Windows xp won boot up

If the error occurs while Windows XP is booting, the operating system will become stuck in a reboot cycle--rebooting over and over instead of starting up normally. In that case, you'll need to disable the option for automatically restarting on system failure.

When Windows XP begins to boot up and you see the message Please select the operating system to start or hear the single beep, press [F8] to display the Windows Advanced Options Menu. Now, Windows XP will hang up when it encounters the error and with any luck, it will display a stop message you can use to diagnose the problem. If you can't seem to repair a Windows XP system that won't boot and you have a recent backup, you can restore the system from the backup media.

The method you use to restore the system will depend on what backup utility you used, so you'll need to follow the utility's instructions on how to perform a restore operation. If you can't repair a Windows XP system that won't boot and you don't have a recent backup, you can perform an in-place upgrade. Doing so reinstalls the operating system into the same folder, just as if you were upgrading from one version of Windows to another.

An in-place upgrade will usually solve most, if not all, Windows boot problems. This screen will prompt you to press R to repair the selected installation or to press [Esc] to install a fresh copy of Windows XP. In this case, initiating a repair operation is synonymous with performing an in-place upgrade, so you'll need to press R.

When you do so, Setup will examine the disk drives in the system. It will then begin performing the in-place upgrade. Keep in mind that after you perform an in-place upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all updates to Windows.

Greg Shultz is a freelance Technical Writer. If you can't repair a Windows XP system that won't boot and you don't have a recent backup, you can perform an in-place upgrade. Doing so reinstalls the operating system into the same folder, just as if you were upgrading from one version of Windows to another. An in-place upgrade will usually solve most, if not all, Windows boot problems. Performing a Windows XP in-place upgrade is pretty straightforward.

In a moment, you'll see the License Agreement page and will need to press [F8] to acknowledge that you agree. Setup will then search the hard disk looking for a previous installation of Windows XP.

This screen will prompt you to press R to repair the selected installation or to press [Esc] to install a fresh copy of Windows XP.

In this case, initiating a repair operation is synonymous with performing an in-place upgrade, so you'll need to press R. When you do so, Setup will examine the disk drives in the system. It will then begin performing the in-place upgrade.

Keep in mind that after you perform an in-place upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all updates to Windows. The WinXP Pro diskettes are available online. Do not select this option YET. Completing the Re-Install - follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup - make sure to follow all the prompts - be ready with your WinXP serial number, and be prepared to "possibly" have to reactivate but usually you do not have to. Then be aware that this process will appear as if it is overwriting and installing a fresh copy of Windows - it is NOT.

It does take about a half-hour. Some people have had to wait for more than an hour. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread.

I have the same question Report abuse. Details required :. Cancel Submit. Sharief K. I recently purchased a brand new Western Digital GB hard drive for my computer. Basically these tools allows me to format this GB HD easily and quickly. No problems. Again no problems. All the installations went with out any problems. I go to boot up this newly built configuration and insted of getting to the desk top I get the following error.

I do not know what happened. I tried swapping out the IDE cable, but no change. This GB drive is jumper-ed to master. Can any one tell me what is wrong? What did I miss. Please assist. Thanks in advance. I would say you have to try again. May I suggest you try a smaller partition size. Make two partition of 60GB each. Also, allow XP to format the partition. Feel free to ignore the above post - partition size is irrelevant.

Are you saying that you did get into Windows initially but now you cannot? If you have done that, then I'll shut up and sit back down. Quote from: Allan on January 10, , PM. Quote from: Geek-9pm on January 10, , PM.