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10 things you can do when Windows XP won't boot

blogs.techrepublic.com.com — When your computer hardware appears to power up okay, but the Windows XP operating system won't boot properly, you have to begin a troubleshooting expedition that includes getting into the operating system, determining the problem, and then fixing it. To help you get started on this expedition, here are 10...

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  • hamburgers, on 05/20/2008, -108/+19311. Switch to linux
    • Stettenbauer, on 05/20/2008, -8/+33I knew I was too late to say that.
    • Thorpe, on 05/20/2008, -4/+6Even got the display picture to back your statement up.
    • jussipupu, on 05/20/2008, -14/+4that is exactly, to the letter, with number and all, what I was going to say. i think you're a goddamn genius!
    • willemmulder, on 05/20/2008, -8/+6When I saw the title of the article, before I even clicked to this thread, I knew it was OR at nr 1 position in the article itself, OR at nr 1 position in this thread...

      As it seems, it is not in the article... No digg :)
    • raydeen, on 05/20/2008, -8/+18Short of switching to Linux, always have a Knoppix or DSL live CD at the ready.
    • newms32, on 05/20/2008, -24/+6*****. Linux having fewer problems than a Windows XP install? How detached from reality are you?
      • foosed, on 05/20/2008, -3/+14I would say he has a better grip on reality than you...when was the last time you did a fresh windows install? how many drivers did you have to install before it was really usable? I recently reinstalled both ubuntu and XP on my laptop, and I can say that the ubuntu install was up and running in half the time it took for XP, with fewer complications.
        • Sk8SkaNJ, on 05/20/2008, -4/+5I installed Vista without having to install a single driver.
        • rayraym0fucka, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6I'm with foosed. I put ubuntu and XP on my laptop and didn't install a thing outside of a few tools. Everything hardware-wise worked first time around.
        • werries, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1foosed is correct. linux usually works right away. ubuntu installed without problems.
          and if it doesnt, theres usually an easy fix.
          if not, find a different distribution. (ie fedora/mandriva/pclinuxos/opensuse/debian/all other distros so i dont get yelled at for forgetting someones favorite)
      • Adelie, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3Problems with things in Linux that Windows CAN'T do doesn't count. Stop talking like you took the Red pill you idiot.
    • raynar, on 05/20/2008, -1/+8#12. Try obvious fixes from worthless article.
    • ventralnet, on 05/20/2008, -8/+6what do you do when linux doesn't install though.
    • orangefly, on 05/20/2008, -2/+7that's why i have ubuntu.....on a stick....
      • buu700, on 08/26/2008, -0/+3I have Ubuntu... on my stick...
      • ventralnet, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2ubuntu probably has the least compatible installer than any other linux distro
    • nikkesen, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3#12 - annex your partner or roomie's computer and let them fix yours
    • esc27, on 05/20/2008, -8/+6Except, Linux can suffer the same exact problems these steps are meant to solve.
    • stinger666, on 05/20/2008, -9/+4Digg me down all you want you fanboys, but I think every time I installed a linux distro some time or another it refused to boot for no apparent reason. At least with XP I know it must be because of some virus.
      • buu700, on 08/26/2008, -2/+4"Digg me down all you want you fanboys, but I think every time I installed a linux distro some time or another it refused to boot for no apparent reason."

        ORLY? Did you Google for an answer at all? Especially with open source software, there's ALWAYS an apparent reason, even if you don't know it right away. For example, with my laptop, an HP Pavilion dv6119us, I was never able to boot into Ubuntu Edgy or Feisty (a dark screen with a bunch of lines that slowly transitioned to purple and then white showed up). At first, with Edgy, I didn't do any searching, as my friend assured me it was a driver problem, as my laptop was relatively new. Neither of us knew much about Linux back then, but after my laptop again failed to work with Feisty, a quick Google showed me that a BIOS problem with the dv6000 series required me to use the 'noapic noirqdebug' boot parameters (F6 at the boot menu of the liveCD) to get around it. Afterwards, my laptop worked perfectly. However, Ubuntu Hardy automatically goes around the BIOS problem, so I don't need to apply the boot parameters at installation time.

        Wow.. than was far less sarcastic than I originally intended. Well, if that helps you out if you ever want to try Linux again, at least I didn't waste my time here : ).


        "At least with XP I know it must be because of some virus."

