Windows XP computer prevents booting from anything but HDD.

[Dragonfawn]

I have a Morph Computer System, i.e. it is a morphing of a Compac, Dell, Packard-Bell, and assorted after-market goodies: speed:1.5 GHz; RAM: 1.5 GB; HDDs: 560 GB total storage; OS: XP SP2; drives: 2  CD-RW/DVD+RW and  2  3.5 144MB floppies. My problem came when I tried to save a photoshop graphic. The system shut down then went into restart. Just when it should have kicked in, the error msg: Windows can't start because of a missing or corrupted ntoskrnl.exe file.Re-install file. I've chk'd the FAQ and the solutions for fixing this involve rebooting from a program CD. the issue is that just as the msg comes up "Press any key to boot from CD", the keyboard suddenly goes dead. I soft boot and at restart the keyboard is alive and well; however, when I reach the "Press any key" step, the board mysteriously dies.

[pragma]

Is it a USB keyboard?

[patio]

Everyone should own a PS2 keyboard and mouse...even if they live in the closet most of the year.

[Dragonfawn]

Yes, the keyboard is a USB and I have a couple of PS2s in storage.

[pragma]

Hook up one of those PS2 keyboards and see if that doesn't solve your problem.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Or pop into the BIOS and enable legacy USB support.

[Dragonfawn]

Thanks guys.  The PS2 allowed me to get into the system far enough to get my XP disks reloaded.  Otherthan losing the contents of My Documents, which had all important items backed-up on dvd, I am none the worst for wear.  Appreciate the help.




 

[patio]

Glad to hear you are fixed up...
Welcome Aboard...and stop by anytime.