Guest Steve T Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 Gateway XP SP-2 started having boot problems. No new hardware and only new software was latest Windows Update in July. I was able to boot using "last known good configuration" but no more. And "Start Windows normally" does not work. Monitor just stays at black Windows XP and does not advance to "Starting Windows" blue screen. I went to Device Manager in Safe Mode and there are no yellow question marks. System Restore is turned off, don't know why; and cannot enable unless I start Windows normally; which I cannot. I have ERUNT software but going back 10 days and restoring that registry configuration does not help The PC does not have a 3.5" floppy drive and did not come with an XP CD The recover files are on drive D: I have removed and re-installed the RAM modules, the HD works as I can access the files in Safe Mode The last Windows Update in July, which I installed; does not appear in Control Panel. Last update is June 14, 2007. Maybe just coincidence. What are my options? Is there a way I can enable Windows System Restore in Safe Mode? I can choose System Restore ( though Gateway's Recover option) by clicking F11 but how much damage will this do? Will my documents stay intact if I go this way? Thank you, Steve T
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 Re: Can't get past safe mode "Steve T" <stumas@NOBINGOcharter.net> wrote in message news:OtiVLc1xHHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Gateway XP SP-2 started having boot problems. No new hardware and only new > software was latest Windows Update in July. I was able to boot using "last > known good configuration" but no more. And "Start Windows normally" does > not work. Monitor just stays at black Windows XP and does not advance to > "Starting Windows" blue screen. What about VGA mode? If that works, you'll have full access, just without your real video driver. > I went to Device Manager in Safe Mode and there are no yellow question > marks. > System Restore is turned off, don't know why; and cannot enable unless I > start Windows normally; which I cannot. > I have ERUNT software but going back 10 days and restoring that registry > configuration does not help Then I'm not sure why System Restore would help. > The PC does not have a 3.5" floppy drive and did not come with an XP CD > The recover files are on drive D: > I have removed and re-installed the RAM modules, the HD works as I can > access the files in Safe Mode Make a data backup, now, to another physical disk, and verify the data. > The last Windows Update in July, which I installed; does not appear in > Control Panel. Last update is June 14, 2007. Maybe just coincidence. > What are my options? > Is there a way I can enable Windows System Restore in Safe Mode? No, but you can use the technique here to do the same sort of thing. However, it requires a way to boot the system or gain full access to the drive, usually the recovery console, a Linux boot CD, or hosting the drive in another system. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 But if you were using ERUNT to do the same sort of thing, you may see no benefit. > I can choose System Restore ( though Gateway's Recover option) by clicking > F11 but how much damage will this do? That depends on the way the restore works. > Will my documents stay intact if I go this way? Maybe.. maybe not. You'll have to ask Gateway, and carefully examine the documentation. But in case they're wrong, I'd make a backup first, which can be easily and quickly done with another system, or by copying files to a temporarily attached drive via Safe Mode. Also, export your email settings. HTH -pk > Thank you, Steve T >
Guest Uncle Grumpy Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 Re: Can't get past safe mode "Steve T" <stumas@NOBINGOcharter.net> wrote: >Is there a way I can enable Windows System Restore in Safe Mode? You need to have it running... and it should be running even in Safe Mode. >I can choose System Restore ( though Gateway's Recover option) by clicking >F11 but how much damage will this do? Will my documents stay intact if I go >this way? It will restore your computer to the condition it was in when you first turned it on... i.e, all that you've done since that date will be erased.
Guest Panic Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 Re: Can't get past safe mode Restore only effects system files. He won't lose material he has produced. Here's part of Help... Restore. Notes a.. Restoring your computer does not affect or change your personal data files. It is a good idea to back up your data files periodically. For example, you might copy your data files to removable media, such as a writable compact disc, once a week. "Uncle Grumpy" <unclegrumpy@ameritech.net> wrote in message news:76sl939qcgeqf34rpnpb342lbqlhtmnr49@4ax.com... > "Steve T" <stumas@NOBINGOcharter.net> wrote: > >>Is there a way I can enable Windows System Restore in Safe Mode? > > You need to have it running... and it should be running even in Safe > Mode. > >>I can choose System Restore ( though Gateway's Recover option) by clicking >>F11 but how much damage will this do? Will my documents stay intact if I >>go >>this way? > > It will restore your computer to the condition it was in when you > first turned it on... i.e, all that you've done since that date will > be erased.
Guest Steve T Posted July 17, 2007 Posted July 17, 2007 Re: Can't get past safe mode All I could do was to use Gateway's Recover program. It re-installed the OS and programs that came with it. I lost all of my programs and documents and got the same PC I had 2 years ago. I did all of my backups to an external HD. Now I am having all of the fun of putting it back to the way I want it, again. Thanks for all of your input. Steve T. "Panic" <smartwit@home.com> wrote in message news:ObGnJZ8xHHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > Restore only effects system files. He won't lose material he has > produced. Here's part of Help... Restore. > > Notes > > a.. Restoring your computer does not affect or change your personal data > files. It is a good idea to back up your data files periodically. For > example, you might copy your data files to removable media, such as a > writable compact disc, once a week. > > "Uncle Grumpy" <unclegrumpy@ameritech.net> wrote in message > news:76sl939qcgeqf34rpnpb342lbqlhtmnr49@4ax.com... >> "Steve T" <stumas@NOBINGOcharter.net> wrote: >> >>>Is there a way I can enable Windows System Restore in Safe Mode? >> >> You need to have it running... and it should be running even in Safe >> Mode. >> >>>I can choose System Restore ( though Gateway's Recover option) by >>>clicking >>>F11 but how much damage will this do? Will my documents stay intact if I >>>go >>>this way? >> >> It will restore your computer to the condition it was in when you >> first turned it on... i.e, all that you've done since that date will >> be erased. > > >
Guest Uncle Grumpy Posted July 18, 2007 Posted July 18, 2007 Re: Can't get past safe mode "Steve T" <stumas@NOBINGOcharter.net> wrote: >All I could do was to use Gateway's Recover program. It re-installed the OS >and programs that came with it. I lost all of my programs and documents and >got the same PC I had 2 years ago. Just like I told you.
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