        No you don't. Sure, it MAY have been a virus/trojan/worm/spyware, but unless you have been abusing your computer it's far more likely that it's because of some problem with the operating system or a driver bug.
        • stinger666, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2It always worked on the first boot, but then a few weeks later it randomly stopped working. It's also very hard to google something when your only computer refuses to boot. It was with old distros though, mandrake from 2002 and fedora near it's initial release. With ubuntu it only refused to boot when I changed the monitor to a widescreen monitor. I figured how to change the resolution but it still wont work. I get a 4:3 ratio on my widescreen. Sure it "works" but it's still a pain in the butt. I think I never had a bsod or a crash in xp for the last 2 years.
    • senatorpjt, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3Although you probably meant permanently, the best way to fix a windows install is often by using a livecd, it's a lot more versatile than the command line you can get from the windows install CD.
    • my10cent, on 05/21/2008, -2/+3Yeah Switch to Linux and see none of your hardware ever working *lol*
    • esc27, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3*sigh* You expect Linux users to be somewhat intelligent and not just fan boys...
      Speaking from real world, viable, true experience, I've had about as many problems with corrupted boot sectors (one of the problems the steps in the article are designed to fix) on Linux as on Windows. In fact it was covered in a Redhat training course I took.

      Windows: boot the install CD, when prompted load the recovery console, select your windows install, run fixmbr and/or fixboot
      Linux: boot the rescue CD(or install CD), when prompted enter the rescue mode, chroot, run grub-install

      Almost the same exact steps with slight OS related differences. There are plenty of good reasons to switch to Linux, but the sort of problems described in the article can and do occur with both OSes.
  • dolphus, on 05/20/2008, -14/+43Number 1! Go out for a beer and a burger!
  • agisten, on 05/20/2008, -36/+7
    Oh Noes! I can haz Mac!
    Macs always boot
    • geekchic, on 05/20/2008, -7/+32Gimme a sledgehammer and I'll give you a Mac which wont boot.
      • agisten, on 05/20/2008, -2/+6unfortunately digg comment system stripped my [sarcasm] tag, without which some people can't get it apparently
      • DeskFlyer, on 05/20/2008, -1/+3*that
    • AmaDaden, on 05/20/2008, -1/+3Just give it some time. The cause of this is random parts of the hard drive failing. It'll happen to a Mac as well as a Windows box and a Linux box. Windows just has the additional chance of it happening because something broke thanks to malware. Also spinrite(see www.grc.com) has good history of fixing issues like this for any kind of system.
    • lancerall, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Being a mac user, I'm not even sure that deserves a reply.
      Way to look like a tard.
      • agisten, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1See my 2nd comment - looks like you one of many who missed the sarcasm part.
  • kraft123, on 05/20/2008, -7/+19Useful article for newbee! chkdsk /r command is useful too! Save your registry often!
    • GiggleStick, on 05/20/2008, -0/+5Obviously you're a noob, or you'd know it's spelled newbie.
  • DarkShroud, on 05/20/2008, -22/+4This article somehow missed the IE7 Pro add-on that has half these functions built in. And if memory serves IE has had the add-on ability since 4.0, possibly 3.0, either way that's still before Firefox or Firebird where around.
    • Jeffler, on 05/20/2008, -0/+7Did you even read the damn article? The internet as a whole has nothing to do with this.
      • DarkShroud, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4It's times like this I wish I drank to use as an excuse for stupidity when posting in the wrong topic.
  • Sanduu, on 05/20/2008, -12/+7In my case, Windows does boot, but it takes about 15 minutes. What to do ? Never shut down, never restart, try to keep the uptime as long as possible.
    • bjornski, on 05/20/2008, -1/+8What in the world is causing your speed problems? Old hardware? A billion other things loaded you haven't cleaned out?
    • willemmulder, on 05/20/2008, -10/+18wait, you said Windows and uptime in the same sentence?
      • bjornski, on 05/20/2008, -2/+22My machine is on constantly. Unless I'm installing drivers or something, I don't have to reboot at all. It doesn't crash. I go weeks and weeks without a reboot.

        So no, Linux users don't have a monopoly on stability.
        • subgeniusd, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4First never use IE. With Reg Mechanic and Diskeeper on my only XP system I can run for months at a time (like 15 months) with no stability issues of any kind and the only restarts are from MS updates. I usually just log off and go into standby and XP starts right up in 10 seconds.

          But still my Linux systems are (usually) just as stable without all that extra fuss.
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/20/2008, -6/+2It IS possible to have a stable XP system. Rare, perhaps, but possible. Mine is usually on for weeks at a time without a reboot.

