my computer will not boot at all -- help!

[theRealMacoy]

Help!

My computer will not boot up at all.

It shows the Dell screen initially and then a screen shows up saying that windows did not load properly and i can choose one of 4 options (start normally, safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with config? screen, and finally the option saying choose the previous configuration that worked).

When i choose any of the safe modes it fills the screen with a list function lines and directories but does not get any further.

When i choose any other option (e.g., last configuration that worked or load windows normally) the windows loading screen with comes up and then it goes to black screen and nothing else happens.

I am running windows XP home edition.
I have one 30g hard drive, it had only 4-5 gigs free space the last time it worked.

I was playing poker the last time it worked and it seemed to be working normally. I had earlier downloaded and installed a program called e-mule (which may have been the problem) earlier in that computing session.

I have no idea what i should do from here?

I would love to be able to diagnose the problem myself as i am pretty strapped for cash (e.g. do i need a new hard drive? did i get a virus? do i need to reformat my hard-drive?)

Any help you folks could offer would be cool....how can i get back into my computer?

I don't have a rescue disk created that i can find at the moment.

Cheers and thanks,
Sean

[SheetWise]

Do you have your install disks for XP?

[theRealMacoy]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you have your install disks for XP?

[/ QUOTE ]

sure do...it is a dell system so i have the re-install discs.

....do i get it to boot from the cd?
if so, how?

When your pc boot repeatedly hit F2, this should boot into BIOS and then you can alter the boot order to boot the CDROM before the HDD.

[agar316]

Before reinstalling there's other options to try. First try disconnecting all external peripherals except the keyboard and the monitor. Anything connected could be causing the system to lock up. If at this point it does boot up then connect each peripheral one at a time rebooting each time to test. You also mentioned that when you enter Safe Mode it throws the list of files and directories across the screen but gets no further. This is important. The last file that it lists is generally where the system is locking up. Look to what that file is referring to and that may be a hint as to what is causing the problem.

[theRealMacoy]

[ QUOTE ]
Before reinstalling there's other options to try. First try disconnecting all external peripherals except the keyboard and the monitor. Anything connected could be causing the system to lock up. If at this point it does boot up then connect each peripheral one at a time rebooting each time to test. You also mentioned that when you enter Safe Mode it throws the list of files and directories across the screen but gets no further. This is important. The last file that it lists is generally where the system is locking up. Look to what that file is referring to and that may be a hint as to what is causing the problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

agar316,

i would really really like to save my data!
thank you for your advice.

perhaps you can help interpret the meaning of the last entry? ...when i get home i will try and access it...

thanks,
sean

ps...damn, i have been stressed all day...it is really stressful when your computer goes down!

[theRealMacoy]

[ QUOTE ]
You also mentioned that when you enter Safe Mode it throws the list of files and directories across the screen but gets no further. This is important. The last file that it lists is generally where the system is locking up. Look to what that file is referring to and that may be a hint as to what is causing the problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay here is the last couple of files on the list that come up on my screen when i try to start in safe mode...these are the last 4 on the list:



multi(0)disc(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System 32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys
multi(0)disc(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System 32\Drivers\NDIS.sys
multi(0)disc(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System 32\Drivers\Mup.sys
multi(0)disc(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System 32\DRIVERS\agp440.sys

any ideas on what to do now, would be duly appreciated.

thanks,
sean

[theRealMacoy]

[ QUOTE ]
When your pc boot repeatedly hit F2, this should boot into BIOS and then you can alter the boot order to boot the CDROM before the HDD.

[/ QUOTE ]

i will give it a try.
thanks for the suggestion...i will likely report back for further ideas.

much appreciated,
sean