windows won't start after upgrade...

[Woodlouse2002]

What is says on the tin really. As several of you may have noticed I've been rebuilding (well, just building now) my computer. Every component bar the HDD and optical drives are all different. Anyway, windows now won't start.

Can anyone help?

[KDSM]

You changed everything but the HD?
Did you load the MB drivers onto the HD before changeing the MB?

[Woodlouse2002]

Uuuh. No. The guide that came with the motherboard has installing the drivers after changing it. According to the manual it should just boot up to allow you to do the installing.

[KDSM]

ok.just asked because that happened to me a few times.

does it go through the post then just hang when windows is supposed to load?

Do you get any type of error message?

[Woodlouse2002]

Well it starts up as would be expected intill you get the windows did not start successfully page with the options to start in safe mode etc. Then if you select start windows normally you get the windows loading bar thingy for a fraction of a second followed by a bluescreen for another fraction of a second then it just starts all over again. Trying to start it in safe mode produces the same result.

[KDSM]

Short of reformating HD try this:You may need to go into BIOS and make sure your cd drive is enabled as a boot device.

Reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD
To reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
2. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For more information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, see your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.
3. You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen that appears:
This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
Press ENTER to set up Windows XP.
4. On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
5. Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
6. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to reinstall Windows XP. After you repair Windows XP, you may have to reactivate your copy of Windows XP.

[KDSM]

This is NOT a reformat it will just reinstall windows with the correct drivers and your computer should start normally the only directory that is modified is the C:/WINDOWS directory (but your restore points will be reset)
all your program files should still be there

This problem usually happens when your new MB chipset is different from your old MB chipset

[Woodlouse2002]

I'll give it a go. Finding the XP discs could be tricky though. Not sure I've ever seen them.

If you have any simpler suggestions let me know.

[KDSM]

I suspect your new MB has a differnt chipset from your old MB and this is the simplest way I know of.If you dont have the XP CD then it will be quite difficult indeed.

[Woodlouse2002]

Ok. Repairing windows xp for starters. If that fails then i'm reinstalling.

[Woodlouse2002]

Which installation do I need to repair? Or do I just go the whole hog with the reinstall?

[KDSM]

Which installation do I need to repair? Or do I just go the whole hog with the reinstall?

Usually its the C: or the number 1

[Woodlouse2002]

Right. I got that far. But afterwards i'm presented with

C:\WINDOWS>

What do I want to type in there? Typing help gives me all the avaliable options. But I don't know which to go for.

BOOTCFG?

[KDSM]

Sounds like you pressed "R" and are now in the Recovery Console.

Reboot from CD and when it says

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer

Just Press Enter

after the eula comes up press F8 to agree
then it will ask you which installation highlight the C:

then press R to repair

then it should load abunch of files

[Woodlouse2002]

Ok. Cool. I'll give it a go.