When your reckoner hardware appears to power up okay, just the Windows XP operating system won't kicking properly, y'all have to brainstorm a troubleshooting trek that includes getting into the operating organisation, determining the trouble, and and so fixing it. To help you get started on this expedition, here are 10 things you can do when Windows XP won't boot.

This web log mail is available in PDF format as a TechRepublic Download. This entry was originally published as an article on January 26, 2006.

#1: Utilise a Windows startup disk

One of the commencement things you should reach for when troubleshooting a Windows XP kicking problem is a Windows startup disk. This floppy disk tin come in handy if the trouble is being caused when either the startup record for the active partition or the files that the operating organisation uses to commencement Windows have become corrupted.

To create a Windows startup deejay, insert a floppy disk into the drive of a similarly configured, working Windows XP system, launch My Calculator, correct-click the floppy disk icon, and select the Format command from the context menu. When you lot meet the Format dialog box, leave all the default settings as they are and click the Start push button. Once the format operation is complete, close the Format dialog box to return to My Calculator, double-click the drive C icon to access the root directory, and copy the following three files to the floppy disk:

  • Boot.ini
  • NTLDR
  • Ntdetect.com

Subsequently yous create the Windows startup disk, insert it into the floppy drive on the affected system and printing [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] to reboot the reckoner. When yous kicking from the Windows startup disk, the computer will bypass the agile segmentation and kick files on the hd and endeavour to start Windows XP normally.

#ii: Utilize Last Known Good Configuration

You tin can also try to boot the operating system with the Last Known Proficient Configuration feature. This feature will let you to undo whatever changes that caused issues in the CurrentControlSet registry key, which defines hardware and driver settings. The Last Known Skillful Configuration feature replaces the contents of the CurrentControlSet registry fundamental with a backup copy that was last used to successfully kickoff upwards the operating organization.

To use the Last Known Proficient Configuration feature, first restart the estimator by pressing [Ctrl][Alt][Delete]. When you meet the bulletin Please select the operating system to start or hear the single beep, press [F8] to display the Windows Avant-garde Options menu. Select the Last Known Good Configuration item from the menu and press [Enter].

Keep in mind that y'all get only i shot with the Last Known Skilful Configuration feature. In other words, if it fails to revive your Windows XP on the first attempt, the backup re-create is also corrupt.

#3: Use System Restore

Some other tool that might exist helpful when Windows XP won't boot is System Restore. Organisation Restore runs in the groundwork every bit a service and continually monitors organisation-disquisitional components for changes. When it detects an impending change, System Restore immediately makes backup copies, chosen restore points, of these critical components before the modify occurs. In addition, System Restore is configured past default to create restore points every 24 hours.

To use System Restore, first restart the figurer by pressing [Ctrl][Alt][Delete]. When you see the bulletin Please select the operating system to outset or hear the single beep, printing [F8] to display the Windows Avant-garde Options bill of fare. Now, select the Safe Mode detail from the menu and printing [Enter].

In one case Windows XP boots into Safe mode, click the Start button, admission the All Programs | Accessories | System Tools card, and select System Restore. Because you're running in Safety mode, the just option on the opening screen of the System Restore wizard is Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time, and it'southward selected by default, and then just click Adjacent. Then, follow forth with the wizard to select a restore betoken and begin the restoration procedure.

#4: Use Recovery Console

When a Windows XP kick trouble is severe, you'll demand to use a more than drastic approach. The Windows XP CD is bootable and will provide you with access to a tool called Recovery Console.

To boot from the Windows XP CD, insert it into the CD-ROM bulldoze on the problem organisation and press [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] to reboot the computer. Once the organization begins booting from the CD, simply follow the prompts that will allow the loading of the basic files needed to run Setup. When you see the Welcome To Setup screen, shown in Figure A, press R to kickoff the Recovery Panel.

Figure A

Recovery panel

You'll then see a Recovery Console menu, like the ane shown in Effigy B. It displays the folder containing the operating system'due south files and prompts yous to choose the operating organization yous want to log on to. Only press the menu number on the keyboard, and yous'll be prompted to enter the Administrator's password. You'll then find yourself at the main Recovery Panel prompt.

Effigy B

Cull your Bone

#five: Fix a corrupt Boot.ini

As the Windows XP operating organisation begins to load, the Ntldr program refers to the Kick.ini file to determine where the operating system files reside and which options to enable as the operating arrangement continues to load. And then if in that location's a problem rooted in the Boot.ini file, it tin render Windows XP incapable of booting correctly.

If you suspect that Windows XP won't boot considering Kick.ini has been corrupted, you can apply the special Recovery Console version of the Bootcfg tool to fix it. Of course, you must first kick the system with the Windows XP CD and access the Recovery Console as described in #4.

