Problem Booting into WinXP

[B4rto]

Hey guys,

 

Well my computer was running very very slow (It is an old computer, but i need it) so i decided to use my Time "Reload Back-up" CD. After this was done, the computer totally refused to boot up, and freezes at the part where it says "Boot from apati (sp) cd: Failure". It has ALWAYS said this message, but normally boots up.

 

I have used this CD a ton of times over the past 3-4 years and it has always been successful.

 

CPU: AMD Athlon 2000+ 1.67GHz

RAM: 512MB SDRAM

HD: 32GB (Sorry, I only know the size of my HD), origionally FAT32 (Converted to NTFS)

OS: MS Windows XP Home

 

Other info: In the past, i have left my hard drive as a FAT32, but i converted it to a NTFS (So i could store a file that was over the 4GB limit that FAT32 has). This is the 1st time i have done this, and it worked PERFECTLY. Now i am thinking that the reload CD only works with a FAT32 HD. If so, is there any way of making my HD FAT32 again without getting onto the system (Using DOS command or anything)?

 

Thanks.

[Otter]

So, now it won't boot from the CD, but what happens if you try to boot without it?

[ILovePolarBears]

Try booting without the CD. Unlike with a floppy drive, you shouldn't have to re-order your boot sequence in your BIOS for it to skip the CD drive and boot from a hard drive when no disc is present.

 

If it still doesn't want to boot though, go into your BIOS and set the first boot device to be hard drive, rather than CD drive.

[B4rto]

Thanks for the replies.

 

My problem is when the reload back-up process completes (Takes around an hour), i take the disk out and it normally boots up as a fresh install of windows. This time, it wont boot atall (Without the disk in. When the disk is in, it just loads up the CD so i can wipe my HD again)

 

Am i right in thinking that the factory restore CD only works if the HD is FAT32? If so, is there any way i can reformat my HD without the OS booting (Maybe at the A:\ command prompt?)

 

Sorry if i never got my question out correctly

[Otter]

No, no, I don't think NTFS is the problem. It sounds to me like something went wrong with your backup. Take ILPB's advice, and chance the boot settings in your BIOS. Change it to boot from the drive that you have Windows installed on.

[B4rto]

No, no, I don't think NTFS is the problem. It sounds to me like something went wrong with your backup. Take ILPB's advice, and chance the boot settings in your BIOS. Change it to boot from the drive that you have Windows installed on.

I only have 1 HD, but in my BIOS settings, it said CD-ROM, Floppy ect ect, but it also said HD-0, HD-1, HD-2, HD-3 and HD-4. Tried all of them with no anvil, although when HD-0 is set 3rd in my boot sequence it does get past the "Boot from atapi (sp) cd-rom: Failure" message, but then just blackscreens until i reboot.

 

Really weird.

[anus]

Since both your hard disk and optical drive seem to be detected by the PC (otherwise you couldn't have used that recovery thing), I think your OS installation is f*cked up.

 

Oh and you'll need a Windows disc if you're going to wipe the HDD and reinstall Windows, you can wipe the HDD using the Windows disc too.

 

Oh and if you have a Windows disc, try repairing the OS installation first, if that doesn't work, then format and reinstall .

 

Good luck .

[B4rto]

Since both your hard disk and optical drive seem to be detected by the PC (otherwise you couldn't have used that recovery thing), I think your OS installation is f*cked up.

 

Oh and you'll need a Windows disc if you're going to wipe the HDD and reinstall Windows, you can wipe the HDD using the Windows disc too.

 

Oh and if you have a Windows disc, try repairing the OS installation first, if that doesn't work, then format and reinstall .

 

Good luck .

Thanks for the answer

 

Unlucky for me though as i don't have a Windows XP home O/S install PC only came with the stupid reload-backup cd