PLEASE HELP~ Computer crash...ahh!

[helpohhelp!]

Hi!

Ok, so Wednesday morn I boot up my 3 year old HP Windows XP desktop that I have never had a problem with. Well just before the log in menu is suppose to come up, THE BSOD came!! (Black Screen Of Death), only this black screen had a blinking horizontal (underscore) at the top left.

Oh dear, let me add that  I run my home computer/entire office out of this little thing.

So, I cold boot, retry, again...nothing.


So, I turn back on, and the blue HP screen comes up, at the bottome f10 for setup, etc etc. So, I push f10 - and start the setup. Me, not being that computer savvy, and not knowing what else to do, start the process of wiping out my entire computer. My smart daughter comes over, and together we realize that my computer, files, all of my programs I use for work will be wiped out!:eek: EKK...not good. Thinking on impluse we turn off the computer (cold boot). Now what? We turned back on the computer and it began to start up, this time the BSOD did not come up (yay) BUT a black screen with a windows message did. Reading something like `You have not fully completed/installed the setup. Please finish`. Our only option is to puch OK , begins to restart and then it will come to that message, push OK, begins to restart and then comes to that message. Next quick thinking solution, SAFE MODE..where is it? It isn;t there, maybe because we have half finished the set up? :confused:

Next idea...what about the 3 year warranty I purchised through Staples, stil in affect? YES! Call Staples, bring the computer in. They tell me I can fix it and to pick it up in two days.

Come in today, guess what? I get told that my only option is to wipe out the entire computer, I will loose all my work, except they can back it up for me for an extra $$, oh ya, and this isn;t covered under warrenty! What? You mean that the only time I have to use my warrenty and it isn;t covered? The guy I talked to on Wednesday said it was covered and they nwould fix it,,, ugh :mad:

So - because of the miscommuncation, they give me back my broken computer and give me my $100 warrenty back. So I am stuck with a broken computer and $100 bucks...I would prefer no money and a fixed computer... sigh.

So, obviously I can back up my computer, but how? I dont mind wiping out my computer if I back everything up...but is this more complicated than I can do? Any suggestions, please, thanks sooo much for taking the time to read my ammusing yet very frustrating situation!

[Aegis]

OK -- Hang in there.  Welcome to the forum!

My answer will not be complete, since I will not make recommendations of which I am not completely sure -- especially when data is on the line!  There are many experienced people here who may better guide you.

If you are unsure of instructions, don't hesitate to ask clarification.

Do you have a Recovery Disk or a copy of the Windows operating system which should've been provided when you purchased the computer?

[Dusty]

Also do you have access to another pc running XP on which you can hang your hard drive to attempt non-destructive file recovery?   Either slaved (ide drives) or with external usb connection?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

It looks like you started to wipe the drive but turned if off before it could complete it. If you're lucky, some of your files may still be intact.

Also, warranty's usually only cover hardware problems not software problems, which looks to be the case here.

I suggest you try booting off the Windows CD like Aegis suggested and perform a Repair Install. If that doesn't work, I would go with Dusy and use it has a slave on another computer to retrieve the data.

[programming_pat]

I suggest you try booting off the Windows CD like Aegis suggested and perform a Repair Install. If that doesn't work, I would go with Dusy and use it has a slave on another computer to retrieve the data.

after you slave the drive and backup any neccesary files, it would prob be best to do a clean install to make sure that your windows is installed properly

[Spoiler]

For a little more information about a repair install


http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

[helpohhelp!]

I unfortunalty don't have the Windows CD, my computer came with it alreaady installed and wasn;t given a copy. 

I do have a laptop - would that work??

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Is it possible you can borrow someone else's disc?

I just remembered something! Portable Linux.
If you have a spare USB Flash Drive laying around and you can copy all the data to another machine, you can temporarily install a Portable Linux so you can boot off the USB Drive and copy your files to the drive if you are urgent to retrieve those files.

I use this one here;
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2006/09/20/all-in-one-usb-slaxzip/

[helpohhelp!]

UPDATE:

Ok, so from a great resource, I found that pushing f8 brought me to safe mode! Yay

But there are three options:

Safe mode
Safe mode with Networking
Safe mode with command prompt

Which one, and once I do that what will happen?

Thanks for all your help guys - I really appreciate it.

[Aegis]

Choose the first "Safe Mode"

"Safe mode with Networking" is if you want to connect to the Internet or other computers.

"Safe mode with command prompt" is for the fanboys who love to type in commands at the prompt to make their computers do stuff.   

"Safe Mode" will boot your computer with minimum resources.  Keyboard, mouse, CD-Roms/optical drives, and minimum video resolution, so if the video looks strange, don't worry.

Please see if your computer will boot to the first "Safe Mode" and we'll go from there.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I thought he said he started to wipe the drive....how can he still be able to get into safe mode 

[Aegis]

It's kind of a dice roll at this point. 

I'm hoping the cancellation of removing files -- even if done by turning off the system -- left the system pretty much intact.