XP Repair from CD fails

[leachim]

I have XP Home on a HDD which does a restart loop continuosly - gets to the Windows logo and restarts.

Used a XP disk to do a Repair - thats OK to start with - gets to the "Checking Drive C:" - Yellow Bar goes across

Then "Windows has finished checking drive C and now needs to restart to continue Setup" - another loop

I thought that once the yellow bar completes, it goes on to Repair...

Thanks

PS - won't load Safe Mode either

[Murray S.]

Howdy:

What is the make and model of your system and is the XP cd you are using an OEM (came with that system or a different system)?

Murray

[leachim]

Hi Murray

It is an Acer Aspire Desktop - I am using an XP disk with SP2 which didn't come with the system.

Can't remember having a problem like this before from a similar setup - it did give me the Repair option - anyway I digress....

[Murray S.]

Originally Posted by leachim

Hi Murray

It is an Acer Aspire Desktop - I am using an XP disk with SP2 which didn't come with the system.

The Acer should have a recovery partition that contains the proper files for re-installing the os or the means to make a set of recovery cd's. Did you not make them when prompted when you first started the system?

Also, if the cd is for a different system (OEM), it won't work as it would be searching for hardware that is not on your computer. Also, it would be against Microsoft's EULA to use it.

You will need a full retail version of XP from Microsoft. You can use someone else's cd here but you will need to change the key code after and then call Microsoft to activate it.

Murray

[leachim]

Thankyou

I understand what you say.

I disabled Automatic Restart and the blue screen came up - Bad_Pool_Caller

Is that of any use...

STOP 0x000000c2

[Murray S.]

You will get that error if there is a bad driver installed. Very well could be if you are trying to use an HP cd (example) on your Acer.

Murray

[leachim]

Just tried a Genuine XP Home CD for a repair and got the same outcome - it would not progress to repairing

[Murray S.]

Do you know the manufacturer of the hdd? If so, go to their website, download and burn their diagnostics program to a cd. Boot using that cd and see if your hdd is kaput.

Murray

[leachim]

Originally Posted by Murray S.

Do you know the manufacturer of the hdd? If so, go to their website, download and burn their diagnostics program to a cd. Boot using that cd and see if your hdd is kaput.

Murray

OK, that is an option.

However, I used Acronis to clone the drive to another HD, and tried that - still didn't work

[leachim]

Downloaded WD diagnostics

No Errors Found.....

[Murray S.]

THESE are the steps you should be seeing and following.

Murray

[leachim]

Thankyou

It gets to step 2

and the second screen on that page - checking c drive

Yellow bar goes across - then a message in the middle of the screen - Windows must restart to complete setup - or words to that effect

Then loop.........

Memory also checked - no problem

Hope this helps

[leachim]

Could it be the video drivers ?

The video is onboard - I put another video card in and connected it to the screen, but of course it was throwing the signal to the onboard video

How do I get it to recognise a new video card if I can't get into safe mode either ??

[Murray S.]

Originally Posted by leachim

Could it be the video drivers ?

The video is onboard - I put another video card in and connected it to the screen, but of course it was throwing the signal to the onboard video

How do I get it to recognise a new video card if I can't get into safe mode either ??

You need to boot into BIOS (setup) and disable the on-board video. Did you do this prior to trying to re-install?

Murray

[leachim]

No, I have not tried another video card before.

The BIOS is Award BIOS 1984-2004

Only reference to Video is under Power Management - Video Off Method to "V/H SYNC & Blank"
and Video Off in Suspend is set to "Yes"