PC startsup but monitor doesnt...

[Ginza]

Right i can get in to the recovery console but not the XP automatic repair which is a bit of a bugger considering the recovery console says iv put in an invalid password when it asks for one. Bah im ****ed.

Anybody know how to do an automatic repair?

[Ginza]

I cant find this automatic repair so this is the question i have.

If i simply reinstall Windows XP without formatting will that keep all my files on my computer or lose everything?

[Tom Salter]

Nope, you have to format as part of the installation.

[demon9k]

Nope, you have to format as part of the installation.

No you don't.

You should be given 3 things to choose from. Install Windows XP, Repair XP and something else I think. Choose install windows, go through the setup until you come to the partitions part of the installation and select the Windows installation already installed. You should now be given an option to repair/reinstall the selected Windows installation or delete the partition. Select repair and it should reinstall windows over your current one and leave the rest of your files perfectly alone.

Did it just the other week to fix a virus problem so you should have no problems with that.

[Ginza]

I dont get to the automatic repair which i think i should. It takes me to the repair console which is a dark blue background. Its not the normal XP user interface its just a boring style.

Anyway i am given the option to install, repair or go back.

Iv tried repair but then it asks me for my admin password, i enter it and it says its invalid so thats about as far as i get.

I need to know for 100% sure that if i go through the install method it doesnt format everything because iv got some very important work on it.

[demon9k]

Anyway i am given the option to install, repair or go back

Select install and when you come to the screen with partition options you select the partition that is already installed on the computer and select repair in that section of the installation. I am almost 100% sure that its that part of the installation that you can select to reinstall windows without over writing your files

You can definitly do it, I have done it before.

[Ginza]

Iv changed the title as it might be a bit confusing now. It was PC Wont Start Help! because at the time the OS just looped and at least i could do something about it.

Now the base unit starts up and goes crazy but the monitor stays off...

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Right well i thought i should post in this one rather than doing another one again.

Basically the same thing has happened again and iv changed the bios to boot from cd etc and that went ok. I then rebooted and the base unit goes crazy with the power button flashing continuously at lightning speeds and the monitor doesnt even go on.

I'm not sure entirely what i can do when the monitor doesnt even go on or if there is anything i actually can do.

Your expertise appreciated yet again.