Won't boot in safe mode or any mode.

[jumpsuit]

Aloha

I've got a bit of a strange problem. On rebooting my desktop the usual Sony and Pentium graphics came up and thats it - black screen and no startup.
Tried safe mode - same result nothing happens.

There's no hard drive activity after selecting xp pro in any mode LOL

Any ideas?

[jumpsuit]

ahhh there is a difference in the bottom line....

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP" /fastdetect

[Thalamus.]

Not sure if this of use but you can also add safe mode to your boot.ini file, see below.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Safe mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog /noguiboot

The /sos /bootlog /noguiboot switches are not required with any of the above settings, but they are useful to help with troubleshooting. These switches are included if you press F8 and choose one of the modes.

[jumpsuit]

Thanks for that Thal!

I'm currently waist deep in Dos LOL

[Thalamus.]

Ouch sounds painful....:smileyhappy:

[Blencogo]

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Safe mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog /noguiboot

That could be a very useful option Thalamus - that will throw up the boot options screen.

Jumpy, can you copy and paste Thalamus's boot.ini into yours and save it to a disc with the other two progs?

If it doesn't work then, it looks like Windows itself has a problem!

[jumpsuit]

Thanks guys, I'll try to do that as soon as I can.

I'm just using dos to copy the important stuff to my other drive in case it all goes belly up. If only someone invented turbo-dos LOL

[Blencogo]

You have the command prompt working?

[jumpsuit]

I'm using NTFS Dos professional from a disc combined with Acronis True Image just in case LOL

[kee-lo_]

How's it going Jumpy?

[jumpsuit]

Much better thanks. I'm resigned to a recovery though.
I've managed to move important stuff and took a backup 'snapshot' with Acronis.
The funny thing is in Dos, where my windows folder is showing 2 directories and no files at all. Something must have blown Windows off the machine LOL