Have a Dell computer (Windows XP) that is driving me crazy. Upon startup computer goes straight to a black screen with "safe mode" on all four corners of the screen. Then the command prompt comes up in this directory....C:\Windows\User. Can't go to the OS at all. Have no OS disk. What are my options?
If you got the command prompt type the following without the parathensis (chkdsk c: /f) , this command will check the disk for errors and fix them. If you had an abnormal shutdown a chkdsk can fix that. The dells have a recovery partition that allows you to reset your computer to as new condition, but you lose all the data on your c: drive. You need to remove the valuable data before you reset it. Even if the computer doesn't boot all the data is recoverable, you lose nothing. Also it's possible to make your own xp OS cd, if you have an I386 folder in your computer. You need to make one. Many repairs to windows xp require that you have the windows xp installation cd or a bartpe cd, it gives you many more options. http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml
