Is my computer dead?

[CycoCyclone]

9 times out of 10 when you have a problem after you suddenly shut off the computer it's because you caused the HD to have a bad write to a file. IE it was writing to a file and you shut it off right in the middle of it, causing a corrupt file. In this case, a registry file. All that needs to be done is run a checkdisk and it should fix the file however, you need an operating system disk to do that. Borrow one from a friend. doesn't matter what version as long as it's xp
boot to the disk
press r to go to recovery console
type chkdsk /r
profit.

This!


chkdsk will fix it.

 

[flipper]

And then get a Mac.

 

[cytech]

You don't want to run chkdsk on a xp home machine with a xp pro disk. It can mess it up, though since it already is it may not matter to much. You are better off trying a xp home disk

 

[Darko]

And then get a Mac.

If you pull the plug on a mac, the same thing would happen if it was writing to a system file. jesus.

Also chkdsk is the same across all versions of XP afaik. Could be wrong but i'm in the business and i've fixed probably 50 comps w/ a different version xp disk and never had an issue.

Edit: and fixed vista w/ xp chkdsk and vice versa as well.

 

[Cyclonepride]

You don't want to run chkdsk on a xp home machine with a xp pro disk. It can mess it up, though since it already is it may not matter to much. You are better off trying a xp home disk

I'm not getting to the options screen that was mentioned earlier- it starts to go into setup, then stops and says cannot finish. I'm wondering if this is due to the XP pro instead of home? I'm going to try to find an XP home disk and try again. Thanks everyone

 

[Darko]

I'm not getting to the options screen that was mentioned earlier- it starts to go into setup, then stops and says cannot finish. I'm wondering if this is due to the XP pro instead of home? I'm going to try to find an XP home disk and try again. Thanks everyone

Sounds like it's not booting to the CD correctly. It should get to the options screen no matter what version of XP is on your HD because it's booting from the CD only. What is the error message you are getting?

 

[CyFever]

Sounds like it's not booting to the CD correctly. It should get to the options screen no matter what version of XP is on your HD because it's booting from the CD only. What is the error message you are getting?

This was my thought, it's not booting from the CD. Enter the BIOS and make sure that booting from a CD is allowed, and that the CD is set higher in the boot order than the HD.

 

[cytech]

I'm not getting to the options screen that was mentioned earlier- it starts to go into setup, then stops and says cannot finish. I'm wondering if this is due to the XP pro instead of home? I'm going to try to find an XP home disk and try again. Thanks everyone

Generally when setup can't load you are having a memory problem which you indicated earlier. Regardless of what version of windows you have installed it should boot to the disk.