Tendo

Windows XP is among the most commonly used operating system even after the release of newer versions. A XP user can have to face several issues while OS startup, installing, re-installing, migrating, loading or working with the OS.

I am going to discuss the case when the Windows XP OS turns unbootable.

There can be various malefactors that can lead to an unbootable Windows XP. Some common factors among them are: corrupt start up record of active partition, OS startup file corruption, misconfigured hardware and driver settings , issues with the hardware and driver settings, any impending change to the system-critical components, corrupt/damaged Boot.ini file, corrupt partition boot sector or issues with the master boot record.
  
What to do when Windows XP won’t boot?

Solution 1:
Troubleshoot the issue by restoring the system from recent backup:

If you have back up your system using some backup utility then you can perform a restore by using the restore instructions of the tool.

Solution 2:
Troubleshoot the issue by using system restore:

To use the System Restore feature:

• Press [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] to restart the system.
• Select OS to start
• Or press F8 to go to Advanced Options.
• Select safe mode and hit Enter to run windows in safe mode
• Now, Go to Start>All Programs> Accessories> System Tools menu> System Restore.
• Select the option ‘Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time’. Next to continue further with restore process. 

Solution 3:
Troubleshoot the issue by booting the OS with the Last Known Good Configuration feature:

To boot the OS with Last Known Good Configuration:

• Press [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] to restart the system.
• Press F8 to open the Advanced Options.
• From the menu, choose the Last Known Good Configuration
• Hit Enter

Solution 4:
Troubleshoot the issue by booting from the Windows XP CD:

You can use the recovery console feature to fix the issue, to do so:

• Insert the XP CD. Reboot the system by pressing [Ctrl][Alt][Delete].
• Load all basic Setup files.
• At the ‘Welcome To Setup screen’ press R.
• This will start the Recovery Console.
• When you are prompted for, select the desired OS.
• To open recovery console select from desired option from the menu number
• Fill the login credentials. The recovery Console will prompt, continue with the recovery process.

Solution 5:
Troubleshoot the issue using a Windows startup disk:

To create a Windows startup disk:

• Insert a floppy drive into another XP computer (that has same configurations as your problem system)
• After inserting the disk, Go to: My Computer> right-click the floppy disk icon> Format command. This will open the format dialog box. Click Start.
• Once the format is done close all open windows. Go to C drive and copy the Boot.ini, NTLDR and Ntdetect.com file to the floppy drive
• Insert the floppy drive to the problem system. Reboot the system using [Ctrl+Alt+Delete] command. Boot the OS from Windows startup disk to start Windows normally

Solution 6:
Troubleshoot the issue by using Bootcfg tool:

Use Bootcfg tool to fix a corrupt Boot.ini:

• Boot the system using the Windows XP CD
• Open the Recovery Console.
• Open the Recovery Console command prompt
• Run the command: Bootcfg /parameter

Where /parameter can be one of the following:

Solution 7:
Troubleshoot the issue by using Fixboot Recovery Console tool

Fix a corrupt partition boot sector using Fixboot:

Here, [drive] is the drive letter where a new partition boot sector is to be written.

Solution 8:
Troubleshoot the issue by running the Fixmbr tool:

To run the Fixmbr tool:

Here, [device_name] is the drive device pathname where a new master boot record is to be written. For example: DeviceHardDisk0

Solution 9:
Troubleshoot the issue by disabling automatic restart

To do so:

Troubleshoot the issue by performing an in-place upgrade

To perform an in-place upgrade:

I hope this article will prove helpful for those who are facing the unbootable Windows XP problem.

Windows 8 is designed to run smoother and perform better even in the critical situations. However, as like other operating system problems, it may also run into problems and might prevent you to access your computer normally.

Luckily, Windows 8 is furnished with many advanced tools and automatic repair options to heal common issues which causes defective performance, booting failure, freezing etc. Manually looking for problems with your Windows 8 computer is time consuming and comprises lot of computer knowledge.

