Need advice - computer crash

[Fab4ever]

Hello all.

This is not directly Cakewalk related, and I apologize in advance. But you good people have helped me before, so here goes:
I recently did a clean install of Windows XP, getting rid of Win 98SE. Thank God. I had carefully kept my emails with links to software I had purchased for download, plus other stuff. I even downloaded the Service Pack 2 from Microsoft. I got everything up and reloaded, and then....

I tried to install Cakewalk's Project5 (from the packaged cd-rom I got directly from Cakewalk). I got a message saying I didn't have Microsoft's latest version of DirectX, I believe version 9. Then I got an error message saying Microsoft had determined the software I was loading was not compatible, or would not work, or something. Disappointed, I stopped the installation, exited and turned off the machine.

Now, a few days later, I go to boot back up and I get the screen saying I need to choose from the following options: Start in Safe Mode, Start in Safe Mode with Networking, start in Safe Mode with prompt; revert back to a previous working setting (or something like that), or start Windows normally.

I tried EVERY SINGLE one of those options, only to get kicked back to that same page!

Whatever I do I cannot boot up. Does anyone have some advice?! I would prefer NOT to reformat and reinstall Win XP, because that would mean losing some software. (Please keep in mind that I am no computer expert by any means, and I welcome anyone's opinions).

Thanks for reading this lengthy saga, and of course for any help you can provide.

Fab

[moskus]

I really hope you meant "Service Pack 1" and not 2. If you did install Service Pack 2 (which is for Win2000, no service pack 2 for WinXP yet), then re-format. Nothing will work! And since you can't boot Windows, you have a serious problem...

You can try to reinstall WinXP on top of your current installation.

And if you've installed DirectX 9, check this out!

[Fab4ever]

Arggh. Okay, I may try to install Win XP on top of the current Win XP. Is it as simple as changing the BIOS to boot from the cd-rom drive, then popping in the Win XP disc, then booting from it?

[moskus]

Originally posted by Fab4ever
Is it as simple as changing the BIOS to boot from the cd-rom drive, then popping in the Win XP disc, then booting from it?

It should be, yes.

[Fab4ever]

I'll try that. But I bet I stupidly installed Service Pack 2. I could have sworn I read somewhere I needed to do that. Errrrr.

Fab

[moskus]

I would highly recommend to install Windows XP: Service Pack 1!

[Fab4ever]

Just an update: I tried to reformat and reinstall Win XP, but got a message saying I may have a fatal, catastrophic, nuclear fallout disk error. So..... I took her to the computer shop for some real testing. If it's really toast, I'll just buy a better hard drive and have them install it.

Thanks,

Fab

[moskus]

Really?!?

A thing like that shouldn't occur because of a re-installation. But it's a good explanation for not being able to boot your computer.