        It's like any other operating system... it's what you make of it. Keep it free of malware crap and observe decent security measures and it works as well as any other OS.
      • Cimlite, on 05/20/2008, -2/+7I'd say the tide has changed, regardless of what OS you have "stability" is never an issue. Why people bring that up as somekind of holy grail of OSes is beyond me.

        Linux, OSx, XP, Vista... all stable.
        • Adelie, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5You're right, no one gives a crap if you get get pwn'd in 1337 raidz because your computer froze. Noone cares if your computer freezes because you were watching too much porn and a memory leak from Windows media player meant you had to reboot every few hours. It DOES matter in what is refered to as "Mission Critical" systems. And people who use systems like that don't read Digg, and they don't use windows.

          Want to know what isn't really funny? When they can't land your plane because Windows running the ATC Center went BSOD.

          http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?news ...

          Quantus Airlines (if you ever heard of them, it is among 2 reasons) uses Linux and AIX.

          How about this? If you had to make a choice, would you opt for the Pacemaker running an Linux or Windows CE?

          That "open source doesn't matter cause I am not a programmer" argument gets weak really quick, and sometimes people prefer equipment that works... all the time.
        • buu700, on 08/26/2008, -0/+2"Want to know what isn't really funny? When they can't land your plane because Windows running the ATC Center went BSOD."

          Yeah, that is pretty funny. It means my fellow passengers and I can file a class action suit against the airlines for being stupid enough to use Windows in a mission critical system like that, and likely get a decent amount of monies, all the while laughing at the hilarious situation.
    • netdroid9, on 05/20/2008, -6/+1Novel disagrees: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/netware/img/ba ... (source: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/feature/103.ht ...
    • NJank, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4my corporate laptop takes forever to boot, but I found out that was because it keep waiting for network connections that didn't exist before bringing up the login screen. Since it's an off-network laptop, I had IT disable some of the wait policies, and it cut boot time in half.
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3It may also have some form of disk encryption on it. That can also add quite a bit of time to a reboot.
    • doshindude, on 05/20/2008, -6/+1reformat/stop downloading porn?
      • bjornski, on 05/20/2008, -1/+5No. Lots of porn doesn't affect the boot-up speeds.

        Trust me.

        It sounds like it's either searching for network connections that aren't there (and not disabled), or there's just too much ***** being loaded on startup (toolbars, scanners, screensavers, dingbats, whizbangs, bleepies, flashies and iTunes)

