Resolved Will not boot

Wierd problem. Have Gateway computer running WinXP...all worked fine.

The other day, turned on computer and appeared fine, but after the MSXP screen, received notice 'Windows cannot load. Missing Windows system file (?). Place OS disk in DVD drive and reboot. At screen, press 'r' and follow instructions on screen' Did this, but when screen came up, pressed 'r' over and over (you have limited time) but nothing worked and returned to 'Windows will not load screen'.

Tried to boot into safe mode. F key would not work. Tried to boot into BIOS, F key would not work. Tried to enter System Restore, the F key would not work.

Tried to boot into Gateway Application Restore Disk (which I made immediately on purchase of computer. This did not work, simply went to the same screen that Windows would not load, missing file.

Tried to boot from a Floppy drive, using MS Boot Windows Floppy disk. This did not work, got no light on floppy drive indicating trying to access, simply returned to Windows cannot load screen.

Had the HD removed and it checked out fine, person could slave it to his computer and access it and all my files etc. It is not the HD(?). It appears to get no response from the DVD drive, Floppy drive, or any of the F keys. Suggestions??

 

2 points,

1) Try to be as precise as you can with your error message.
2) Try a PS/2 Keyboard (I'm assuming you're using a USB one) to select any options before windows starts.

And a minor matter...

Please make use of white-space, clumping your post all in one paragraph makes it more difficult to read. Help us to help you please.

 

Windows will not boot

Running Win XP. Computer turns on but will not boot into Windows.

After turn on, receive error "Windows cannot load because missing 'Windows System File. Correct this by using set-up disk and hit 'r' at screen and restore Windows.

Put Installation in DVD tray and rebooted. Got screen with the 'r' restore. Hit the r over and over but did not work. Got same 'Windows cannot load' screen.

Tried get into Safe Mode but found out that none of the F
keys worked, the BIOS key or Boot key, nothing.

Then found out the Floppy Drive was not working so could not use the Windows Boot Floppy Disk.

Removed HD and used it as slave on another computer. The HD was fine, could access and all my information is there.

Cannot reinstall OS due to fact it will not let me no matter what I select, nothing. Suggestions.

 

Have you tried a PS/2 keyboard?

 

Windows will not boot

Yes, tried other keyboard.

 

OK, I was sure a PS/2 (Circular connector) keyboard would have solved your keyboard not working issue.

Do you know the motherboard make/model number or have the manual? If so we could try resetting the BIOS.

 

Please follow this instruction so we can see all the details of your PC.

It looks like none of the system drivers are loading at start up so your keyboard will not function properly. Having all your system details will help, at the moment its going to be difficult to reset the bios if there is no access to it.

 

.Mark,

It's also going to be difficult to run SIW if the system won't boot

 

Oh yes so it is.

Just the model name & number of the PC will do for now.

 

Won't boot

First, let me thank you guys for all your suggestions, tried most (if not all) of them...problem, could not get computer to do anything. No F keys, drives, floppy, restore disk, etc., would function.

Am sure you guys are the same as I am. Thought it would be simple since the HD was good. Anyway, gave up and purchased a Win& machine, although I truly, truly did not want to, but finallly figured out it may take a month or so and and I would still have an obsolete computer.

Not worth it. So, thanks and will post the next time I need help?? Thanks to all for reading my post.

 

step 1 > take a xp bootable cd .
step 2> boot that cd by changing boot order to "cdrom" instead hdd /fdd/usb
step 3> load windows setup and press "R" DURING RECOVERY CONSOLE
step 4> type "chkdsk /p" and after completion type "exit "

hope this works

otherwise you have to repair winxp by skipping above mentioned stage .

 

OK whodowhat, thanks for letting us know. I was going to move on to getting you to run some tests on your hard drive using your other PC. Just because you could get access to it and copy files from it that does not mean it was all OK, the OS and MBR may well have been corrupted.

Hope your new machine serves you well.

 

Nice idea, but read post 4, this had already been tried. The "R" key did nothing.