Before we start, always check there are no USB devices/drives attached, or any discs in the cd/dvd drive.
If there are, remove them and try to boot....
Still no windows?......Read on
Depending whether you have a recovery disc, or a full version of windows, you still may be able to repair your installation.
If you have a recovery disc, and you can use it, you will restore your computer to factory fresh state, you will loose all your files/programs. (If you wish to do this you may want to save your files, to do this follow the "LIVE" linux install option (bottom of page)
If you have a windows disc (the same copy as you have installed on your computer), try this....BASED ON WINDOWS XP, JUST GOOGLE WINDOWS REAPAIR INSTALLATION + VISTA OR WINDOWS 7 FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON THOSE OS'S
- Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.
- When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below
This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
Windows XP to run on your computer:
To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
- Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.
do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".
- Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
- Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair. If Repair is not one of the options, END setup. If repair is available.....
- Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact
IF the repair option is not available, and you continue to load windows, you will loose everything.
LIVE LINUX INSTALL (google "live linux distro")
IF you want to save files/documents before a recovery or clean windows install, you can download various " LIVE" Linux distrabutions.
You Burn these to a cd as a bootable ISO file ( imgburn is a free burning program that will enable you to make bootable ISO discs).
Some linux distrabutions have built in recovery tools/virus scanners.
Once you have recovered your important files, you can either carry on with the windows recovery, clean install.... OR...you may find that you like LInux, if so you can fully install the linux OS and if its not what you want, Install Windows back in.
After installation dont forget .......
1.Download and install your security programs (Anti-virus/Anti-malware)
2. download drivers from your manufacturers support page
3. turn automatic updates on
NOTE............When you are up and running, and want to transfer any saved files you may have recovered..SCAN THEM with your Anti-virus BEFORE you put them onto your nice clean PC.
All of this information is available freely on the internet, just google your relavent question.
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