Windows 7 Boot Error: ‘some file’ is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart

7 Comments | Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

You get an error when starting Windows 7 that a file is compressed. The filename that is compressed can be different but the solution is the same.

Install Recovery Console (Add to Windows XP Boot Menu)

3 Comments | Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

This article provides step by step instructions on installing the Recovery Console so that it appears as a boot option on Windows Boot Menu when you switch on your PC. This is my first step after installing Windows XP before anything else, it’s that important.

5 Essential Windows Housekeeping Tips

1 Comments | Sunday, November 14th, 2010

I guess we’ve all noticed all to often how Windows slows down gradually over time and eventually comes to a halt. By following these 5 simple steps about once a month your PC should continue at a fairly good pace for longer.

HOWTO: Stop Windows Live Messenger (MSN) Starting Automatically with Windows

4 Comments | Thursday, June 24th, 2010

This article explains step by step how you can disable MSN Messenger or Windows Live Messenger from starting automatically when Windows starts.

NTLDR is missing. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart

134 Comments | Monday, February 15th, 2010

You receive the error ‘NTLDR is missing’ after switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP. This article documents several possible solutions.

NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart

102 Comments | Monday, August 3rd, 2009

After switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP you receive the error NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart on a black screen with white writing when trying to boot into Windows.

Windows Setup: Setup did not find any hard disk drives…

146 Comments | Saturday, July 25th, 2009

SOLUTION TO: When you reach the Welcome Screen of Windows XP Setup and choose to install Windows you are presented with the error “Setup did not find any hard disk drives…”

HOWTO: Mount a USB Thumbdrive in Linux

2 Comments | Saturday, July 25th, 2009

This article explains how to easily make your USB thumb drive appear in Linux when you plug it in. This can also be applied to external hard disks.

Initramfs Prompt When Ubuntu Boots

16 Comments | Saturday, July 25th, 2009

The Initramfs prompt (busybox) issue arises after selecting to boot into Ubuntu from your boot menu. The boot process halts at a black screen with an initramfs prompt is displayed. You have probably installed Ubuntu on an NTFS partition dual booting with Microsoft Windows which is causing the problems.

Invalid Boot.ini or Missing Windows/System32/Hal.dll

21 Comments | Saturday, July 25th, 2009

After switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP you receive either of the error messages below and cannot get into Windows.

These errors are usually shown on a black screen with white writing and you cannot get anywhere further. You have no choice but to shutdown or restart the computer.

Missing Operating System or Operating System Not Found

7 Comments | Friday, July 24th, 2009

After switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP you receive the error message ‘Missing Operating System’ or ‘Operating System Not Found’ and cannot get into Windows.

Cannot find the system file in the standard locations on drive C

2 Comments | Friday, July 24th, 2009

Description When attempting to perform the sys c: command you receive the error message ‘Cannot find the system file in the standard locations on drive C:’ Symptoms You receive the error message “Cannot find the system file in the standard locations on drive C:” when attempting the command sys c: on your Windows XP computer [...]

NTLDR is missing. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart

9 Comments | Friday, July 24th, 2009

You receive the error ‘NTLDR is missing’ after switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP. This article documents several possible solutions.

Non-System Disk or Disk Error

3 Comments | Friday, July 24th, 2009

Got a floppy disk inside or is it something else? After switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP you receive the error message ‘Non-System Disk or Disk Error’ and cannot get into Windows. Symptoms You receive the following error message when starting or rebooting your computer: Why? The above error message is usually [...]

Windows Boot & Startup Troubleshooting Guide

8 Comments | Friday, July 24th, 2009

This troubleshooting guide covers some of the most common Windows XP boot up problems and their solutions. 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.