[geoff202]

I am running XP Home SP3 on my desktop pc. I tried to boot from my WinXP CD after changing the bios to boot from cd but it went straight into set up of XP, so I pulled the disk because I couldn't find a stop or exit prompt. I have since downloaded & burnt an OTLPE.iso disc to boot from, but whenever I try to boot from this disk, the system automatically tries to restart XP setup, calling for the XP disk to be reinserted etc. I cancel all of that, the pc then restarts but boots from the HDD not the cd.
How can I get past this sequence so I can boot from the cd?

[Hughv]

This sounds normal. No install will take place unless you initiate it.
What are you trying to do?

[geoff202]

Hello Hughv, & thanks for your reply.
I was trying to boot Windows from disk so that I could get into my system which will not allow me to log in, in order to remove a worm which I'm confident I can do - if only I can get in in the first place. At user login screen I type my p word & the system logs me in momentarily, them logs me off instantly again. I've been the whole safe mode route without success, so I figured I'd boot from my XP cd, but it went straight into setup mode without giving me the usual options e.g. boot from disk. I don't actually know if letting the XP disk run its setup process through to end will have an adverse effect on my data - which I don't want to lose of course (about 20 Gigs of music), so I just removed the disk & d loaded & burnt an OTLPE.iso disc to boot from, using my laptop.

[Elvandil]

You will lose all that, anyway, when the drive fails, and it will, if you do not have it backed up. Drives fail all the time and often with no notice. "Data that you don't have at least 2 copies of, is data that you don't want to keep."

There is no choice at this point but to continue setup. Why you started it in the first place if you didn't want to install is the question. The directions on the screens are very clear about what you are doing. Since you have no way to know if there is a registry present from the prior installation or not, and whether system files have already been deleted, you will have to continue with setup.

Whether your files will still be present depends what options you chose when you started setup. If you chose a new installation, everything will be gone when Windows is finished installing. If you chose a repair, only Windows updates will be gone.

[geoff202]

Thanks Elvandil, as I said I was only trying to boot from the disk (after setting bios to boot from cd) but it went straight into Setup without giving me the usual options so what type of setup it's trying to do (clean or repair) is anyone's guess...
Is there no way at all I can terminate this process before it goes 'too far' - assuming it hasn't already, or am I screwed either way? Thanks.

[Hughv]

Are you sure it's going to setup, or is it just the usual "inspecting"?
If so, you can use the repair option when it's done (Press "R" to repair) to access the Repair Console.
If not, you can certainly copy these files to another disk, then complete the install.

[geoff202]

It seems to be installing Windows "Setup will complete in approx 39 minutes" & keeps on asking me to install the XP cd so it can 'install devices'. I can't seem to exit or stop this process...

[Hughv]

I don't know a way to stop it either, but you may find something in boot.ini.
It probably makes more sense to just copy your files and be done with it.

[geoff202]

Thanks Hughv, yes I certainly would if only I could get into my system to do that - back to square one, as soon as I log in I get in momentarily then it logs me off again instantly, hence why I wanted to boot from cd in the first place.
Any idea's Elvandil? Thanks.

[Hughv]

The easiest way is to remove the drive and connect it to another machine with a USB adapter, or install it as a second drive.

[geoff202]

Thanks Hughv, I'll give that a try & let you know how it all goes.
Many thanks for the help!

[new tech guy]

Another option is to link an external hard disc to your computer (assuming you have one) and then from there boot up using a linux cd and from there go ahead and copy the files you want to a disc as that disc will let you browse the folder structure. At that point, i would do what is suggessted and just wipe the drive out and install xp fresh. Easiest way to get it cleaned up.

[geoff202]

Thanks for all the info. Will it work the same way if I get & install a new HDD in this pc & set the troubled one as the second drive/slave disk, then boot the new drive & work from there?

[Hughv]

Yes. This may be the best approach. Install XP on the new disk, boot from it and then copy your files to the appropriate folders.

Originally Posted by geoff202

Thanks for all the info. Will it work the same way if I get & install a new HDD in this pc & set the troubled one as the second drive/slave disk, then boot the new drive & work from there?

[geoff202]

Thanks Hughv, will do that asap & post result here.
Cheers for all the help from all of you!!