Windows XP wont boot

I just changed cases, but I dont think that has to do with anything because i can boot in Ubuntu fine. But when I try to boot windows, my computer restarts itself after less then 5 seconds in the XP Loading screen. I even tried safemode, but nothing works. I cannot afford to format it because i bought an OEM version of windows, and I dont have the money to buy another disk. All the connections are fine because i can use Ubuntu without a problem. (I dont like ubuntu tho)

 

Well, you can format it easily by borrowing the same XP disc as the version installed on your computer....and if you know your current serial key, or there is a sticker of COA at the base of the machine....you can use that key to install and activate windows....it is perfectly legal..!!
If you want to recover the data....would advise you to buy a USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE cable and connect the HDD to another computer through that cable and recover all important data....

 

What if i throw the disk in and boot from it and select Repair? could that do any good?

Does this sound like hdd damage? because it worked fine before i changed cases

 

Cant really say, if the hdd shows up in the BIOS it should be fine....or there could be bad sectors on it..!! or maybe something related to the boot files has gone bad due to a registry error..!!
You should try the Repair option first or the Last Known Good Confg....!!
Which HDD have you got..?? the one in the sig..??

 

Yes, and Ubuntu 7.10 is installed on the same HDD as windows so it shows up. "Last known good config" doesnt work....

i had a LOT of viruses and stuff on my windows partition...my antivirus shut itself off and i didnt notice..TONS of trojans and stuff and i was still cleaning it off, so that might be something

 

yeah that could have crippled the registry or the system files..!!
It would be best to do a reformat if you have the OEM key with you, since borrowing an XP CD and reinstalling Ubuntu wont be that tough..!! (I cant really advise you to download XP since most uploaders dont have a distribution license)
If you have another computer, would advise you to connect that HDD externally and run a virus scan on it..!! But that can be dangerous for the other PC as well..

 

i built the PC myself so i should still have the XP disk somewhere in my house...i bought an OEM disk from newegg.com, would the key still work if i reinstall it?


I cant connect the HDD externally lol, my computer is the only one in the house that has Sata Cables..everything else is 10+ years old xD


thanks for your help man +rep

 

Yeah it will, if it is the same disc..!! (XP SP2 serial --> XP SP2 disc)
After the reinstall, just connect to the net when the activation screen loads and windows will be automatically activated..!!

 

you could buy a USB to SATA cable from newegg, etc....if your other computers have a USB port..

 

Ok, ill do that tomorrow, since i dont really wanna do it tonight..do you think its just like file problems or does it sound like hdd damage?

thanks agian

 

Well, I have a hitachi hdd, and they have a drive fitness test tool on their site, which can be burnt to a bootable cd and can check the hdd's health before windows loads..!! other hdd manufactures should have similar tools on their sites and if Ubuntu works fine, I doubt that the HDD is damaged..!! HDDs normally make klicking sounds before dying..!! If you can find HD Tune or something similar for Ubuntu.. you could check out the HDD's health..!!

 

Hmm i use hdtune in windows..but i cant get to it, could i possibly use something like Wine to run it?

 

Uhmm....Wine..??

 

haha sorry..its supposed to be a program that lets you run windows program..it wont lemmie use HD Tune so thats useless xD

i think my best bet is to try and repair it and then if that doesnt work just format it

 

Check out these 2 link /s and see if you can get a proper diagnostic software to determine the health of the drive without going into windows..!! It depends if you can write them to a CD or use a USB pen drive..!!

 

If i download the DOS version..can i just burn it to a disk and put it in and boot from it?

Like this? http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=606&sid=30&lang=en

i can burn it from ubuntu

 

Uhmm....you should download the ISO version and just burn it to a disc from a friend's computer..!! Because just burning files wont make the disc bootable....the iso you would download will be bootable itself..!!

 

I cant download the ISO in ubuntu and then burn it into a disk and boot from it?

 

you can do that if ubuntu supports burning discs..!!

 

the disk wont run..ill just repair windows and format if it doesnt work, thanks for all your help