[ProfaneReality]

trying to get my old laptop running...windows xp wont boot...cant even open in safe mode... only thing i can get into is rescue and recovery...and I don't have the installation cd... tried googling, but its all jibberish to me

thanks

[FourLengthsClear]

1) Are you sure your BIOS is set to boot from the HDD?

2) Does your "rescue and recovery" allow you to open the command prompt.

If so.

Type "C:"
then "cd windows"
then "fixmbr"
then "exit"

and try to boot again

[ProfaneReality]

1- I have no clue

2- It doesn't appear to have that option

there is an option in RR to access the BIOS though

[FourLengthsClear]

Then access the BIOS and see if there is a "Boot" or "Boot Order" section/menu.

[ProfaneReality]

in the bios my options are

config
date/time
security
startup
restart

[FourLengthsClear]

Go to Startup.

What is shown there?

[ProfaneReality]

>boot
>network

boot mode (quick)
boot device list f12 option [enter]

[FourLengthsClear]

Can you select/expand
>boot

If so what does it say?

[ProfaneReality]

boot priority order:
1- usb fdd:
2- legacys floppy drives
3- usb cd:
4- atapi cd0:hl-dt-stdvd-rom
5- atapi cd1:
6- ide hdd0: toshiba mk8025gas-(pm)
7- ide hdd1:
8- pci lan: iba 4.1.07 slot 0240

excluded from boot order
: -usb hdd
: ide hdd2:


all i can do on this pages it seems is change the order

[FourLengthsClear]

Change the order so that

ide hdd0 toshiba......................

is at number 1

Then find the option to "save and exit".

[ProfaneReality]

done... it took me back to the page to start in safe moode...or normal... i chose normal... same problem wont boot.. and I get... "stop: c0000221 unknown hard error systemroot/system32

I am back in RR

[FourLengthsClear]

OK go through the same process but make

ide hdd1:

No.1 in the boot order
Then "save and exit" again.

[ProfaneReality]

same thing

[FourLengthsClear]

The error message you have suggests that there is a problem with your Hard Disk.

What options do you have in your recovery console?

[ProfaneReality]

rescue files
restore your system
create migration file
access bios
download files
diagnose harware (which seems to require a cd)
create diagnostic disks
boot from another device

[FourLengthsClear]

Are there any files/programs on the machine that you need?

If not you could try "restore your system". It looks like there is a recovery partition (which means you don't need the XP CD) which will restore the machine to factory condition (full reinstalation of Windows), assuming there is no problem with the HDD.

[ProfaneReality]

there are a few things id prefer not to lose....but not vital. if you are fairly certain that restoring to factory settings will fix this problem, I will go for it.. the one thing that i want to avoid is restoring to factory...and still having this boot problem... who knows...that might not even be possible...shows you how clueless I am with this stuff

[FourLengthsClear]

I am not certain because the error code you are getting is quite generic and is often just related to hardware conflicts.

Is the stuff you don't want to lose files or applications? If files, you could go through the "rescue files" option first.

[ProfaneReality]

going to try it... its not a big deal if i lose them... a few files and apps