XP Home stalls at startup

[H Anders]

My mother has decided to reinstall XP without backing up anything first. It now stalls at installing devices and will not go any further. Any way of fixing this or retriving data. Tried last known good config but keeps going back to satrt up.

Please, please help. thanks in advance

[Force Flow]

Welcome to PCMech, H Anders

You can either try booting in safe mode, safe mode then go back to a restore point, or stick in the XP CD and run a repair.

[H Anders]

Can not start in safe mode. Says it needs to continue with set up. Also if insets XP CD it just gets back to same point 35 mins remaining and stalls. Longest 35 mins of my life!!

[TeenPcknowit]

Originally Posted by H Anders My mother has decided to reinstall XP without backing up anything first. It now stalls at installing devices and will not go any further. Any way of fixing this or retriving data. Tried last known good config but keeps going back to satrt up. Please, please help. thanks in advance

I'm not sure if you can get your data back by yourself :-/ I heard that the guys at best buy Geek Squad can retrieve some data after format even. I'de give them a call first.

Originally Posted by H Anders Can not start in safe mode. Says it needs to continue with set up. Also if insets XP CD it just gets back to same point 35 mins remaining and stalls. Longest 35 mins of my life!!

So, from what I understand, if you put the XP cd in it boots into the installation, but in the latter part. I think you should format your drive and start over. But because you have a half installed copy of windows xp on your machine right now, you can't format with the XP cd. Go here
http://www.mirrors.org/archived_soft...1/boot98se.exe

This will download the windows 98 SE start up disk (don't get confused, it just brings you to the command prompt, from which you can format your hard drive.)
After this floppy is created, go back into the bios and set the floppy to 1st boot device.
1.Boot your machine with the 98SE SUD in the floppy drive.
2.When it asks you if you want to boot with cd-rom compatibility, say no.
3.you are now at "a:" (if you are not at a: just type "a:")
4.From here, type: Format c:
5.Say yes
6.This will erase all your data and clean your hard drive for windows xp to enter in its glory.
7.After it's complete It will ask you what you want to name it. type "windows" Or whatever you want your drive c: to be called.
8.Restart machine
9.Enter Bios and set cd-rom drive to first device.
10. Restart with windows xp cd in drive
11. Press any key to boot from cd rom
12. Then follow instructions for Xp installation