        Yeah, reformat isn't a bad idea. I like to do it about once a year anyway.
        • mrBitch, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I agree. A work colleague has had his Vista laptop for almost 10 months and it's now time for him to reformat his laptop drive.
          Reason? Every 2nd or so boot now comes up with winLogin error messages saying he needs to restore from his Vista recovery CD.
    • TheSpook, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Reload?
    • tiuk, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4I had a similar case once, it was caused by a hard drive that was dying.
      • Troy64, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3I just went through that problem last week. New hard drive no more problem.
    • porkdanish, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3Your hard drive is probably dying. Back it up if haven't already and replace it.
  • edelay, on 05/20/2008, -18/+7Ah yes queue the linux/Apple fanboys.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 05/20/2008, -3/+1Yeah, all they need is a story like this to justify and entire OS change.
    • buu700, on 08/26/2008, -0/+2Why would we line up Linux and Apple fanboys?
      • mrBitch, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1I think he meant "cue" not "queue"...
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  • BlitzBaby, on 05/20/2008, -31/+6Install vista ?
  • the3stars, on 05/20/2008, -11/+5I thought this was going to be a funny article about breaking your computer or something.... oh well
  • Wolfspirittt, on 05/20/2008, -20/+8Install Linux and be happy.
    • Adelie, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3And that little Tux is so damn cute!!!
  • ChickenNugNug, on 05/20/2008, -0/+621. Make sure your computer is plugged in.
    • bjornski, on 05/20/2008, -0/+11"Is it turned on...."
    • crownedgriffin, on 05/20/2008, -0/+27Hello, I.T. Have you tried turning it off and on again?
      • priegog, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6Whatever happened to that show? It was right up there with the office for me.
      • mGARANDEUR1, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4How true that is...Most problems can be fixed by rebooting
    • str1fe, on 05/20/2008, -0/+42. Make sure your monitor is plugged in.
      • bjornski, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1The monitor is plugged in, but my foot-switch isn't doing anything.
  • fatas, on 05/20/2008, -7/+79Send a Hungarian to egg Balmer
  • mikephimikephi, on 05/20/2008, -2/+70What is this 'floppy disk' you speak of?
    It sounds like some alien technology from the future that allows magnetic storage devices to flex.
    • wlfldy, on 05/20/2008, -0/+10I was thinking the mention of a floppy disk was outdated too. I don't think my PC even has a drive for it anymore.
      • enterneo, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1ironically, the floppy disk tip was the only one i didn't know, so had to digg!
    • crownedgriffin, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3My crappy old box I use as a file server still has one. Can I share it on the network and boot from it? No? OK, then.
    • Myztry, on 05/20/2008, -2/+7If you want to make a recovery backup of your Windows Server 2003R2. Forget it. Amateur Soft REQUIRES that you have a floppy drive installed.
      Our server has have a Terra-byte of raid drives, and a 300Gig external USB/SATA backup drive. It's not a Win3.1 DOS box you MORONS!
      Microsoft should write it's own software. Then it might be in a position to update the shoddy old 'acquired' software it deems for such an important task.
  • RockNRollBeaver, on 05/20/2008, -20/+12Is this really front page worthy?? come on people.
    • cr4wl3r, on 05/20/2008, -3/+17More than the mac crap that is on the frontpage every 5 seconds.
    • pnmoore, on 05/20/2008, -1/+4Apparantly so, people Dugg it to put it there...
    • Troy64, on 05/20/2008, -0/+5I'm happy with any article that is not about Obama. Even if it is common since stuff I already know.
  • CalvinMonk, on 05/20/2008, -12/+4Disable Automatic Restart, Write down the BSD Error Code,
    - Put in your Ubunut LiveCD, notice that it automatically installed your drivers,
    - Hit the same firefox button you would in windows, and look up the code.
    - Decide to install Linux, Be Happy (As wolfspirittt says) Because you can still play your precious WoW, but not AoC

    When I have to deal with this in a work situation, I look up the code and/or boot from xp CD run chkdsk /r - wait a couple hours and hope its fixed
    • Myztry, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Linux is what powers the ASUS motherboard computers now. They should add Sun's Virtual Box, and allow people to deal with Windows from a reliable functional environment.
      Backing up/restoring WindowsXX.vdi to/from a USB drive is much easier than trying to deal with the OS when it ***** it's nappy.
    • abhiroop, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1your firefox step doesn't work if you don't have a wired connection!
  • hadak, on 05/20/2008, -19/+1011. Install a real operating system.
  • wettestwillie, on 05/20/2008, -0/+48Savor the moment guys, it will be another month before another useful technology story hits the front page.
    • Troy64, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2Refreshing yes, useful not so much.

      I pretty much already new all of the solution mentioned in the article.
  • jaymulder, on 05/20/2008, -16/+712. Easily play video games...o wait.

    I respect that you like something else, but don't be a total dick about it.
  • tcpip4lyfe, on 05/20/2008, -32/+23Use vista.
    • StealthTomato, on 05/20/2008, -8/+15That....that's a joke, right?

      You'd go to a slower-booting, less efficient, network-retarded version of the same OS? If you really want Windows that bad, reinstall the same version.
      • wigren, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4lol @ network-retarded
      • SSUK, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5You still a little sore that your 4 year old PC can't run Vista?

        Those complaining about Vista's preformance hogging nature wont give a ***** in a years time as computers exceed Vista's basic system requirements. I still recall XP SP1 running like ***** on a 128mb RAM 1.3Ghz desktop, I now run XP SP3 on a 1.24gb RAM, 1.8Ghz laptop. It's the most damn awesome user experience I've ever had with Windows. I'm sure when computers have 10GB of RAM (Which sounds huge for now, but just remember 1024mb RAM is 8 times the size of 128mb RAM) we'll all be dreading Windows 7 and it's 'memory hogging nature' and wanting to cling to Vista. It's just swings and roundabouts, always will be.
        • StealthTomato, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3Naw, I'm just annoyed that Microsoft would take my 4GB of RAM for granted. Or my overclocked Core2Duo E4500. Especially since XP doesn't take these for granted, nor does Linux. And Linux delivers better results.
    • pershingdriver, on 05/20/2008, -4/+7you did not complete that sentence it should read.

