive, where my system32 directory is.
When it is booted in a safe mode, it displays:
mdisks(0)...mpartitions(1)\system32\<filename> etc.

It does not give the drive indicator too. I am not sure,
at this step, it should have shown me <drive-letter>:\..\system32\<filename> or the way it is displaying the information.

Thanks very much for the help Dan.

 

[Dan O]

The Windows XP CD will also allow you to access the console. ALso see this link for more information on what you can do: http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windowstips/story/0,24330,3364544,00.html

 

[superman11]

After using the recoverable-CD (which re-installed the
factory packaged OS and other apps), the problem got
solved. It preserved all my data-files on the disk.

Thanks very much for all the help, Dan.

 

[Dan O]

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback. I will mark your thread solved.