Windows XP help

J

Jacknife

New Member
Under the automatic update thing for my Windows XP, I got the one saying my version is no longer secure and recommends upgrading to XP service pack 2. So I begin the installation, halfway through I got some error message and eventually said it was not installed properly. I restart the computer and now it wont start up. It just goes to the opening Windows XP screen and restarts over and over once it gets there. It did automatically create a restore point before the attempted installation, but how can I restore to an earlier date if I cant even start up windows. I know about system recovery but doesn't that just delete all installed programs and just restore it to like when it was new? :( Help please!
 
Press F8 while booting and when the menu show choose Last Know Good Configuration

Also, for the update to Service Pack 2, I would go to microsoft.com and actually download XP Service Pack 2 (it's between 200-300MB) and install it from your hard drive as opposed to using Windows Update.
 
Try repairing the installation:

Put your Windows CD into the CD-Drive and set your computer to boot from CD and choose the option to repair Windows.

Once you get to a command prompt try entering these commands:

FIXBOOT
BOOTCFG /REBUILD

then reboot. See if that will get you booting into Windows.
 
That would be a problem as I do not have the windows cd. Thanks for the help though. Any other ideas before I just give up and do a system recovery and lose all my installed programs? I am pretty sure your personal files remain after a system recovery, yes? I have lots of my music recorded onto that computer that I cannot lose. So frustrating as the computer was working fine, I just assumed this would be an easy routine upgrade like the other updates.

There is no way to do a system restore to an old restore point date without actually loading windows?
 
If you do a system restore your data will be lost. It will return your system to the state it was when you bought it.

If possible try to borrow someone's Windows CD and perform the commands in my last post. It is not illegal to use another one if you are not installing it.

Or if you can put your hard drive into another computer and transfer your important data off before performing the System Recovery.
 
munkyeetr said:
Or if you can put your hard drive into another computer and transfer your important data off before performing the System Recovery.
Click to expand...

If this ends up being what I have to do. Do you know any website that could explain exactly how to do that? I just googled it and didn't find much helpful info.
 
Also, what if I downloaded windows XP, put it on a cd-r, and brought it to the malfunctioning computer. Would that work? Or would it not even recognize the info on the cd-r?
 
Jacknife said:
...Do you know any website that could explain exactly how to do that?...
Click to expand...

You can use this as a basic guide. If you need more google "install slave drive"

Also, what if I downloaded windows XP, put it on a cd-r, and brought it to the malfunctioning computer. Would that work? Or would it not even recognize the info on the cd-r?
Click to expand...

It would, but it would be quicker and easier to borrow a disk from someone considering nearly every home has a computer nowadays.
 
One final question: I was browsing the system recovery options...What about non-destructive system recovery? That should work without deleting any installed programs or files? Yes? It says it does not affect data files. But I am not sure if that also includes programs, or other important files. Sorry if these are dumb questions, I have little knowledge of this kind of stuff.
 
I have never used that option, so I don't know. Google around and read several articles on it before making a decision. Good luck!
 
Thanks for all the help. I will wait until tomorrow before I do something about it. In the meantime, maybe someone else will know if I will lose any installed programs or files through a non-destructive system recovery? I didn't find any help on google. The computer is HP if that matters.
 
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