[Computer no longer boots after attempted driver install]

new problem, shut down my computer, turned back on, will not boot up. tried pushing f8, no good either. put my win xp disc in cd rom drive to boot off that, no good either.
win xp pro sp 3
amd athlon 1.67 GHz
1.0 Gb ram
160 Gb WD hard drive
all these problems started last night when i tried to install a microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse 1.0a.

 

Hi, Snowman2765,

Exactly what happens when you power on? Do you get a POST screen?

When you try to boot into Safemode, do you keep tapping F8 repeatedly?

 

the bios screen pops up i repeatedly tap F8 windows asking for primary boot device if i select my dvd rom to boot from windows XP disc nothing happens, any other selection same results.

 

Thanks for these data, and we should wait for those more savvy than I to respond.

Having said that, and it may not be necessary, but way back, when I was totally clueless, I messed up and found this genius guy's little fixes, used the right one and it was a miracle:
http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm

I would, for now, read the above, park the link and wait for the truly savvy humans.

Hang in!

 

One more: do I assume correctly that you are now back to using your USB devices?

If so, can you pls tell us what, precisely happened during the attempted installation of the wireless ones?

 

installed new mouse and keyboard, but didn't uninstall old yet, mouse worked and keyboard didn't, thought that it was a conflict, so i uninstalled the new ones, shut down the computer, and voiala!

 

I think I get that but don't bet on it. There would be no need to uninstall anything.....we are talking about drivers.

Now, one more once: do I assume correctly you have plugged your original USB mouse and KB in and tried to boot?

Your original drivers must still be in yr system, after all. and, with the original devices plugged in, I do not see why Windows should not boot and find those devices and those devices should not function normally..

 

yes you do assume correctly, hence my problem, and thank you for your efforts

 

I see, and forgive me, I did not mean to insult you in any way, I was just unclear.

So now, I am stuck, in the mud of ignorance and we must wait until a real expert weighs in and troubleshoots why Windows is not loading, someone with more experience and knowledge than I.

Sorry I could not be of more help. So good there is so much real expertise in this place!!!!

.

 

no insult, sorry if you took it that way and thanks anyhow

 

Not to worry.....and do not give up, I am sure this will get fixed. I also suggest again, you keep the link I pasted, just in case boot files got messed up; that guy really is a genius, forget, also the essence of generosity.

Can't remember if I used the floppy version he offers or burned his fix to a CD, these these events are traumatic for sure, but all I know is it worked and was a miracle.

Floppy drives in desktops are not as anachronistic as some would have us believe.

I will follow this with great interest and crossed fingers, and, I am sure, learn a lot in the process!

 

When you try going into Safe Mode, tap, tap, tap the F8 key and you will need to do it before you would normally see the Windows loading screen. (Start tapping before the system splash screens disappear.) Going into Safe Mode might not help much, the uninstall might have "stripped out" the basic keyboard drivers. If you get to Safe Mode, go to Device Manager and uninstall the keyboard drivers, they should be reinstalled (hopefully correctly) when you restart.

if you are stuck you will need to boot to the Windows CD. (Is it a Microsoft version of Windows or a system manufacturer's version?). When you try booting to the CD, watch the screen for "Press any key to boot to the CD... ". Run through the installation until you press F8 to agree to the Eula. After that screen it will offer to "repair the current installation of Windows ", run that.

Matt
PS My suggestion: don't install the mouse/keyboard software if you don't really need them. If you only need the standard keys and mouse functions, just connect the devices and Windows should use basic drivers to run them.

 

tried tapping f8 really early, no good still does the same thing and cannot boot from cd at all, still does that only one thing, asking for primary boot device. doesnt matter what i select from the list just stalls there for about 2 min. then reverts back to the bios screen.

 

The failed uninstall not should cause a problem getting to the startup options menu (F8), no Windows drivers are loaded at that stage. Try some slightly different tapping or maybe press and hold it down.

Is the Windows CD clean and free of scratches? If you try cleaning it, wipe from the centre to the outer edge, not round and round.

Apart from that, I can only suggest going into the BIOS and setting the CD/DVD drive as the first boot device (and check there are no USB drives connected).

After that you will need someone with some computer knowledge to look at it with you or take it to a repairers.

Matt