      Use Vista CD as a Skeet Target.
    • Jalh, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2facepalm.gif
  • DangerCollie, on 05/20/2008, -12/+14Windows not booting is hardly a disaster. Why would you want to fix something doing you a favor? On a serious note I use Knoppix to boot a DoA Windows box and back up their data files before attempting the system restore or reinstall. 90% of the time I'll scan the backup drive and find a virus, usually more than one. That's why I like reinstall better than restore. Delete those partitions and reformat. Take it all the way down to bare wood and start over. It's the only way to be sure.
    • plizard, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3i'm pretty sure my hard drives don't have wood in them
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/20/2008, -3/+1Stop fixating on his wood.
      • jjustin01, on 05/20/2008, -2/+3If you're posting on Digg, then you have porn on your hard drive. This results in having some form of wood in your hard drive.
  • hadak, on 05/20/2008, -3/+10All things considered, this is a very good article. These are exactly the steps I would take to repair Windows as a technician.
  • tomc4tuk, on 05/20/2008, -6/+2Perfect - the number one thing to do when XP won't boot requires 1) that XP is already running and 2) a floppy drive. So you're fine, as long as you don't mind not having access to the things you actually need! This is like saying if you lock your keys in your car, simply pop to a locksmith and have him make you a copy and all will be well.
  • techneo, on 05/20/2008, -3/+12i think they missed out #11 . Try rebooting ..
  • danjal, on 05/20/2008, -5/+70Yah, i like linux too but comon.. saying install linux is just so lame its not funny anymore.
    • beingdevious, on 05/20/2008, -13/+4buy a mac?
      • QueensGangsta, on 05/20/2008, -1/+3Die slow you monster
        • beingdevious, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4what? everyone else was jumping on S.S. NewOSBoat....
    • nixr, on 05/20/2008, -3/+9Long time linux user myself. Windows is a reality that most of us have to deal with for one reason or another. While I am sure some think the "switch to linux" response is cute and witty, let me reassure all of you that it is in fact, not. It's not funny. It's not imaginative. It's not helpful. It's not beneficial to anyone other than the douchebag who utters it.
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2Not even funny to them, either, really... they're probably just pissed at their Windows box, too.
    • jumico, on 05/20/2008, -5/+1It's not supposed to be funny.
    • kronflux, on 05/20/2008, -6/+1it's not lame or meant to be funny, it's a valid option, which I think everyone should do anyway. just because it's not quite as user friendly, people don't even try it. the options with linux are endless, it quite certainly is the operating system of the future.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 05/20/2008, -5/+6Especially since getting a computer running on Linux is so much more tedious than getting it to run Windows.
  • Aidanjalali, on 05/20/2008, -1/+6The same applies for a lot of this list for Vista, although I've never had any problems with it myself...that weren't my fault.
  • ravexx, on 05/20/2008, -8/+4FDISK
  • patch6, on 05/20/2008, -2/+4You can load a system restore point from the recovery menu with this guide: http://searchwincomputing.techtarget.com/tip/0,289 ...

    Much quicker than reinstalling.
  • MikeonTV, on 05/20/2008, -4/+21Play outside?
  • JordanAustin, on 05/20/2008, -16/+3I'm not trying to be an ass, but if an outdated OS doesn't boot, upgrade to the current OS with the rest of the world.
    • digitalpencil, on 05/20/2008, -6/+5I'm not trying to be an ass, but Vista sucks balls & it'll be a cold day in hell before I join 'the rest of the world'
    • RavagesOfTime, on 05/20/2008, -2/+3At least you were trying not to be an ass, which you really can't say for just about everybody else on this thread.
    • StealthTomato, on 05/20/2008, -2/+3....Unless it's a downgrade, not an upgrade. (See also: Vista)
    • MadN, on 05/20/2008, -3/+5"I'm not trying to be an ass, but if an outdated OS doesn't boot, upgrade to the current OS with the rest of the world."

