Windows XP won't install/repair?

Question

I have a problem with my old computer. (It worked fine the other day). XP won't boot up, and when I press enter on 'Start Windows Normally' it just reboots and comes up with same message. So I figured I try to repair or reinstall it. So I put the XP CD in my computer, it boots up fine, loads all setup files, and then asks me 3 Options;
1. Run XP Setup (Press ENTER)
2.Repair Windows Installation using Recovery Console. (Press R)
3. Quit Installation. (Press F3)

So I press R to repair it but then it comes up with this error message:
"A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
If this is the first time you've seen this error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
Disabale or uninstall any anti-virus, disk defragementation or backup utilities. Check your hard drive configuraion and check for any updated drivers. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption, and then restart your computer.
Technical Information:
*** STOP= 0x000000024 (0x001902F8, 0xF8988818, 0xF8988518, 0xF8162857)
*** ntfs.sys = Address F8162857 base at F8158000, DateStamp 3b7dc5d0

SORRY IF ITS LONG!!!

Answer 1

Instead of starting normally, try booting in safe mode. If you can boot in safe mode Windows is usually saveable. If safe mode will work backup all your important files, like music, pictures, movies and documents. Even though windows booted in safe mode it may stil be best to re-install windows.



If safe mode doesnt work try booting with the selection that says most recent setting that worked. (this is not always an option)



If these options dont work, re-installing windows will be easiest.



The Repair feature only works in certain conditions. If damage to Windows is heavy enough you will have to Format the hard drive and re-install Windows.



This will delete EVERYTHING on your hard drive!!!



If thats ok try again but instead of pressing R press enter.



It will then take you to a screen to select the hard drive and partition.

Delete the C: partition and then create a new one. (If you dont sometimes it will cause an error and the computer thinks you have 2 verions of windows installed and it asks you which version of XP do you want to load but only oe will work)



Once you have created the new partition, Format it.



Once formating is done Windows installation will begin.

Answer 2

If you get a blue screen of death every time you boot up your machine then face it because it's useless to try booting in safe mode previous configuration none of them will work trust me i know this issue, this most often occurs due to ruff shutdown when some of the program's didn't get a chance to close correctly. If this is your only machine then your only way out to fix it by yourself is, start the setup when windows xp installation screen appears choose to install a new copy of windows press esc when your setup cd will detect your previous copy of windows and choose new installation then create new partition highlight drive c: and press "c" enter 5120MB or 5242880KB which is plenty enough for xp then press to format the partition using NTFS quick format and begin installation also you may encounter such issue during installation - (the folder "windows" allready exhists) just enter a name for a new one such as "OS". Once installation is complete you will have two versions of windows the new one working and the old one the broken xp you can easily extract all your documents without any data loss i hope this helps.

Cheers!

Answer 3

In general you want to do a repair install and NOT use the repair console.



Detailed instructions for a repair install are here http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm



If you can no longer do a repair install, DO NOT reformat and reinstall as this will wipe you out and leave you with nothing but the operating system. You would have to reinstall all your programs and much of your data would be inaccessible.



Reimage can repair your system even if a repair install fails. It costs a little but it is well worth it to save your data. It takes about 30 minutes and preserves your programs and data. If you are not happy with the results, you don't have to pay and you can reverse any changes that it made. More information here http://www.askthecomputerdoc.com/blog/cant-repair-xp-what-to-do-if-xp-fails/

Answer 4

If it comes up with an error when trying to repair it, why not just try installing it again? Should work fine then. I had trouble like that a while ago with the laptop I'm currently using. In the end XP decided to work but I didn't have enough dpace on my C:/ drive, so it didn;t install some important components (audio, webcam etc), so make sure you have enough space before you try installing it again otherwise you'll be in trouble and will need your C:/ drive wiped clean.