Hey there,

I have a Toshiba laptop running XP pro. Yesterday, Microsoft automaticically updated the PC and then attempted to restart. Now the laptop won't restart. It loads up the black screen with 'Safe Mode', 'Safe mode with networking' last know configuration' start normally'. Whichever these options I press it then attempts to load windows (logo and blue bar) then after around 30 seconds, restarts again. I can't get into the command prompt option either.

I can also get into advanced options.

I can't boot windows up and don't have the original XP pro disk.

Any suggestions? Is there anything I can download on my other PC that I can install to get it working.

Is there anyway to get to a system restore point where I can go back to previous settings.

Thanks for any help you can offer

Cheers

Ed

Since you don't have an XP CD, download and create a bootable CD from the .iso file

XP Recovery Console

You don't burn the iso file itself to CD., you create a CD from the iso file using your CD burning software. I use Roxio but Nero or Ahead InCD will also work. There is a good freeware burner called DeepBurner which will do this. Another called ISO Recorder is also very easy to use.

Boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.
Next, choose which XP installation you want to login to. Normally this will be 1.
Lastly you will be asked for the Administrator password. Just press the Enter key as the Administrator does not have a password (unless you gave it one, then you would enter it).

From the command prompt, enter: chkdsk c: /r

It can take an hour or more depending on the size of the hard drive.

Allow it to complete undisturbed.

When you boot up in safe mode what is the last file that it lists before the reboot?