file system

[BlackDragon]

I recently built my own computer in August (thanks for the help, pcmech!). It worked fine, and everything was ok. I recently downloaded what I think was a virus. The reason is, I get this error message when I boot up my computer.
"A problem has been detected on your computer. Windows has been shut down to prevent further damage to your computer. UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_DRIVE" It gives some tips on how to fix this. It then gives "technical information" I copied the hex code into the search at microsoft and microsoft said that my file system was damaged. I dont know much about file systems, besides the fact that its essential. Ive tried running windows on every option there is. (Safe mode, safe mode with networking, blah blah blah). I stole my sister's windows xp home edition (I have XP Pro) recovery cd and used the recovery console. The thing is, it asked me for a password, I put the right password in, and it says the password is incorrect. I dont know whats wrong with it. I have a network, and another hard drive on another computer if that helps. Im extremly unwilling to reformat my hard drive because its a 120 gig thats completely filled up and has some rare stuff on there. My question is: is there any way at all to fix my hard drive without deleting it?

[bailey]

you cannot use a xp-home recover cd to fix a xp-pro system
just do a reinstall repaire with you own xp-pro cd.
should be no problen with it

[BlackDragon]

the computer wouldnt boot from the windows xp pro cd. Yes, it does boot from cds, but it didnt for some reason. anyways it would probably give the same "wrong password" error

[bailey]

use the xp-pro cd to do a reinstall repaire.
set the bios to boot from the cdrom drive and then reboot.
it will then boot from the cd, answere the questions and follow the instructions, it should not ask for a password at this point

[BlackDragon]

maybe i should explain in greater detail. I put the windows xp in the cdrom drive. I restart my computer and enter bios. I set the prioritys to 1:cdrom drive 2:floppy 3:hard drive. I restart my computer again. It loads the screen it shows for my video card. It then loads the screen where it waits for you to enter into bios if you want. After 3 or so seconds, the screen goes blank, and the cursor blinks twice. It then goes to the page where you can select "Safe Mode", "Safe mode with networking", "safe mode with command prompt", "Start windows with last good configuration", and "Start windows normally". You get this screen when windows did not shut down properly. You then select any of them. It doesnt matter which one, because it goes to the screen with the error message i described above. This in a nutshell is that "the computer wouldnt boot from the windows xp pro cd" as stated above. The cd works, because i tried it in my other computer. My system can boot from cds because ive booted from my hard drive cd before. So is there any other way. Can I download the checkdisk program onto a disk and do it that way? or any other way?

[DragonNOA1]

EDIT nevermind

[BlackDragon]

does anyone have any suggestions of where i can download anything to help me? or any articles or something?

[bailey]

is the xp-pro cd your trying to boot from a full retail store bought cd or a copy of one

[BlackDragon]

a copy of one

[bailey]

ok your symptom is typical of that,
you have a bad copy and it does not have all the files on it to do what you need to do,
thats why the boot problem
your not getting the correct menu to do this.

[BlackDragon]

i used that copy to install my windows xp pro. but ill look for another copy if mine is incomplete. thanks