restored and lost ability to boot

[Michael M.]

I started to install a "new computers only" version of
windows xp into my "windows me" operated computer. Greg at
a computer store told me it couldn't hurt to try, I might
find that an upgrade dropdown (in the options of install)
might be available. Well it wasn't, so I stopped the
install. When I rebooted my computer there was a new
screen that gave me 4 seconds to decide between windows xp
or windows me. If I did nothing, it would take me back to
install windows xp. If I used the down arrow to go to
windows me and enter it would start with windows me. I
decided to use my "system restore" to remove this screen
and I haven't been eating or sleeping much since.

What has happened is this : My computer is now flashing
this message {Invalid boot.INI file
Booting from C:\windows}
My computer seems to be stuck in the twilight zone.
I went to purchase the upgrade for xp thinking that would
correct the problem, it sez it needs to see a cd copy of
my windows me version, as it can't see it on my computer.
I can't show the copy because all I have are hp recovery
disk and they don't work (I TRIED). I thought maybe I
could solve the problem by again using the "new computers
only" version and it tells me that it can see another
version of windows and that the only safe thing to do is
to partition my hard drive, as 2 operating systems can
cause problems without doing so. ONE VERSION SEES IT AND
THE OTHER DON'T. When I tried bootcfg /rebuild ...etc. the
information comes back that there are no INI files present
to rebuild. (That would stand to reason since I
used "system restore" to try and get rid of the 4 second
screen. To summarize: It does seem that " system restore"
is trying to get rid the files that downloaded to my
computer to begin the installation process of xp (new
computers only), but can't complete the task because the
computer won't boot. If there is some wonderful soul out
on the internet somewhere that can help me with a fix,
you'll have done what both hp and microsoft have not been
able to do as yet. Thanks,I need food and sleep;Michael M.

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Boot a Win9x startup floppy (made from Win98 or WinME), run SYS C: from the
command prompt. This will overwrite the XP boot files that are currently
giving you grief.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Michael M." > wrote in message
...
> I started to install a "new computers only" version of
> windows xp into my "windows me" operated computer. Greg at
> a computer store told me it couldn't hurt to try, I might
> find that an upgrade dropdown (in the options of install)
> might be available. Well it wasn't, so I stopped the
> install. When I rebooted my computer there was a new
> screen that gave me 4 seconds to decide between windows xp
> or windows me. If I did nothing, it would take me back to
> install windows xp. If I used the down arrow to go to
> windows me and enter it would start with windows me. I
> decided to use my "system restore" to remove this screen
> and I haven't been eating or sleeping much since.
>
> What has happened is this : My computer is now flashing
> this message {Invalid boot.INI file
> Booting from C:\windows}
> My computer seems to be stuck in the twilight zone.
> I went to purchase the upgrade for xp thinking that would
> correct the problem, it sez it needs to see a cd copy of
> my windows me version, as it can't see it on my computer.
> I can't show the copy because all I have are hp recovery
> disk and they don't work (I TRIED). I thought maybe I
> could solve the problem by again using the "new computers
> only" version and it tells me that it can see another
> version of windows and that the only safe thing to do is
> to partition my hard drive, as 2 operating systems can
> cause problems without doing so. ONE VERSION SEES IT AND
> THE OTHER DON'T. When I tried bootcfg /rebuild ...etc. the
> information comes back that there are no INI files present
> to rebuild. (That would stand to reason since I
> used "system restore" to try and get rid of the 4 second
> screen. To summarize: It does seem that " system restore"
> is trying to get rid the files that downloaded to my
> computer to begin the installation process of xp (new
> computers only), but can't complete the task because the
> computer won't boot. If there is some wonderful soul out
> on the internet somewhere that can help me with a fix,
> you'll have done what both hp and microsoft have not been
> able to do as yet. Thanks,I need food and sleep;Michael M.

[RalfG]

Boot.ini is a hidden file in the root of C:. To see or edit it change the
View settings in Explorer to display protected /hidden system files.

The XP Upgrade normally should work with your HP OEM Windows installation
(been there, done that). No CDs required when WinME is already installed.
That it doesn't means your WinME has been corrupted such that XP can't
recognize it.

