PC keeps restarting itself

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 10:41

My pc was installing one update after i shut it down yesterday and it was taking absolutely ages so i figured it had crashed and turned it off by the switch on the back. I started my pc up today and it takes me to a screen where my options are:
start windows in safe mode
start windows in safe mode with networking
start windows in safe mode with command promt
start windows using last known working settings
start windows normally

All of these options just restart my computer and brings me back to that screen. Am I ******?

iTek · 15 Jul 2010 at 10:42

hmm...

Usually the old safe mode would allow you to modify the start-up but since you can't get into that it would appear something wrong with the boot sector?

What O.S are you using?

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 10:50

iTek said:
hmm...

Usually the old safe mode would allow you to modify the start-up but since you can't get into that it would appear something wrong with the boot sector?

What O.S are you using?

Windows XP

iTek · 15 Jul 2010 at 10:52

Can you get into the recovery console? and try to repair.

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 10:56

iTek said:
Can you get into the recovery console? and try to repair.

i am not very pc literate, this is just a bog standard computer i bought a few years ago and was on its last legs. I am not to bothered about fixing it but there is stuff like pictures i want to get off of there. Is this possible?

Speed · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:02

Do you have the XP install/recovery CD? You should be able to do a repair install without losing any data.

iTek · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:05

Depends what type of computer it is.

You may need a windows xp disc or it may be O.E.M and be on the hard drive.

Your data will be safe, its fairly easy to attach it to a working computer and remove what you need from it.

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:12

Speed said:
Do you have the XP install/recovery CD? You should be able to do a repair install without losing any data.

it came with windows pre installed so i dont have a disk

iTek · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:18

When the computer starts is there an option to press F8 for advanced or something similar?

You may not need a disc of the operating system if its pre-installed on the hard drive.

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:22

iTek said:
When the computer starts is there an option to press F8 for advanced or something similar?

You may not need a disc of the operating system is pre-installed on the hard drive.

no there is no option to do that, i'll get a picture of the screen that comes up, give me a minute

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:29

iTek · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:33

image wants re-sizing.

Before it gets to that screen it makes no mention of recovery console no?

have a read of this it may help, but your going to need to find a windows xp disc.

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 11:50

iTek said:
image wants re-sizing.

Before it gets to that screen it makes no mention of recovery console no?

have a read of this it may help, but your going to need to find a windows xp disc.

nope

ellingham · 15 Jul 2010 at 12:06

Could i download a windows xp disk, burn it to a cd then use it to repair mine?