XP Laptop boot loop

JohnDoe1980

JohnDoe1980

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Hello all. I've got yet another XP machine here that is caught in a boot loop. It turns on, goes to the xp loading screen then restarts. The reason they are using XP is because they use it for boating software. The new software that would work with a modern OS is $4000+... I have popped out the drive and ram and reseated it. Tried safe mode and last known good configuration to no avail. I AM able to get into Hirens BootCD. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
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Have you checked the drive for errors or used the XP recovery mode. It does sound like the bootsector is corrupted though. I would image the drive first, incase then boot into recovery mode cmd and try this -

  1. Boot the Windows Setup disc and start the Recovery Console. ...
  2. Type fixmbr and press Enter to repair the master boot record.
  3. Type fixboot and press Enter to repair the boot sector. ...
  4. Check the disk for for any errors using chkdsk /f
 
frase said:
Have you checked the drive for errors or used the XP recovery mode. It does sound like the bootsector is corrupted though. I would image the drive first, incase then boot into recovery mode cmd and try this -

  1. Boot the Windows Setup disc and start the Recovery Console. ...
  2. Type fixmbr and press Enter to repair the master boot record.
  3. Type fixboot and press Enter to repair the boot sector. ...
  4. Check the disk for for any errors using chkdsk /f
Click to expand...
fixmbr and fixboot are not recognized commands. CHKDSK wont run because it is write protected however when I try chkdsk on C: it asks me if I want to force a dismount. Is it safe to do that?
 
Last edited:
frase said:
Have you checked the drive for errors or used the XP recovery mode. It does sound like the bootsector is corrupted though. I would image the drive first, incase then boot into recovery mode cmd and try this -

  1. Boot the Windows Setup disc and start the Recovery Console. ...
  2. Type fixmbr and press Enter to repair the master boot record.
  3. Type fixboot and press Enter to repair the boot sector. ...
  4. Check the disk for for any errors using chkdsk /f
Click to expand...
I have EasyBCD. Can I use that? If so, how?
 
Maybe you need to come up with a stock system and a cloned drive, so whenever this comes up you've got a solid XP machine to load their software on. Unless you can't load the software on a clean XP machine.
 
NviGate Systems said:
Bad client. Simple as that. Times change and you have to keep up.

Try not to waste your time on these units.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure where this comes from. We fix computers. My logo doesn't say I fix only Windows 10 or Windows 11 computers. So what if it is Windows XP. The customer has a problem and contacted a tech for help. As long as it's not connected to the net why is there a problem being WinXP?
 
Diggs said:
I'm not sure where this comes from. We fix computers. My logo doesn't say I fix only Windows 10 or Windows 11 computers. So what if it is Windows XP. The customer has a problem and contacted a tech for help. As long as it's not connected to the net why is there a problem being WinXP?
Click to expand...
Simply put, I don't have the time, energy etc to deal with it for casual use because those types of users just don't get it, probably will never get it and they certainly won't pay me much to get or keep it running.

If it's a business that relies on it, I'll bend over backwards while billing them. The business doesn't have a choice if they want to stay in business due to excessive cost to replace perfectly working machines. Jobs are on the line. I can work with that. What's better, pay a tech a thousand bucks to fix an old PC or get new machines and lay off your staff then go bankrupt?

On the other hand, for a consumer, it's choice. They choose not to keep things up to date, they choose to be cheap. Now it's biting them in the ass.

No offense to OP, he obviously has clients that are stuck in the 2010's. We all have clients like that. But not every case is one where it's worthwhile or even practical.
 
I would not help with this. It is one thing to assist a business that is using something legacy to run machines needed for business where nothing has changed. Navigational software requires constant updates. His old software is not updated. Can’t speak for Canada but if the US Coast Guard catches you with out of date charts they will fine you.
 
JohnDoe1980 said:
I tried bootrec.exe /fixmbr and that completed. Same with bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd
Click to expand...
There's something wrong: XP doesn't have a BCD file to rebuild nor a bootrec command...

If HDD & RAM are OK then the registry is corrupt. Restore from C:\Windows\Repair
 
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