IE7 - HD Boot fail

[cpetrovits]

Hey all -
I downloaded the latest updates from Microsoft IE7 and what-not, and shortly after (actually when it prompted me to restart so the settings could take affect) my computer stopped booting up properly.
At first i thought that perhapse I had dl a virus (somehow) and it wiped the HD. After closer inspection, I can start Windows in the "one time" set-up screen, by hitting the F12 key. I don't have to start in safe mode or anything - Windows works just as properly as it had before.
Strangly enough, eachtime I turn the computer off, the updates say that they still haven't installed, and no matter what I do, I can not make the computer automatically start windows like normal.
I checked BIOS settings and Main settings, the Internal HD is set as the primary boot device, and removed the updates from the computer.

When I called Dell Tech support, they were completly useless... they told me to call MS... MS told me to call Dell. Eitherway - I'm hoping not to do a full system recovery, since I do SO much from the computer. Even more unfortunate, is that I didn't have the foresight to have my recovery settings on.

Can anyone suggest ANYTHING - I'm going crazy

[AnnMarie]

Hi cpetrovits, if you can start Windows, have you tried running System Restore? This will not affect your data.

Go to Start > Run and copy and paste the below command:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

Click OK. Just pick a date before the problem happened and follow the prompts.

[cpetrovits]

I did not have system restore on, so I can not use that...

[TheCheekMaster]

any reason why you disabled it?

[cpetrovits]

Strangely enough, it was on, and the IT tech idiots at my school disabled it when it was sent in for network updates... they formatted it too... but that was last year at this time.

[AnnMarie]

I guess you could have a damaged boot.ini. One way to find out. Go here and download the files to create a windows XP quickboot diskette. Read the instructions and when you have created the disk, change your boot order in your bios to boot from a floppy.

If you can boot directly into Windows, try the instructions here and let us know how you get on.

Instructions on how to use the Recovery Console here. You can also load the Recovery Console from the WinXP setup disks that are available here

Backup any important data first though. You will have to do this anyway if you restore back to factory default.