Description
After switching on or rebooting your PC, you are receiving one or more error messages and cannot access the Windows XP desktop.
Typically you won’t be able to get past these messages. You will have to either switch off or restart by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.
This troubleshooting guide covers some of the most common Windows XP boot up problems and their solutions.
If you do come across a solution that doesn’t work for you, why not leave a comment below the solution and see if others can help you out.
Symptoms
- You cannot boot into the Windows XP desktop
- You are receiving one of the error messages below:
- Non-System Disk or Disk Error
- NTLDR is missing. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart
- NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart
- Operating System Not Found
- Missing Operating System
- Invalid Boot.ini
- Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\System32\Hal.dll
Explanation
This troubleshooting guide will assist you to solve the problems associated with the error messages listed above. If your error message is not listed please write a comment with details of your problem so that we can update this troubleshooting guide which will also assist others with the same problems. Solutions Below….
Solution 1 | Error: Non-System Disk or Disk Error
Click here for the non-system disk or disk error troubleshooting guide
Solution 2 | Error: NTLDR is missing. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart
Click here for the NTLDR is missing troubleshooting guide
Solution 3 | Error: Operating System not found
Click here for the Operating System not found troubleshooting guide
Solution 4 | Error: Missing Operating System
Click here for the Missing Operating System troubleshooting guide
Solution 5 | Error: Invalid Boot.ini
Click here for the Invalid Boot.ini troubleshooting guide
Solution 6 | Error: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\System32\Hal.dll
Click here for the Windows\System32\Hal.dll troubleshooting guide
Solution 7 | Error: NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart
Click here for the NTLDR is compressed troubleshooting guide
unmountable_boot_volume
technical information: 0x000000ED (0x82F8C808, 0xC0000006, 0×00000000,0×00000000)
i have tried to get to safe mode and keeps sending back to restart. this is XP versison of DELL Dimension 3100 model. I have a genertic MS XP disc but lost the code its not on my disc wrapper. So how do I reboot in safemode for original harddrive set up access to make computer work?
Problem:
4 year old Sony Viao.
screen message:
Windows could not start because the following file is either missing or corrupt \window\system32\config\system
insert original setup CD-Rom select r from start to repair.
I chatted with the tech support, since these computers did not come with startup discs. I made a restore disc when i first got the machine, but the computer will not read the disc.
I can do a complete restore by getting to the screen using F10, but it will erase everything on the HD and I was hoping i could save some of what i had on this computer. The Tech support recommended i contact Drive Savers, but from what i read this is too expensive.
Can anyone give me instructions to try to get data from the HD or do a recovery.