XP Home Edition not working

[docmeizie]

Well here is the debacle that I have jumped head long into. Troubleshooting an XP Home System that wouldn't start, I came across the fact that XP needed to be reloaded. Well while I was running through the list of things to try and get it back running, I also came across the fact that someone had sys copied off an ME Startup to the XP System, and to make things even worse, they people who own the system didn't get an XP Home Edition CD from the retailer. I know that the best thing to get everything working again is to reinstall XP, but I was really wondering is there a way to get the ME information out of the OS startup files. Thanks for any insight and advice.

If I take a peek in your Windows, to fix a problem, does that make me a "Peeping Tom"? Hmmmmmmmmmmv

 

[bcastner]

It depends on whether you can get into Recovery Console or not. You might have to use the downloadable floppy install images to access Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...efault.aspx?scid=kb;en-gb;307654&ln=en-gb

In Recovery Console try just these two commands to begin with:

bootcfg /Rebuild
fixboot c:


If you cannot cleanly boot, go back to Recovery Console and try one more command:

fixmbr

 

[linney]

What are the files that you think belong to ME. The Start Up boot Disk that you create in XP (under the Format Floppy option) will say when loaded they are from a ME Start Up disk. I wonder if this is what you are seeing?

Check with the Computer Manufacturer and see what your Recovery options are. Some OEM's never had any CD's but just some type of Recovery Partition.

You may have some access if you can load the XP Recovery Console onto the machine.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

You may have to download files from Microsoft to put onto Floppies to achieve this.

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm

310994 - Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q310994

Maybe this might work.

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp