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DM · 07-18-2001, 01:05 PM

Type the name of the Command Interpreter (e.g.,C:\windows\command.com)
C>
what is it asking for & what can I do to get out of this endless loop of reboots and always ending back to the same screen.
Thanks For Your Replies

reboot · 07-18-2001, 01:22 PM

Boot to a startup disk.
At the A:\ prompt type sys c: and hit enter.
At the C:\ prompt type: fdisk /mbr and hit enter.
REstart.

DM · 07-18-2001, 01:38 PM

Thanks for the quick response
ok, I followed your instructions and I am now to a c:\ Now how do I get back into windows itself.

**HAL9000** · 07-18-2001, 01:42 PM

Ahhh... just out of curiosity, type in DIR and hit enter. Is there anything on your hard drive, is there a WINDOWS directory?

DM · 07-18-2001, 01:47 PM

many dir. but not one thats says windows.

DM · 07-18-2001, 01:51 PM

my son was sent an e-mail that told him to hold down the shift key when the computer starts up to see something cool. he said when he did ,,,well you know the rest of the story

**HAL9000** · 07-18-2001, 01:53 PM

Not sure what happened to you, but since you cannot locate a Windows directory, I would say that it went wherever your system files went and you will have to reload Windows. You say that you have many directories, so the good news is that you may still have important data (if any). You will also need to reload your programs once Windows is reloaded.

Just to double check that Windows is actually missing and not renamed for whatever reason, type in

DIR WIN.COM/S

then hit enter. This is the file that starts Windows. If it is there, take note of what directory it's in. If it isn't there, then you will most likely have to reload.

DM · 07-18-2001, 02:00 PM

Tried it and it brings up volume in drive C has no label.File not found. OH NO!
I have got a 20gig drive but it's tellin me I have 16gig still free.
Is all my info gone or can I just install windows over top.

**HAL9000** · 07-18-2001, 02:07 PM

You can install Windows again over top without losing anything that is currently on your drive. You installation will be a clean install though and you will have to re-install your programs even though the directories may still be there. This is required to install and register the necessary DLL files and put in the required registry entries. As I said before, hopefully any important data is still there. Once you get Windows installed, just to be on the safe side, install a virus scanner, update the signature files and do a full scan just in case the e-mail that your son received had a virus attachment.

I guess I should add unless Reboot has any further suggestions?

reboot · 07-18-2001, 02:09 PM

You now have a hard drive that's bootable, but somebody has deleted windows.
Your data is still there, safe, but no windows, no programs...

DM · 07-18-2001, 02:15 PM

Will follow your advise, hopefully that will get this sorted out.
Thanks ever so much for stickin with me on this one. If not for you and the other folks on this forum, I would have strayed away from my Pc ages ago.
Will let you know how it all works out. Thanks again.

DM · 07-18-2001, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the reassurance that my data is still there. That was my biggest worry. It's nice to have a place to come in my hour of need and know that someones out there. Thanks once again

**HAL9000** · 07-18-2001, 02:29 PM

No problem DM, make sure to post back how you made out.

07-18-2001, 01:05 PM	#1
DM Member (6 bit) Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 59	Please Help! Type the name of the Command Interpreter (e.g.,C:\windows\command.com) C> what is it asking for & what can I do to get out of this endless loop of reboots and always ending back to the same screen. Thanks For Your Replies Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 01:22 PM	#2
reboot Member (14 bit) Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Kelowna, B.C., Canada Posts: 9,138	Boot to a startup disk. At the A:\ prompt type sys c: and hit enter. At the C:\ prompt type: fdisk /mbr and hit enter. REstart. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Black holes are where God divided by zero... Cheers, Jim Jims Modems

07-18-2001, 01:38 PM	#3
DM Member (6 bit) Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 59	Reboot Thanks for the quick response ok, I followed your instructions and I am now to a c:\ Now how do I get back into windows itself. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 01:42 PM	#4
HAL9000 Red-eyed Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 17,575	Ahhh... just out of curiosity, type in DIR and hit enter. Is there anything on your hard drive, is there a WINDOWS directory? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ -At Ford, quality is job #1, job #2 is making them explode. ~Norm MacDonald, SNL News -Switching to Glide..Balancing in my head..inside of me... taking the glide path instead.

07-18-2001, 01:47 PM	#5
DM Member (6 bit) Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 59	Hal9000 many dir. but not one thats says windows. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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07-18-2001, 01:51 PM	#6
DM Member (6 bit) Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 59	found out what started this my son was sent an e-mail that told him to hold down the shift key when the computer starts up to see something cool. he said when he did ,,,well you know the rest of the story Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 01:53 PM	#7
HAL9000 Red-eyed Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 17,575	Not sure what happened to you, but since you cannot locate a Windows directory, I would say that it went wherever your system files went and you will have to reload Windows. You say that you have many directories, so the good news is that you may still have important data (if any). You will also need to reload your programs once Windows is reloaded. Just to double check that Windows is actually missing and not renamed for whatever reason, type in DIR WIN.COM/S then hit enter. This is the file that starts Windows. If it is there, take note of what directory it's in. If it isn't there, then you will most likely have to reload. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 02:00 PM	#8
DM Member (6 bit) Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 59	Hal9000 Tried it and it brings up volume in drive C has no label.File not found. OH NO! I have got a 20gig drive but it's tellin me I have 16gig still free. Is all my info gone or can I just install windows over top. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 02:07 PM	#9
HAL9000 Red-eyed Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 17,575	You can install Windows again over top without losing anything that is currently on your drive. You installation will be a clean install though and you will have to re-install your programs even though the directories may still be there. This is required to install and register the necessary DLL files and put in the required registry entries. As I said before, hopefully any important data is still there. Once you get Windows installed, just to be on the safe side, install a virus scanner, update the signature files and do a full scan just in case the e-mail that your son received had a virus attachment. I guess I should add unless Reboot has any further suggestions? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 02:09 PM	#10
reboot Member (14 bit) Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Kelowna, B.C., Canada Posts: 9,138	You now have a hard drive that's bootable, but somebody has deleted windows. Your data is still there, safe, but no windows, no programs... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 02:15 PM	#11
DM Member (6 bit) Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 59	Hal9000 Will follow your advise, hopefully that will get this sorted out. Thanks ever so much for stickin with me on this one. If not for you and the other folks on this forum, I would have strayed away from my Pc ages ago. Will let you know how it all works out. Thanks again. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 02:19 PM	#12
DM Member (6 bit) Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 59	Reboot Thanks for the reassurance that my data is still there. That was my biggest worry. It's nice to have a place to come in my hour of need and know that someones out there. Thanks once again Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-18-2001, 02:29 PM	#13
HAL9000 Red-eyed Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 17,575	No problem DM, make sure to post back how you made out. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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