Windows XP stuck in an endless boot loop?

[Draeger]

A friend is having a bit of bother with his PC.

He went to switch it on yesterday and it booted to the screen where it tells you that Windows was not shut down properly etc. Gives options of boot using last known good config, safe mode, boot normally etc.

I had this before with another persons PC and solved the problem of taking the rather drastic measure of reformatting and reinstalling XP.

However, what problem is this indicative of ( I'm thinking it could be one of a multitude of things ), and can anyone recommend any steps to try first to fix it before I use a sledgehammer to crack a nutshell and reformat it?.

Read a few articles of using the recovery console to attempt a fix, however, my mate has no Windows CD as the PC was bought "off the shelf" from a small independent system builder, so the only Windows CD I could use to copy over the files required for the Recovery Console would be my own XP Pro SP2. Would this work if it got to that stage, especially as I'm 99% sure his version of XP is Home?.

Thanks for any advice. 8)

 

[Draeger]

Thanks, kinda thought as much.

So, would a repair install require the same thing, i.e. XP Home to be the CD used and his own serial number entered during the install process?.

Or is it looking like I might need to wipe the lot and start from scratch?.

I've fixed this guys PC a few times before, it seems like his kids have no patience when it comes to shutting the computer down so I would not be surprised if they have just switched the power off to it as its been shutting down, like you say.

He's also one of those guys that doesn't keep discs handy. Last time I repaired it for him, I took a while to source all the drivers for his system and burned them to disc for him. Asked him last night if he still had the disc and he replied "What disc?. I dunno?. Might have been chucked out, not sure?".

@JonRohan.....He doesnt have an XP disc, thats part of the problem. As I said, it was a PC bought from a small local system builder/shop and they dont supply discs with their systems unfortunately.

 

[Draeger]

Thanks for the links m8, I'm going through them all just now and having a read.

Still wondering about the two different types of Windows, Home and Pro. Would think if I attempt a repair install on it with my Pro CD, its going to throw a fit at some point.