You can try doing a non-destructive recovery with your HP cds to get ME
working again. If that doesn't work you can always do a full destructive
recovery and return the computer to -out of the box- condition.

To continue installation of the XP upgrade without fixing WinME you could
borrow a Win9x cd from someone and just insert it into the drive when the XP
installer prompts for proof of a previous Windows version.

"Michael M." > wrote in message
...
> I started to install a "new computers only" version of
> windows xp into my "windows me" operated computer. Greg at
> a computer store told me it couldn't hurt to try, I might
> find that an upgrade dropdown (in the options of install)
> might be available. Well it wasn't, so I stopped the
> install. When I rebooted my computer there was a new
> screen that gave me 4 seconds to decide between windows xp
> or windows me. If I did nothing, it would take me back to
> install windows xp. If I used the down arrow to go to
> windows me and enter it would start with windows me. I
> decided to use my "system restore" to remove this screen
> and I haven't been eating or sleeping much since.
>
> What has happened is this : My computer is now flashing
> this message {Invalid boot.INI file
> Booting from C:\windows}
> My computer seems to be stuck in the twilight zone.
> I went to purchase the upgrade for xp thinking that would
> correct the problem, it sez it needs to see a cd copy of
> my windows me version, as it can't see it on my computer.
> I can't show the copy because all I have are hp recovery
> disk and they don't work (I TRIED). I thought maybe I
> could solve the problem by again using the "new computers
> only" version and it tells me that it can see another
> version of windows and that the only safe thing to do is
> to partition my hard drive, as 2 operating systems can
> cause problems without doing so. ONE VERSION SEES IT AND
> THE OTHER DON'T. When I tried bootcfg /rebuild ...etc. the
> information comes back that there are no INI files present
> to rebuild. (That would stand to reason since I
> used "system restore" to try and get rid of the 4 second
> screen. To summarize: It does seem that " system restore"
> is trying to get rid the files that downloaded to my
> computer to begin the installation process of xp (new
> computers only), but can't complete the task because the
> computer won't boot. If there is some wonderful soul out
> on the internet somewhere that can help me with a fix,
> you'll have done what both hp and microsoft have not been
> able to do as yet. Thanks,I need food and sleep;Michael M.

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Boot with a Windows Me Startup disk, and at the A: prompt, type SYS C: This
will restore the original ME boot loader code. Currently you have the XP
boot loader trying to load the system, and all of the requisite supporting
files aren't there.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Michael M." > wrote in message
...
> I started to install a "new computers only" version of
> windows xp into my "windows me" operated computer. Greg at
> a computer store told me it couldn't hurt to try, I might
> find that an upgrade dropdown (in the options of install)
> might be available. Well it wasn't, so I stopped the
> install. When I rebooted my computer there was a new
> screen that gave me 4 seconds to decide between windows xp
> or windows me. If I did nothing, it would take me back to
> install windows xp. If I used the down arrow to go to
> windows me and enter it would start with windows me. I
> decided to use my "system restore" to remove this screen
> and I haven't been eating or sleeping much since.
>
> What has happened is this : My computer is now flashing
> this message {Invalid boot.INI file
> Booting from C:\windows}
> My computer seems to be stuck in the twilight zone.
> I went to purchase the upgrade for xp thinking that would
> correct the problem, it sez it needs to see a cd copy of
> my windows me version, as it can't see it on my computer.
> I can't show the copy because all I have are hp recovery
> disk and they don't work (I TRIED). I thought maybe I
> could solve the problem by again using the "new computers
> only" version and it tells me that it can see another
> version of windows and that the only safe thing to do is
> to partition my hard drive, as 2 operating systems can
> cause problems without doing so. ONE VERSION SEES IT AND
> THE OTHER DON'T. When I tried bootcfg /rebuild ...etc. the
> information comes back that there are no INI files present
> to rebuild. (That would stand to reason since I
> used "system restore" to try and get rid of the 4 second
> screen. To summarize: It does seem that " system restore"
> is trying to get rid the files that downloaded to my
> computer to begin the installation process of xp (new
> computers only), but can't complete the task because the
> computer won't boot. If there is some wonderful soul out
> on the internet somewhere that can help me with a fix,
> you'll have done what both hp and microsoft have not been
> able to do as yet. Thanks,I need food and sleep;Michael M.