I am trying to fix my brothers computer, and after giving up on a nasty virus that we just couldnt get rid if, we reformatted using the OEM on a recovery partition. Now whan we turn the computer on, we merely get the f8 options (safe modes, last known good, start normally, etc) If we pick last known good, or start windows normally, we get the xp on black loading screen, then Nothing. Just Blackness. Safe modes work fine.
I have no problem running the recovery again, but I cant access it whan I restart, or turn on the computer. it seems to go straight into the f8 options, regardless of whether I tap f11 (recovery) before. I haven't really tried much, other than disabeling all the startup options with msconfig in safe mode. Is there a way to access the recovery partition through safe mode while XP is loaded? The partition is hidden: there is no other drive showing in the "My Computer" screen.
Would I be better off to try to load another OS off a cd? I do not have a copy of xp, but I am tempted to throw 2000 pro, or ME on it just to give him his computer back. But I figure if I do that then the OEM xp partition will be gone forever...
Any ideas?
I have no problem running the recovery again, but I cant access it whan I restart, or turn on the computer. it seems to go straight into the f8 options, regardless of whether I tap f11 (recovery) before. I haven't really tried much, other than disabeling all the startup options with msconfig in safe mode. Is there a way to access the recovery partition through safe mode while XP is loaded? The partition is hidden: there is no other drive showing in the "My Computer" screen.
Would I be better off to try to load another OS off a cd? I do not have a copy of xp, but I am tempted to throw 2000 pro, or ME on it just to give him his computer back. But I figure if I do that then the OEM xp partition will be gone forever...
Any ideas?