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ok I will try to explain this the best way I can so that it kinda sorts out what I already know. I got a computer from a friend, I have no clue what all is on this computer. She said one day she restarted the computer and it never booted up again. It has xp on it, wether or not it's home or pro I am not sure, she said home edition xp. Ok When you turn the computer on it does a memory test and all that good stuff and it goes to a screen that reads your computer shutdown unexpectedly etc please choose from the following. Safe Mode ( doesn't work ) Safe mode with Command Prompt ( doesn't work) Last know good Configuration (doesn't work) Normal ( doesn't work) on all safe modes it loads a few things then gets to mup.sys and sticks , won't go any farther. Then you have to turn it off and on again and it goes back to the same screen. In normal selection you get the little progress bar at the bottom of the screen it gets half way across the screen then ZOOOOMs to the end and then black screen, Nothing.
Ok now on my working computer, the one I am typing to you on now trying to fix the broken one it has a cd burner but NO FLOPPY I can't make floppies AT ALL. I don't have a copy of XP except one that came with a dell computer that reads re-installation disk. that is the only copy of xp I own . Any ideas or should I just forget it???? Thank you so much for your time and help.

Tried
Checking all connections
Checking inside to make sure all was seated correctly
checked bios settings
changed bios to fail safe defaults still same thing happened
tried hitting f10 nothing different just the selections screen of safe mode etc.
Screaming and kicking
typing til my fingers are soar hoping and praying someone has a solution for me that doesn't include having a copy of windows xp or having a floppy.

Hi jhousman - welcome to the PC Help Forum.

It sounds like windows just needs a reinstall to me...easiest way to do it anyway.

If you want to get the files off the computer first for your friend, plug it into your computer and then copy them accross.

To reinstall windows on her computer - you will need to get the copy of XP that she had, otherwise you won't be able to use your Dell one.

ok when I put the dell cd in the computer that I am on now, which in turn this cd did not come with my computer. ok it asks me do I want to install windows xp. So this won't do the same thing on the other pc at bootup???

I'm recommending that you not use the Dell CD...that CD is designed specifically for your computer, and will only work with Dell CD keys which are only (legally) allowed to be used on Dell machines.

oh so it would be illegal to use that copy. Ok well I will go buy me a new copy. When I get the new copy will it auto boot up when I turn on the copmputer?

The other advantage to a retail copy-- is once you own it, you can use it on any PC (one at a time, of course) so if your current PC quits you can legally swap it over to a new one... it's not tied to a particular company/configuration.