Windows won't load

[overthehill]

Here's the system.

PC HP pavilion a300n
2.6 GHz Intel Celeron
256 DDR SDRAM
40 GB HD
Win XP

Sure would appreciate some help with this PC. It's my daughters and I'm really hoping ?.
Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking gives me a page of something like this; multi 0 disk 0 partition(2)\WINDOWS\System 32\Drivers\ etc.. Normal Startup and Start Using Last Good config. ,typically needs a reboot.
I'm able to get to the Recovery Console and I'm given these choices; 1) D:\ miniNT    2) D: I386   3) C:\WINDOWS. What I've tried is #3) C:|WINDOWS but then I'm asked for Administrator Password. My daughter gave me a possibility but to no avail. She provided me with two recovery disks which I haven't tried. She has told me that the CD/DVD drive doesn't work but I can't prove that either? The main concern that we have is to be able to recover (if possible) files from the hard drive. She has purchased a new PC but would really like to recover some of her files. Getting this PC to run for a back-up would be a real bonus.  Thank You, overthehill

[JJ 3000]

You could slave the drive in a working machine and get all of the files off of it.

[overthehill]

You could slave the drive in a working machine and get all of the files off of it.

Thanks JJ. So you don't think this one's gonna go? overthehill

[JJ 3000]

It can probably be fixed. The first thing I would do, if I was having touble getting into windows and saving data was the main concern, would be to get the data and then move onto the other problems.

You have another computer, right?

[Broni]

Then, you'll have to do something about that CD drive, so you can use recovery CDs.

[overthehill]

Thanks guys. So far I have not tried to use the recovery disks. I'm not really sure whether they work or not? Does that mean that I should try the 1) D:\ miniNT or   2) D: I386   option. And if so, which one would you suggest? overthehill

[patio]

Either one may or may not wipe all your data...
So See Here 1st...

[Broni]

If I were you, I'd see, if that recovery CD will boot (do nothing else).
If we know, CD drive works, we may have more options.

[Fed]

A while back I bought a hard drive to USB adaptor, cheap as chips & it even came with it's own power supply.
Hooked it all up and plugged it into my USB port without having to slave it.
I think it was about $25 well spent.

[Broni]

They're even cheaper now...

[overthehill]

If I were you, I'd see, if that recovery CD will boot (do nothing else).
If we know, CD drive works, we may have more options.

No Broni, can't get it work. I think tomorrow (when I'm a little more awake) I'll take JJ's advice and see if I can slave the drive and then go from there. That'll be a "new" experience for an "old" fellow . I'm sure hoping that the drive is OK? .Thanks guys, overthehill

[Broni]

Sure thing

[overthehill]

I was just reading that if the slave drive that I want to install has an O/S installed , that the PC may not boot at all. Are there steps that I should take because of this? The drive that I want to install (slave) has XP installed. The PC that I'm installing this drive on, also has XP on Master. They are both XP but quite sure that they are different versions.  Your thoughts please, overthehill

[BC_Programmer]

I was just reading that if the slave drive that I want to install has an O/S installed , that the PC may not boot at all.

Sounds like nonsense to me.

[Broni]

Agreed...