Nope, none of my friends have Windows XP Pro. If I find it it would make it much easier, otherwise I have no idea what to do.

Doesn't have to be xp pro. It can be xp home. You just need to get the repair console running; we aren't going to reinstall windows, can't do that. As you are getting to the internet somehow, I would also recommend getting the Ultimate Bood Disk from here (Ultimate Boot CD - Download the UBCD) and following the instructions for an ISO burn, as that will allow you to get into DOS, and once there, you need to run chkdsk /r. That should allow you to boot into windows, and once there you need to defrag immediately, as that loop is usually (but not always due to a fragmented boot area on the disk.

but the kicker is getting to dos; this is why you don't need pro; home will work just fine, just hit 'r' to get to the repair console, the admin password should be left blank (unless you've added one), choose the windows install you want to fix (usually 1) and then chkdsk /r from there. Either one will work, just need to get to dos.

Thanks,

v

This is actually my old computer. The new one doesn't even turn on to the "Welcome screen".

So allI need to do is to get into the recovery console and type "chkdsk /r" and that should allow it to boot?

EDIT: I will try the UBCD and hopeflly it will work, I'll try it now.

Running chkdsk/r won't effect the system to much would it? I was reading somewhere that if the computer had viruses and you ran the FIXMBR command, it wouldn't start. There is no risk with chkdsk though is there?

Once I am able to boot Windows, what if there isn't 15% free space on the HD to run the defrag?

no, chkdsk /r will scan the hard drive's clusters and file system for errors, and either fix them or mark them as unfixable, and after that is done, you should be able to boot into windows. Were you able to find a win xp home disk?

If there isn't 15%, you will have to make 15% somehow. You can run ATF, that you can put on a thumb drive. You can d/l that from here.

url=http://www.atribune.org/ccount/click.php?id=1

That should clean up some space. But you are correct, you need 15% to defrag it.

No, I couldn't find the Win Disk. I decided to use UBCD. That will still work right?

Should. Follow the instructions on the page to burn an iso image to disk, then I would recommend trying one of the dos utilities, or if you know what type of hd you have, run the diagnostics for it. Either way, it should then allow you to boot into windows. Just be absolutely sure of which hd you have before you run the diags for it if you go my manufacturer.