To make the troubleshooting process simpler, Windows 8 has introduced these tools to automatically find and repair problems and let you use your computer as before. Coming straight to the point, let’s discuss about those tools and how you can use it if facing similar situations:

#1 Use Automatic Repair option
Windows will automatically launch self recovery tool like Automatic Repair to address issues with your Windows 8 computer. It can repair unbootable computer, freezes, inaccessibility and thus, allows user to recover deleted hard disk partitions and data.

#2 Use System Restore
This is the second place you should look if automatic repair can’t find any problems. System restore works well if your PC run into unknown problems and can’t be repaired manually or by using third party tools. It’ll simply restore everything back to any previous date (known as restore point) when you know that the system was performing well. You can easily access this option from Windows 8 recovery environment.


Follow step 1 and step 2 as you did while accessing Automatic repair option to get to the ‘Choose an option’ screen. Now click on ‘Troubleshoot’ button and then ‘Advanced option’. Next screen will include ‘System Restore’ option, click on it to let windows prepare for restoring the system. You’ll reach to screen where you may require to enter administrator password. After entering the password, click on ‘Continue’ button and the system will begin ‘Restore’.


                                


Click on the ‘Next’ button and wizard will comes with list of restore points currently available. Choose any date which you think that the system was working well. Be careful to check for ‘Scan for affected programs’ which becomes visible only after choosing any date to restore your system. It’ll simply list all the programs or updates which will be removed when you choose to restore your system at that particular instant of time.

                          

If you’re satisfied with it and wants to continue, click on ‘Next’ to begin restoring your system to that particular date. Click on ‘Yes’ when the confirmation box appears to ask you about confirmation of this task.

After restoring process finished, it’ll display a confirmation box stating that the restoring process has been completed successfully.

Click on the ‘Restart’ button to restart your system and see if you may able to use your Windows 8 computer as before.

#3 Refresh or Reset your Windows 8 computer
Refresh or Reset option is introduced with Windows 8 computer to address almost any technical glitches and brings back PC to perfectly working state. These are the different Windows 8 healing method from the aforementioned and may involves pros hands to care of everything and make sure that you’re not running into any additional difficulties.

Refreshing Windows 8 computer will simply revive system from freezing, booting failure and similar difficulties without removing your apps (only apps that came with Windows 8 when shipped) and files. However, you’ll need to reinstall all your desktop apps customize your PC settings. So be careful while performing this step unlike the other two mentioned previously.

In simple terms, refresh will simply removes nearly all the minor or major problems with your operating system without making it as fresh it was before. From the ‘General PC settings page’, you can find the option to ‘Refresh your PC without affecting your system files.’ Click on the ‘Get Started’ icon located just below this option and windows 8 will begin refreshing your computer. 

Next screen will simply contains each and everything you need to know about what happens if you choose to refresh your PC. Once assured, click on ‘Next’ and Windows 8 will perform refresh. 

You’ll also need to insert Windows 8 installation or recovery media to complete this task as it’s not a standalone process. At that stage, if you don’t have any such media, consider borrowing it from your friends or make one by using different Windows 8 computer. Just few more steps after inserting the desired media and you’ll ready again to sign in with your Microsoft account and begin exploring your computer as before.

Note: List of removed apps will pop up as soon as the system restarts. Here you’ll get a detailed idea about which apps you may need to reinstall and later, perform one by one installation.

Unlike refresh, resetting your PC will simply remove everything from the system and make it as fresh as when shipped. You can adopt this idea too when thinking about disposing or selling out your Windows 8 computer as it’ll make you free from any trouble of your data from being stolen or misused.

Again, from the ‘General PC settings’ screen you can find option to ‘Remove everything and reinstall Windows’. Click on ‘Get started’ button and then ‘Next’ on the blue ribbon pop up message stating further details about this process. On the next screen, you’ll get two option just remove my files (quick method) and fully clean the drive (usually takes longer time than the first one). Choose any one based on your requirement and within moments, Window will restart and asks you to follow steps exactly as you did on the first time.

Surely, this isn’t a good idea when you wants your apps and data to be intact. However, if no other ways has been left or none of them working in fixing problems with your Windows 8 computer, adopt any of these two options and it’ll do the trick for sure.

Have you faced similar Windows 8 booting failure issues in the past and was able to recover from it using different method or tools, we would love to hear!!