Laptop help - no boot into XP (NTFS)

[pcman2001]

Hey gang,

Here is the situation I have a friend on in a remote location. They have a laptop that won't boot. Safe-mode / last known good doesn't boot. The drive is NTFS partition. OS is XP.
They don't have a XP startup disk just a Windows ME. I know that I can't boot from the ME start-up disk. They just have their restore cdrom.
Toshiba Satellite 1905
Do we have any options?
The restore cdrom doesn't have the XP files in another format.
I know I can just put the restore cdrom back in and they would be back up and running, but I would like to avoid this at all costs.
*Also they don't have a network at home.


Thanks

[NooNoo]

So if they have no other computer...there is no way to transfer the data. There are downloadable ntfs utilities, such as ntfs for dos (http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm) but if they have nowhere to transfer the data .... :(

The only option would be to take the laptop to a tech shop and ask them to retrieve any data if possible.

[NooNoo]

If they have a "proper" xp cd, they could do a parallel install... mebbe?

[hudsonsmith]

Recovery console?

[pcman2001]

Thanks this forum rocks!

Keep them coming

[]-[otRod]

Does the laptop boot at all - By this I mean through the POST...

Do you get to the Windows XP splash screen? If you do, does it lock up (freeze on the splash screen) or re-boot?

If it re-boots at the splash screen the computer could be configured to re-boot automatically after an unexpected error...

Post a little more info .... Had this problem with one a few days ago and it turned out the registry was corrupted.

Couple of things to try:
Windows XP Logon Screen does not appear and the computer continually restarts (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310396)

How to Recover from a corrupt registry that prevents Windows XP from starting (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545)

In my case, I couldnt use the recovery console because the user couldnt remember the admin password(!!) so I had to pull the drive out of the non-working machine and install it as a slave in a Working XP machine in order to access the NTFS partition. This would be tricky with a laptop unless you have an standard/ laptop IDE converter. Hopefully this wont be necessary in your case.

[confus-ed]

Originally posted by NooNoo
So if they have no other computer...there is no way to transfer the data. There are downloadable ntfs utilities, such as ntfs for dos (http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm) but if they have nowhere to transfer the data .... :(


Errr can't we make him some floppies (like above or from bootdisk.com, whatever is appropriate) & mail them him .... you know the old fashioned way with a postman & stamps ! ;)

[PeLiGrOsO]

Originally posted by confus-ed
Errr can't we make him some floppies (like above or from bootdisk.com, whatever is appropriate) & mail them him .... you know the old fashioned way with a postman & stamps ! ;)

you can just go to any best buy or comp usa or any computer shop, take a floppy and ask if they can make you a boot disk...
i used to ask in best buy when i had a problem and no 2nd computer to do it with..

[mrl1te]

Not sure if this applies or not, but whenever I have problems with XP, I do a reload. Under old Win2k, this used to wipeout your user settings and registry, but they have revamped it in xp to only remove the HW Keys in the registry. No matter what drivers were loaded before, the default winxp drivers will load and usually allow you to get back into your OS with all Program Files and Settings intact.

The only gotcha is if he doesn't have a Product Key.

Hope this helps!

[confus-ed]

Originally posted by mrl1te
Not sure if this applies or not....
The only gotcha is if he doesn't have a Product Key....


He doesn't have an xp cd only a restore CD - The questioner wants to avoid using this 'at all costs' ... you can get the product key from inside windoze if you know how....

I think what you are refering to is known as an 'inplace re-install' ... if he had a sytem cd, then that is indeed the way ... but here he doesn't ;)

[mrl1te]

Actually, I believe he is saying he doesn't have an XP "Boot" disk. There is no reference to the OEM install CD. If he has that, he is indeed in good shape. However, I believe he may have just left this information out and the case is as you implied, that he only has a restore CD.

Jeez, aren't we anal?!?

[confus-ed]

Originally posted by mrl1te
Actually, I believe he is saying he doesn't have an XP "Boot" disk. There is no reference to the OEM install CD. If he has that, he is indeed in good shape. However, I believe he may have just left this information out and the case is as you implied, that he only has a restore CD.

Jeez, aren't we anal?!?

FFS ... That's entirely the problem ! He has no Boot disks ! No system disks ! So I said 'post' him some since he has no other way of 'making' one ! ....

Read the flipping thread & don't be rude to people when you are being stupid ! The original questioner quite clearly says all this ...
They don't have a XP startup disk just a Windows ME. I know that I can't boot from the ME start-up disk. They just have their restore cdrom.

There was me 'gently' pointing out to you that you'd mis-read the thread & you accuse me of being Anal ! :rolleyes: :mad:

[futuretech]

If they can get to safe mode command prompt then they can do a system restore.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q304449&

[amadeus_hack]

I have a utility that you can boot up a broken laptop or desktop into networked mode, even if the os won't boot up. Once you bootup using the floppy disk, it boots to a network waiting screen. You load up the utility on a desktop or notebook that does boot up, and this utility scans your network for the unbootable pc, once it finds it you can then mount the drive onto your working pc and recover the files and/or fix any problems that may be there. It treats the unbootable device like a network attached storage device, or an external hard drive. This util has saved my bacon on more than one occasion.

Thanx!!!!

amadeushack@comcast.net

[NooNoo]

Did you write this Util? If not, who did?