Hi there
I wonder if any of you could help.
My windows isn't starting up (even in safe mode), and i can't access the C drive from DOS using a startup disk because the floppy drive is the only one that is recognised.
The problem started when I used a different screen and changed the resolution. I got an error message once that said it had to do with a file in the system32 folder.

By the way the windows version I'm using is xp service pack 2. I still have a windows installation cd but it isn't bootable.
Any help would be really appreciated.

Hello syncmister,

Welcome to PCHF.

What exactly is happening when you try to start you PC, does it reboot at a certain point, and if so, at what point (what is the last thing you see)? Are they any error messages?

You can boot to the CD, as long as the disc is a full XP installation CD and not an upgrade or copied CD. Also, make sure that the boot priority of the CD is above your HDD in BIOS (normally F1, F2 or [DEL]).

Hello MadMonkey. Thanks a lot for your reply.
No, my computer doesn't reboot. Following your advice, I changed the boot priority in my BIOS and it has since become possible for my windows copy cd to boot. but when I try to repair my windows, it asks for a rescue disk. One thing I'm thinking about doing would be to re-install my windows using the command "WINNT32/ unattend". But the problem is that i don't have any boot cd containing DOS. I'm downloading right now Ultimate Boot CD which should contain DOS. Do you think it could work? also,do you know of any free to download cd containing DOS or any that could be more suitable to my case? Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thank you in advance.
Note: I have a floppy, a cd and a dvd drive (that may be useful to you).

Hi Sync,

This is a handy place for boot disks: Bootdisk.Com - Free Windows Bootdisks, Free DOS boot disk

Altough, is that definately an original XP setup disk you have there (not a copy)? When you press -R- for recovery, it will take you into a recovery console, which is similar to DOS. We can use the recovery console to help resolve you issue, if you could also describe in detail what happens when you start in Normal and Safe Mode.

If it's a complete reinstallation your looking at doing, you should also be able to do this using the XP Setup CD. I'm a little confused why you need to access DOS and perform an unattended install?