[PC won't start after SP2 install]

Got a Hewlett Packard OmniBook 900, P III 450 MHz, 196 Mb ram, 6 Gig Hhd.
Windows XP Professional.

This belongs to a guy who works in the same building as I do, he gave it to one of the IT guys to see if it could be fixed, The IT guy passed it on to me.

All I know about this notebook's problem is that he tried to install SP2 on it and it hasn't worked since. Here is what it's doing.

After turning it on, it goes through it's normal boot screen, then a red box pops up saying:

Save to disk partition not found
Save to disk feature is disabled
Run PHDisk for information. FILE create new.
Partition: Consult manual
Hit any key to exit.

This box stays on for about 1.5 seconds, then disappears. The machine continues through it's boot up process. It then goes to a screen saying Windows was not shut down properly and gives the options on how to start, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with command prompt, Normal, ect. No matter which option is picked, it then goes to the XP Pro screen ( the one with the three little blue blocks moving left to right). After that I get a blank (black) screen with the mouse arrow on it. I can move the arrow around, but thats all it does.

If I go into safe mode, it gives me a screen of drivers, then I get a black screen with "safe mode" in the four corners and the mouse arrow.

Thats all she does. Is there any hope of saving this? Or is the only thing to do is reinstall?

 

A glimmer of hope possibly. Boot to Safe Mode and see if you can get to the Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. (press Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs) Uninstall SP2 and reboot. Pray.

After that you may want to try booting the "last Known Good Configuration" option from the F8 boot screen. (press F8 immediately after the POST screen fades)

 

No joy there, safe mode gives me the same blank screen, only with "safe mode" in the four corners. I also tried the boot to last known good confiquration, still get the blank screen.

 

I'd reload it then since none of the files are important to you anyway. To do it right, it would be nice to have the disk that came with it. That failing, I would attempt a Repair Install first. Then if that succeeds, even partially, try to get some idea of what drivers you will need for the hardware it has. Check the Mfgs. web site for updated ones. Also check to see if it uses some propriatary power conservation software. A visit to the HP site should provide good insight.

Good luck.

 

My son tried to fix it with the repair thing on my personal XP disc, no luck there either. I guess it's totally borked. Original disks are not available. I'll just load it with Linux and give it back to him.

Thanks for the help!