      That was already said in the first line:
      "11. Switch to Linux"
    • RonBurgundy76, on 05/20/2008, -1/+3If you have to preface something with "I'm not trying to be an ass"... then chances are, you're probably about to be an ass.
    • Adelie, on 05/20/2008, -2/+4I agree. Want a Microsoft gaming platform? Get an Xbox 360. Leave the big scary computer thing to the penguins. :)
  • Abomonog, on 05/20/2008, -4/+15Windows with SP2 installed cannot be repaired from the XP install disk and the install and repair programs will tell you so.
  • kevdotbadger, on 05/20/2008, -7/+14I grab a copy of ubuntu, boot from disk, force mount my drive, make back ups of my files, then reinstall XP.
    • Troy64, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3I love to force mount my drive.
    • Paranoidmarvin, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2Ah, so many times I've had to do that for friends....
  • donkeySays, on 05/20/2008, -4/+3Do disco dance with friends.
  • quasimot0, on 05/20/2008, -19/+8Switch to Mac
  • Ryan0617, on 05/20/2008, -1/+14One problem would be that you may not have a windows disk, as like most people who purchased a computer from a company, it will have an OEM windows installed, you may or may not get a windows disk supplied with it.
    • BOFH2, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3Hopefully you have friends.
    • gquaglia, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2Maybe not a windows disk, but they probably gave you a disk image of the OEM set up, which will do the same thing. Just have to remove the crapware after the restore.
  • brandonelliott, on 05/20/2008, -3/+15Id much rather these types of articles, in which digg was created for, rather than hearing about the political primary or who Hillary Clinton is beating or how Obama has big ears and is beating Hillary. FYI see "DIGG THE CANDIDATES"
  • MrViklund, on 05/20/2008, -6/+3Like installing Windows Vista.
  • boombume, on 05/20/2008, -12/+2#11: DO IT LIVE, ***** IT! ***** THING SUCKS!
  • GoEKniGhtofNi, on 05/20/2008, -15/+4call apple and order a mac
    • BOFH2, on 05/20/2008, -3/+4Why buy an overpriced pc to fix an operating system issue? Most of the time windows boot problems will give you a clue about what is wrong instead of a frowny face.
  • Torx, on 05/20/2008, -1/+28Step 1: Reformat, reinstall. Chances are the rest of the OS is destroyed because aunt Silvia just discovered AOL last week.
    • mrBitch, on 05/21/2008, -1/+1FFS, how does a modern OS justify the fact that Aunt Silvia can completely trash the OS via a web browser?
  • punkcat, on 05/20/2008, -6/+1check out the comment system on the site, worst evah.

  • reparsed, on 05/20/2008, -2/+16Hiren's BootCD or UBCD
  • Wakkyweed, on 05/20/2008, -4/+2For some reason, I expected this to be a much funnier article than it turned out to be...
  • IvesMozart, on 05/20/2008, -5/+2Really pointless article
  • Sixotoo, on 05/20/2008, -1/+6Actually the first thing to do before you REALLY screw things up is check your bios setting and make sure that you boot settings are correct. I have had several computers just "Forget" which drive to boot from. Its a 60 second fix and may save you a lot of data.
    • Rocco03, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1Yeah, Windows can stop booting if you change the ACPI configuration.
  • NinjaPirateDude, on 05/20/2008, -13/+9being 14 and tinkering with windows and messing it up, i can honestly day that when your pc wont boot and you try and you try to fix it and eventually it works, it is one of the greatest feelings in the world, keep in mind i AM only 14.
    • SugarRay, on 05/20/2008, -4/+3Great, go back to Myspace.
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/20/2008, -0/+5Because, god forbid a 14-year old can learn something the hard way, and then be excited about his success.

        Stop being a douche. You're just pissed that you aren't as smart as him.
    • pershingdriver, on 05/20/2008, -2/+4Keep at it Grasshopper.
    • PersonX2, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5Sounds like me 12 years ago, now I'm a happy systems administrator. Stay curious kid, this kind of thinking can serve you well.
    • Troy64, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3You are off to a good start. Most computer problems are fairly simple to fix as long as you are not afraid to try.
  • gcs8, on 05/20/2008, -5/+0do it the geek squad way...... wipe and reload and make up some bs a bought an install glitch and feel liked you earned your pay check.
    • Sidzilla, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6It's obvious you never dealt with Geek Squad. It's copy porn, wipe drive, reinstall os, charge extra to reinstall drivers. Duh.
  • n8dude, on 05/20/2008, -12/+3#11: Install linux.
  • D1ggy, on 05/20/2008, -5/+199. Where is the get an apple comment?
  • Newbyneon, on 05/20/2008, -11/+2#11. Buy a Mac
  • bigsteve, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3I also would have included a step for running DFT (drive fitness test.) It's a fairly accurate boot CD that tests if a hard drive has failed or not.

    http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Util ...

    Fits on a CD or floppy. Good little tool to keep around, for those who don't know about it.
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