To use the Bootcfg tool, from the Recovery Console control prompt, type

Bootcfg /parameter

Where /parameter is one of these required parameters:

  • /Add–Scans the disk for all Windows installations and allows you to add whatsoever new ones to the Boot.ini file.
  • /Scan–Scans the disk for all Windows installations.
  • /List–Lists each entry in the Kick.ini file.
  • /Default–Sets the default operating arrangement as the main boot entry.
  • /Rebuild–Completely re-creates the Boot.ini file. The user must confirm each pace.
  • /Redirect–Allows the kick operation to be redirected to a specific port when using the Headless Administration feature. The Redirect parameter takes two parameters of its own, [Port Baudrate ] | [UseBiosSettings].
  • /Disableredirect–Disables the redirection.

#6: Prepare a corrupt division boot sector

The sectionalisation kicking sector is a small section of the hard disk sectionalization that contains data about the operating system'southward file system (NTFS or FAT32), also as a very small machine language programme that is crucial in assisting the operating system as it loads.

If you suspect that Windows XP won't kick because the partition boot sector has been corrupted, you can utilise a special Recovery Console tool called Fixboot to gear up information technology. Start past booting the system with the Windows XP CD and accessing the Recovery Console every bit described in #four.

To use the Fixboot tool, from the Recovery Panel command prompt, type

Fixboot [drive]:

Where [drive] is the letter of the alphabet of the bulldoze to which yous want to write a new division boot sector.

#seven: Fix a decadent principal kicking record

The principal boot record occupies the first sector on the hard disk and is responsible for initiating the Windows boot procedure. The chief boot record contains the segmentation table for the disk too equally a small program called the chief boot lawmaking, which is responsible for locating the active, or bootable, segmentation, in the partitioning tabular array. One time this occurs, the partition boot sector takes over and begins loading Windows. If the master kick record is decadent, the sectionalization boot sector can't do its job and Windows won't boot.

If you lot doubtable Windows XP won't boot because the master boot record has been corrupted, you can use the Recovery Panel tool Fixmbr to ready it. Start, kicking the system with the Windows XP CD and admission the Recovery Console as described in #iv.

To employ the Fixmbr tool, from the Recovery Console command prompt, blazon

Fixmbr [device_name]

Where [device_name] is the device pathname of the bulldoze to which you want to write a new master boot record. For example, the device pathname format for a standard bootable drive C configuration would look similar this:

DeviceHardDisk0

#8: Disable automated restart

When Windows XP encounters a fatal error, the default setting for treatment such an mistake is to automatically reboot the system. If the error occurs while Windows XP is booting, the operating organization will become stuck in a reboot cycle–rebooting over and over instead of starting upwards normally. In that case, you'll demand to disable the option for automatically restarting on organization failure.

When Windows XP begins to kicking up and you see the message Delight select the operating arrangement to starting time or hear the single beep, press [F8] to brandish the Windows Advanced Options Bill of fare. And then, select the Disable The Automatic Restart On System Failure item and printing [Enter]. Now, Windows XP will hang up when it encounters the error and with any luck, it will display a stop message you can use to diagnose the trouble.

#9: Restore from a backup

If you can't seem to repair a Windows XP organization that won't boot and you have a recent backup, you lot tin restore the system from the fill-in media. The method you use to restore the system will depend on what backup utility you used, and then y'all'll demand to follow the utility's instructions on how to perform a restore operation.

#10: Perform an in-place upgrade

If y'all can't repair a Windows XP arrangement that won't boot and you don't accept a recent backup, you can perform an in-place upgrade. Doing so reinstalls the operating system into the aforementioned binder, just as if you were upgrading from one version of Windows to another. An in-place upgrade will usually solve most, if not all, Windows kicking issues.

Performing a Windows XP in-place upgrade is pretty straightforward. To begin, insert the Windows XP CD into the drive, restart your system, and boot from the CD. In one case the initial preparation is complete, you'll run into the Windows XP Setup screen (shown earlier in Figure A). Printing [Enter] to launch the Windows XP Setup procedure. In a moment, yous'll run across the License Agreement folio and will need to press [F8] to acknowledge that you agree. Setup will then search the hard disk looking for a previous installation of Windows XP. When information technology finds the previous installation, you'll see a second Windows XP Setup screen, as shown in Effigy C.

Figure C

In-place upgrade

This screen volition prompt you to press R to repair the selected installation or to press [Esc] to install a fresh re-create of Windows XP. In this example, initiating a repair functioning is synonymous with performing an in-place upgrade, so you lot'll need to printing R. When you do so, Setup volition examine the disk drives in the system. It will and then begin performing the in-place upgrade.

Keep in mind that later on you perform an in-identify upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all updates to Windows.