Help! XP won't load.

[lkiller123]

So I force restarted my ancient XP laptop a while ago.

After booting, it proceeded into the advanced options menu, the one that lets you go into Safe Mode.

The weird thing is, all the letters are in strange fonts. After I select a boot mode, the laptop would restart itself halfway through the boot screen, causing in indefinite cycle.

Can anyone help me with this? The laptop has loads of precious data in it and I really don't want to lose it.

[lkiller123]

Basically, the laptop will encounter a BSOD during the splash screen, causing in infinite loop of restarting.

[dctokyo]

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer

One of the easiest methods to access your data is to simply boot off an Ubuntu Live CD
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

[lkiller123]

So there's no way of fixing it?

[Hondacity]

or ubuntu on usb, i have this for work purposes

[OldChap]

Save the files first, then, set about sorting out the windows problem. Just in case the process messes the drive even more

Then

Buy a portable drive to back up your stuff!!! ;)

[s1nykuL]

Back up the files as advised, then attempt a repair with a windows CD.

[lkiller123]

Seems like the laptop does not support booting from my external drive...

What now?:eek:

[OldChap]

Remove drive and hook it up to desktop, You may need an adapter, copy the important stuff off onto the external drive.

or if you fancy an adventure...

run the laptop off an ubuntu cd ( or stick as Hondacity mentioned) and do it all in linux. You might want to talk to poppageek and DA (among others) on this

[lkiller123]

Nahh, I don't think I can handle Linux.. :p:

Might sound a bit stupid, but does a laptop drive plug into an IDE adapter? It is fairly old, from around 2005.

[jbartlett323]

to stop the loop: Press f8 right before the windows splash screen, or advanced start-up options screen in this case. Disable Automatic Restart on Failure. It will proceed to try to boot. Read BSOD, figure out problem, boot happily or reinstall windows!

But yes, backup the data in a manner already suggested above!

[dctokyo]

Nahh, I don't think I can handle Linux.. :p:

Might sound a bit stupid, but does a laptop drive plug into an IDE adapter? It is fairly old, from around 2005.

Yes there are laptop drives that are IDE, you will need a 2.5" to 3.5" Hard Drive Bay Adapter if you have a 2.5 drive and you wish to slave it to desktop machine that has IDE.

something like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812203012

[dctokyo]

So there's no way of fixing it?
You could try this
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[lkiller123]

Wow, thanks for the advice everyone. :up:

Jbartlett, I've tried it, but as I said on the OP, there are still unreadable characters when I reach the boot options screen.

dctokyo, does this work? http://www.amazon.com/External-Enclosure-Case-Blue-Laptop/dp/B000FNBYKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312825882&sr=8-1

I'm kinda thinking about using plugging that in to my computer and then repairing it with a XP CD. Would that work?

[dctokyo]

Wow, thanks for the advice everyone. :up:

Jbartlett, I've tried it, but as I said on the OP, there are still unreadable characters when I reach the boot options screen.

dctokyo, does this work? http://www.amazon.com/External-Enclosure-Case-Blue-Laptop/dp/B000FNBYKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312825882&sr=8-1

I'm kinda thinking about using plugging that in to my computer and then repairing it with a XP CD. Would that work?

Hi lkiller123, it should work as the one that I posted before, you should be able to see your data on the drive, but you will not be able to repair the HDD unless it is set to a boot drive.


Seems like the laptop does not support booting from my external drive...
Did you check to see if your BIOS supports booting to a external CD/DVD drive? If it does, then you need to set the boot priority to have the laptop to boot from the CD/DVD first.

[lkiller123]

I did check the laptop's BIOS: no luck.

I've just order the enclosure, I will see how it goes.

Thanks for the help so far mate!! :up:

[saint19]

If you take the risk, disassemble the laptop and remove the RAM and battery for a short time.

[PaganII]

If none of the above works (surely one of the tips will) the hard drive dock with IDE will allow you to recover data but when my oldest computer died and I had forgotten the password the data was unavailable in Windows. Had to use Linux to recover emails, invoices etc.

[lkiller123]

Adapter came, and seems like the drive is shot...

Which disk recovery software would you guys recommend?

[saint19]

Adapter came, and seems like the drive is shot...

Which disk recovery software would you guys recommend?

EASEUS data recovery is very good

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