Booting loop, boots in safe mode

I"m going to try that really quick, but I don't think it'll work, since it won't even work with diagnostic stratup... I'll be back on soon... Also, I have an XP CD with the same OS as I do (My roomate has a dell with the same OS and HIS came with disks)... Can I copy files from the CD and put them on my comp using safe mode? I want to just re-install the OS, but the stupid computer doesn't have a product key anywhere on it! (it's genuine though, says geeks.com)...
 
Ok, I looked in my i386 folder and the one on the windows CD, mine has (excluding the other folders within, on both) 5,752 files and the one on the disk has 5,808 files... you think it would be suicide to just copy all of the ones from the disk to my folder and overwrite?
 
brent12223 said:
I"m going to try that really quick, but I don't think it'll work, since it won't even work with diagnostic stratup... I'll be back on soon... Also, I have an XP CD with the same OS as I do (My roomate has a dell with the same OS and HIS came with disks)... Can I copy files from the CD and put them on my comp using safe mode? I want to just re-install the OS, but the stupid computer doesn't have a product key anywhere on it! (it's genuine though, says geeks.com)...
Click to expand...

You will need the original installation disk in order to much of anything. The product id number will be a mandate. Unlike the older versions of Windows like 3.1, 95, and 98 you can't simply copy files from the installation disk to the hard drive and reinstall Windows. The product will still be needed if you decide on the "install to repair" method outlined in the article at http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
 
brent12223 said:
Ok, I looked in my i386 folder and the one on the windows CD, mine has (excluding the other folders within, on both) 5,752 files and the one on the disk has 5,808 files... you think it would be suicide to just copy all of the ones from the disk to my folder and overwrite?
Click to expand...

As usual he is wrong.

As long as XP is still installed on the HDD, even if you can't boot, go to the following link. It will help you get your key, then you can do an install from the I386 folder.

http://www.dagondesign.com/articles/windows-xp-product-key-recovery/
 
brent12223 said:
nope, it didn't work, it's gotta be something in the system win or boot.ini
Click to expand...

The boot.ini can be edited by slaving the drive in another case with notepad if needed. A faster means of correcting any boot problems with an existing installation if present is the "Fixmbr" and "Fixboot" cxommands at the recovery console or "fdisk /mbr" on an old 98 or ME startup floppy at the dos prompt once you boot from it. But as usual someone else wouldn't mention that little item. :rolleyes:
 
the boot.ini file can be modified if you use the ATTRIB command to modify its attributes. See my previous post.
 
I can look at my boot.ini file in safe mode, but I don't know what any of it means really... And I'm not sure it's my boot file, it think it's something else in the startup... I don't know... I'm going to try a few more things tonight...
 
brent12223 said:
I can look at my boot.ini file in safe mode, but I don't know what any of it means really... And I'm not sure it's my boot file, it think it's something else in the startup... I don't know... I'm going to try a few more things tonight...
Click to expand...

Hold down the shift key when booting to disable all start up items
 
tlarkin said:
the boot.ini file can be modified if you use the ATTRIB command to modify its attributes. See my previous post.
Click to expand...

If slaved in another case the boot.ini file can be edited with NotePad while in Windows. With the blibking cursor you can make any needed changes in the text and then save with the "all files" option to overwrite the current file. The best thing before attempting this type of edit is to make a backup copy to save in a folder. A repair install of Windows has to be considered if the actual problem isn't determined.

brent12223 said:
I can look at my boot.ini file in safe mode, but I don't know what any of it means really... And I'm not sure it's my boot file, it think it's something else in the startup... I don't know... I'm going to try a few more things tonight...
Click to expand...

While in safe mode you have the option there to remove any updates or softwares recently installed. After this amount of time your best move here would to perform a repair install of Windows to see the system running again. You would need a full install disk to see this done. One of the best articles seen on this is found at http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

If you have to purchase a full install disk you can find some good prices on OEM versions or wait until Vista is released to upgrade. With another installation disk you would most like have to delete the current installation for the new product id. But this will save you a number of headaches and see the system there up and running in far less time.
 
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