ScottC Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Hi, I could do with some help to get my pc started so I can run a virus scan. I'm running xp sp3. When starting I get the windows screen and then it just goes blank with only the cursor on the screen. The same happens if I start in safe mode. If anyone can advise on how I can get it to boot up so I can run a scan I would be most greatfull Regards Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Sounds like windows is failing to start. Do you have a windows XP CD? If you do then you will need to run a repair. I am trying to remember off the top of my head but I believe when you stick the CD in and it runs it offers you a option to run a repair. This will then repair the corrupt boot files in order for windows to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 No I dont have one but I think I know someone who has Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 It may be on a partition of your hard drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 It may be on a partition of your hard drive. Sorry to have to ask this but if it was on a partition how would I go about checking/doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 It may be on a partition of your hard drive. Not sure if it's what Andy meant, but most modern PCs come with a backup image stored on a hidden partition. Right at the start of booting up, there's often a message giving the option to restore to factory settings. You could do this, but you'd lose all your emails, photos and documents so I wouldn't recommend it... yet. It's basically the "nuclear option". I would try repairing it using a bootable WinXP CD, exactly as Abz suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Not sure if it's what Andy meant, but most modern PCs come with a backup image stored on a hidden partition. Right at the start of booting up, there's often a message giving the option to restore to factory settings. You could do this, but you'd lose all your emails, photos and documents so I wouldn't recommend it... yet. It's basically the "nuclear option". I would try repairing it using a bootable WinXP CD, exactly as Abz suggested. Ok I'm getting it now lol. Thanks for your help so far guys I've tracked down a cd and will give the repair option a go tomorrow. Is there a chance with this option that all the data will still be there or should I prepare myself for the worst? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Ok I'm getting it now lol. Thanks for your help so far guys I've tracked down a cd and will give the repair option a go tomorrow. Is there a chance with this option that all the data will still be there or should I prepare myself for the worst? You should be OK. A repair run from the XP CD shouldn't wipe your data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 Ok I'm stuck now. I have the bootable disc which gets me to the option to repair. It then asks me which drive i want to boot followed by, 1 C:\Windows do I just type in 1? and if I do what do I do next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Select first drive 1 > ENTER Then Type chkdsk c: /r Then go make a coffee and watch the footie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkdtime Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Ok I'm stuck now. I have the bootable disc which gets me to the option to repair. It then asks me which drive i want to boot followed by, 1 C:\Windows do I just type in 1? and if I do what do I do next? You've gone into recovery console mode, reboot the PC, when you get to the Windows install option, dont select 'R', just hit enter to install Windows, at this stage it will scan all partitions for Windows, if detected it will give you the repair option. IF THE REPAIR OPTION IS NOT LISTED THEN DO NOT PROCEED WITH INSTALL AS ALL DATA WILL BE LOST Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 You've gone into recovery console mode, reboot the PC, when you get to the Windows install option, dont select 'R', just hit enter to install Windows, at this stage it will scan all partitions for Windows, if detected it will give you the repair option. IF THE REPAIR OPTION IS NOT LISTED THEN DO NOT PROCEED WITH INSTALL AS ALL DATA WILL BE LOST Good luck. OK done that and got a repair option. It now says 'please wait while setup initializes your windows xp configuration and at the bottom initializing configuration but seems to have frozen. Am I now officially fooked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Bumpski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meko Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 personally i'd reboot it, go out and get leathered and see what happens in the morning when you go to it. With the arrow being on a black screen it sounds as though it's having a problem loading a driver when going into Windows. If you leave it long enough it might come on so you can do a virus scan and a system restore tomorrow.. Then see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Ok I'm stuck now. I have the bootable disc which gets me to the option to repair. It then asks me which drive i want to boot followed by, 1 C:\Windows do I just type in 1? and if I do what do I do next? Select first drive 1 > ENTER Then Type chkdsk c: /r Then go make a coffee and watch the footie Bumpski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 27, 2009 Author Share Posted December 27, 2009 What will happen if I do this? Will I keep my data? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meko Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 you're doing a check disk with repair on C: So unless something goes strangely wrong you shouldn't lose any data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 cant you boot up in safe mode?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 What will happen if I do this? Will I keep my data? Do exactly what DamanC says. Check out his Signature. He's really quite good at this. As is Stevie and others. They will not advise you wrongly bud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgeer Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 I sorted a friends laptop which was doing something similar to this. Start it up, when it goes to the blank screen switch it off without shutting it down. When you restart it should go to a startup menu: boot normally, boot in safe mode, and startup with command prompt in safe mode etc. Choose the boot with command prompt in safe mode option. On the black screen with the "c:/" type: "cd windows" then type "explorer", Windows should then load and you can perform a system restore once into windows start menu. Choose a date before all the problems started. Worked for me anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 you're doing a check disk with repair on C: So unless something goes strangely wrong you shouldn't lose any data. Ok just checking:) cant you boot up in safe mode?????? No mate that does the same thing:( Do exactly what DamanC says. Check out his Signature. He's really quite good at this. As is Stevie and others. They will not advise you wrongly bud. I wouldn't doubt there knowledge and advice for one minute bud. I was just checking and was interested to know what it would do before I tried it. I really appreciate all the advise people have given me so far. I sorted a friends laptop which was doing something similar to this. Start it up, when it goes to the blank screen switch it off without shutting it down. When you restart it should go to a startup menu: boot normally, boot in safe mode, and startup with command prompt in safe mode etc. Choose the boot with command prompt in safe mode option. On the black screen with the "c:/" type: "cd windows" then type "explorer", Windows should then load and you can perform a system restore once into windows start menu. Choose a date before all the problems started. Worked for me anyway. Just tried that same old blank screen of death:( I’ve followed Daman C’s advice performed a check and some repairs were made. I then went back and tried wkdtime’s advice and this time it said it was successful. Unfortunately it still has the same symptoms. Before I get radical and reformat the disk is there anything else I can try? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meko Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 do you log into windows or does it go straight in without a password? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 do you log into windows or does it go straight in without a password? I just login by clicking one of two users Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meko Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 is it doing this before giving you the usernames or after? i'm thinking it's a bollocksed video card driver, as it usually is 80% of the time i've come across it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 Before logging in after the windows logo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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