Windows XPWill not Start Up(no signal)

Hi there, My Friend who is a real novice at computers has a problem. Last week we burnt a CD for the very first time on his computer using Nero. We saved some files and shut down the computer.
Today he tried to start it up and hegets 3 or 4 options and when he selects one.....the screen goes blank and an error message appears (No Signal)
The options were ......Start windows normal
.....................................Safe Mode
......................................
He tried to start it with all the different options but none work...He has not made up a Bootable disk.
The computer has never been hooked up to the Internet and he just uses it to write letters.

Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions.........I got him to unplugg the computer from the wall oulet and wait 1 minite and replug it in......Nothing changed!!

 

Verify that he doesn't have any disks in any drive bays when he boots.

If that doesn't solve the problem, have him boot to the Recovery Console and choose the last bootable version.

If that doesn't work, have him boot to the Recovery Console and do a repair re-install by choosing the second "R" option when offered.

Cheers.

 

Zephyr, I would be grateful if you could tell me a bit about the Recovery Console or provide a link where I may obtain more details.

I have selected the Recovery Console option a couple of times but get asked to insert a particular floppy disk but do not how to make such a floppy or where to obtain it from.

Thanks in advance.

 

I've always recommended this site for XP Instruction. It may take a while to load but the presentation is plain talk and excellent.

Cheers.

 

"No Signal" should mean the monitor no longer sees a video card. Since there is a time when monitor and card do communicate, it sounds like at some point during the boot up, bad or wrong drivers are being loaded.

If the other suggestions don't help out, take a look at This description of the recovery console and how to use it. Possibly Listsvc to get the name of video driver and disable to stop it so the default settings will take effect. Then you should be able to boot up and install the correct driver with a new copy from the internet.

 

Thanks Zephyr for the link. Excellent information at the site but unfortunately, it seems that for the Repair Console to work, I need to have XP with the NTFS file system.

By setup is FAT32 due to some bad experiences with NTFS previously under Windows 2000.

 

I have never heard that before. You might want to double check your source. Please advise if you find it to be true.

 

From the M$ How-To article on set up and use of the Recovery Console,

so it is perfectly happy with FAT32 or NTFS.

 

Thanks to both Zephyr & Newt. The source was the link from Zephyr but it is quite possible that I misread and will have another look.

I am still at a loss about creating a boot disk which I presume is not the 6 floppy disk set that can be used to install XP.

 

Mahmud603

Creating a quick boot disk is item #3 on that link I furnished earlier. You just need the three files; NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, and boot.ini. Copy those to a clean formatted disk and keep it around for the day when your system won't boot due to some problem with the bootloader files. You'll be happy that you have it.



Newt, I think I'll coin a new phrase to describe us poor souls that didn't get an install CD when we purchased our boxes and consequently don't have all the frills available that others higher in the caste seem to. I'm thinking of calling my version, "Windows HomeLess." Whadda ya think?

 

Thanks Zephyr for your prompt reply. Following the instructions, I have now created the floppy disk.

I have one more question which is that as both my hard disks are attached to the Promise Controller card, would I need any other files on the said floppy ?

 

No, nothing else is needed. This disk will boot your computer all the way into Windows. You should test it to confirm that it works and then store it away for possible use when you have problems booting. To test it, place it in the drive bay and reboot your computer or place it in the drive bay and turn the computer on and let it start up using this disk. If all is well, you'll go right into a Windows session.

This disk will serve until you make some major change in your system such as adding another OS and setting up dual boot. At that time you will need to replace the boot.ini to update the disk.

Cheers.

 

I am much relieved that I will be able to boot up with my configuration.

Thanks once again.