Member Avatar for CarolWood

I have read through all of your postings and have tried all the suggestions. I still am unable to boot up in normal mode.
This all started when I had trouble with a hp scanjet 3400C scanner. I lost all use of it and contacted HP for advise. I was told to chg start up to safe mode to correct problems. All that did was create MORE problems.
I tried to repair Windows and all it did was reinstall (in safe mode). I have even tried to format "c" but it won't let me because of the safe mode.
I do have a slave drive that has more than enough room to install Windows. Can that drive to changed to be the master via BIOS? Format "c" ,go back into BIOS and make that the Main drive and reinstall Windows ?
I am about at my wits end over this whole mess. Have been working on it for almost a week.

  • 3 Contributors
  • 11 Replies
  • 137 Views
  • 3 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by DarkRubicant

Dani AI

Generated

This thread shows a common XP problem: a machine forced into Safe Mode during driver troubleshooting and then refusing to return to normal. described that scenario; and covered reinstall and boot‑media options. The material below fills gaps those posts did not: non‑destructive recovery steps, Recovery Console commands for repair, and practical notes about moving or using the secondary drive for reinstall/data recovery.

Common, non‑destructive fixes not yet mentioned include using the System Configuration and System Restore utilities while still booted into Safe Mode with Command Prompt. From a running Safe Mode session the following help recover normal boot and system files without immediate reformat:

rstrui.exe
sfc /scannow

Running rstrui.exe launches System Restore; sfc /scannow repairs protected system files (XP will request the CD if replacements are needed). If msconfig was used earlier to force Safe Mode, selecting "Normal startup" in System Configuration (msconfig) and rebooting returns the normal boot sequence.

If Windows will not boot normally or Safe Mode is persistent, the Recovery Console on the XP CD offers safe repair commands (runs before Windows loads). Typical sequence:

chkdsk c: /r
fixboot
fixmbr

Those commands check and repair the filesystem, rewrite the partition boot sector and repair the MBR — often enough to clear boot corruption that forces limited boot behavior.

Regarding the OP question about using the slave drive: on older IDE/PATA systems the master/slave role is set by drive jumpers or cable position, not purely by BIOS. The practical alternatives are (a) change the drive jumper or move the drive to the primary connector, (b) attach the drive to another computer or a USB‑to‑IDE/SATA adapter/enclosure to copy data off before reinstall, or (c) remove the secondary drive during reinstall to avoid accidental formatting. These options preserve data and simplify a clean reinstall when needed.

Recommended Answers

All 11 Replies

Member Avatar for caperjack

I tried to repair Windows and all it did was reinstall (in safe mode). I have even tried to format "c" but it won't let me because of the safe mode.
.

that makes no sense ,did you boot to you winxp cd and format the drive and then reinstall winxp.
Also when computers boot to safe mode you have to choose safe mode ,there should be other choices ,like ,last know good configuration.,how do you know you are in safe mode .,dose it say safe mode in the four corners

Member Avatar for CarolWood

The system won't allow me to format "C" in safe mode. How can I force a format ?

Member Avatar for caperjack

The system won't allow me to format "C" in safe mode. How can I force a format ?

you cant format a hdd when windows is running ,no matter what mode its in .you need to format a drive before windows boot,using the winxp cd.when you format a harddrive you lose everything on that drive.
are u sure you are in safe mode ,not just running winxp with out video drivers

Member Avatar for CarolWood

I'm really sure as nothing will work. When I try to format C even at the dos prompt it tells me I can;'t because programs are running. I exited all I can see,I'm not sure what or where to find what needs to be closed prior to format.

Member Avatar for caperjack

I'm really sure as nothing will work. When I try to format C even at the dos prompt it tells me I can;'t because programs are running. I exited all I can see,I'm not sure what or where to find what needs to be closed prior to format.

Ok. im only going to say it once more ,so listen good ,YOU CAN"T Format you hardrive with window running ,PERIOD.
you need to use the winxp CD-R to format the harddrive before windows loads..you need to take you computer to a computer repair shop!!!

Member Avatar for DarkRubicant

I thought I would add my 2 cents to this post.

It sounds like you're trying to boot into safe mode and then trying to format the computer, this will not work. What you need to do is go into the bios that the computer has, and then select from the boot options order, cd rom and then hard drive, with this order selected the computer will recognize the cd that you have inserted into the cd rom, I'm going to assume you have the windows xp cdrom in the drive. When it detects the cd rom it's going to ask you to load from cd or not, please press a key to load from the cd. It will then go into a separate screen, there are screenshots of what to expect elsewhere on this forum. From this separate screen you need to follow the options to reformat the computer. If you need the data that is on the harddrive I suggest you ask someone you know who is more computer literate for help. Or take the computer into a repair shop and ask them to recover the data for you.

Hope this helps you a little bit.

Regards,
DarkRubicant

Member Avatar for CarolWood

Thanks for the info but I was able to fumble my way through and now all is right with the world AGAIN

Member Avatar for CarolWood

Thanks for your input but it stinks ! All I needed was to be guided in the RIGHT direction and it wasn't to take my computer to a repair shop. I figured it out and fixed it myself !

Member Avatar for caperjack

Thanks for your input but it stinks ! All I needed was to be guided in the RIGHT direction and it wasn't to take my computer to a repair shop. I figured it out and fixed it myself !

so why don't you share with us what you did all by yourself

Member Avatar for caperjack

Thanks for your input but it stinks ! All I needed was to be guided in the RIGHT direction and it wasn't to take my computer to a repair shop. I figured it out and fixed it myself !

so why don't you share with us what you did all by yourself,and don't forget you were the one trying to format the computer in safe mode not us !

Member Avatar for DarkRubicant

Oh also if you've resolved the problem could you please mark this as solved. Thank you. Sorry my advice didn't suit you better. Remember we're trying to help you. We don't have to.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.