[xstream82]

Bear with me while I post everything I know surrounding this issue:
1. The issue started when I went into msconfig and checked 'safe mode' in boot.ini. I restarted my computer and every time it would get to the Windows XP loading screen it would get The Blue Screen. I fixed this issue by putting in the Windows CD and clicked repair.
2. Thought the Blue screen issue was fixed now when it tries to start Windows it says Setup Restarting or Cannot Setup in safe mode. I tried fixing this by entering the Recovery console and running the commands bootcfg /rebuild as suggested by this forum on a different post I found. The problem still persists.
Current Problem: The computer still goes to the Blue Windows setup screen that says 'Setup is being restarted' and then goes to a black screen with just the mouse showing.

Believe me when I say I have searched far and wide for information on how to fix this issue. I do not want to have to completely re-install Windows. If you need anymore information just ask. Thank you in advance.

[Saga Lout]

If this system is stuck in a loop like that, I can't think of a workaround because the normal route would be to try overwriting C:\Windows\System32\Config\System with the system.bak file. Have you tried adjusting BIOS to boot from hard disk and not CD ROM? Windows obviously expects to see the disk and to continue using it so you might interrupt its thought processes in that way.

[xstream82]

Honestly I haven't tried that. I'll give it a shot.

Edit: Of all the things I figured out how to do I'm shaky on this. Under Bios Setup > Boot > Boot Device Priority - it says
1st Boot Device - [IDE:ATAPI DVD RW]
2nd Boot Device - [SATA:SM-WDC WD5001]
3rd Boot Device - [IDE:HL-DT-ST GCE-8]

I figure the 1st shouldn't be that DVD RW drive so which of those other 2 should it be?

[xstream82]

I set the 1st to the SATA but still no luck.

[Saga Lout]

The first one was the DVD drive so it should have recognised the Windows disk and given you the chance to "hit any key to boot from CD". Change it back to that and see if you can break that loop by starting Setup all over again.

[xstream82]

I set it back to DVD RW. I then started a new repair setup. It seemed to go fine. It then rebooted my computer automatically. With or without the CD, after the Windows XP loading screen it goes to the blue Windows Setup screen and just says 'Setup is being restarted' and then goes to a black screen with just my courser and then restarts the computer.

[xstream82]

It pretty much looks like this when it happens to me. (No it's not my video so please post here still)

[TheOutcaste]

Give this a try, not sure if it will help though:
Tap F8 as you turn on the PC to get the Windows Advanced Options Menu, where you can choose the various Safe Mode options. Then choose the bottom option, Return to OS Choices Menu, see if that gives you an option for both Windows and Windows Setup. If so, chose the Windows option.

If it boots into Windows, you can then remove the Windows Setup option from the boot.ini file.

[xstream82]

There was only the choice of starting 'Microsoft Windows Xp Professional' and nothing changed. I feel like there should be some fix and yet I haven't found it. I just don't feel like going through the hassle of installing Windows from scratch.

[Saga Lout]

Long shot - the Safe Mode menu may offer you Safe Mode with Command Prompt and for reasons, I've never understood, sometimes works when nothing else will. By the time you post back whether you got in or not, I might have remembered what to try in there. Hopefully, someone else wll have a suggestion.

[TheOutcaste]

See if this is any help. May have to be real quick with the SHIFT+F10

Setup may restart during the hardware detection phase of Windows XP installation

[xstream82]

Ok I have found someone with the exact same problem and I will either be able to fix it or I'll just reformat and install Windows 7. Thank you all for you help and support.