Windows XP Stuck on boot screen

[tdi]

Hi,

I'm running Windows XP MCE, and my computer has suddenly decided not to boot up, it just loads the Windows XP loading screen. I haven't installed any new programs the day before, and I've tried starting it in Safe Mode and no such luck.

I have a windows XP disc but when I start the recovery console, it asks me for an administrator password. I don't know it. I've tried all the passwords like 'password' 'admin' '1234' '0000' etc, but none work?

I really need to recover my data, I have loads of music on there and loads of stuff for work, and graphics etc.

Please help, I really need to sort this!

[Pyroka]

What brand is your computer? Cuz it might be that the XP admin pw is the brand name.

[The Professor]

If you just want the data off it and you're not bothered about the programs and stuff, use gparted to split the hard drive into 2 and install XP again on the new partition. When you're into XP, copy paste all the data from the old partition onto the new one then delete the old one. Voila.

[Recursion]

Or, just boot a linux live CD and copy all your important data to a USB drive, then reinstall Windows.

If you skip that recovery console you should be able to select a partition blah blah and it will ask you if you want to delete or recover the OS that is already installed, no admin password needed etc.

[The Professor]

Or, just boot a linux live CD and copy all your important data to a USB drive, then reinstall Windows.

If you skip that recovery console you should be able to select a partition blah blah and it will ask you if you want to delete or recover the OS that is already installed, no admin password needed etc.

For some reason I've never been able to see NTFS partitions from a linux live CD, am I doing something wrong? I know installing a second windows xp is less elegant but I've never been able to get linux to work properly so yeah

[Recursion]

Ubuntu has built in NTFS support, im not sure if any others do

[Tomm]

If you don't shut the PC down cleanly (i.e use shutdown rather than kill the power/hit the reset switch) it won't mount the NTFS drives automatically and you'll need to use some command line skillz to force it to mount.

For some reason I've never been able to see NTFS partitions from a linux live CD, am I doing something wrong? I know installing a second windows xp is less elegant but I've never been able to get linux to work properly so yeah

[Pyroka]

If you don't shut the PC down cleanly (i.e use shutdown rather than kill the power/hit the reset switch) it won't mount the NTFS drives automatically and you'll need to use some command line skillz to force it to mount.

My mate had to do that for my new comp, he was at my house for ages figuring out what it was. I'm not sure what exactly he typed, but it involved typing sudo ALOT lol.

[tdi]

the computer got turned off when my mate switched the wrong socket (it's surge protected and that though..) so that could be what killed it?

[The Professor]

the computer got turned off when my mate switched the wrong socket (it's surge protected and that though..) so that could be what killed it?

Probably, its what tends to break thinks for me.